This winter, I had the opportunity to teach in Sonic Yoga’s 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training for the first time. This has been an exciting step forward in my journey as a yoga teacher, and it has filled me with a renewed appreciation for both the practice itself and the discipline of teaching. What struck me most was my conversation with the students on our first day together. I asked them to share their “why” for entering the program, and everyone had different reasons they had begun to practice yoga. However, the desire to teach all stemmed from the same experience: they had felt the benefits of yoga in their own lives and needed to share them with others. 

For many, yoga asana is the first entry point to exploring the mind-body connection. Once you have experienced the physical strength that comes with a consistent asana practice and have felt the power of harnessing your breath to calm the mind, many feel a responsibility to pass it on. This consensus among the TTs reaffirmed my belief that yoga is deeply communal. Although yoga can be practiced alone, we do the most for ourselves and our communities when we show up on our mats together. The yoga studio offers a space of refuge where practitioners can feel empowered to try something new, push through difficult moments, release emotions, or simply self-express. As a teacher, I love getting students into difficult poses, but I feel the most accomplished when I notice my regulars chatting, making plans, or workshopping a pose together after class. Teaching yoga is ultimately about holding space for students to learn about themselves and push beyond their perceived limits. I think a strong community is the natural outcome of a practice that asks you to self-examine and ultimately demands authenticity. 

Yoga calls to those who seek to know themselves better. The practice, without really trying, kick-starts this journey. The best teachers are practitioners who recognize the gifts of yoga and are now ready to become dedicated guides, leading other yogis closer to themselves. I am inspired by the joy and passion I see in our newest TTs, and I can’t wait to watch them blossom into teachers who share with honesty, compassion, and reverence for the practice.