Do I need to tell my teacher any personal information before practising yoga? And how do I know they are qualified?
Your yoga teacher is responsible for your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being whilst you are under their care and therefore they need to know how you are feeling each time you come to class. If you are menstruating, have any injuries, breathing difficulties, are on any medications, experience dizziness, palpitations, anxiety or are going through any major life changes, these things affect your well being, your yoga and the type of instruction your receive. Anything you tell your teacher is strictly confidential, so please, share pertinent information before class, to ensure you are safe and well taken care of.
If you are unsure about any teachers’ qualifications, ASK! Ultimately it is you who is responsible for your health and well being but your teacher also has a duty of care to ensure your practice is safe, appropriate and suited to your level. Whether you are an experienced student or an absolute beginner, make sure your teacher is qualified, insured and registered with either YA or IYTA and promoting themselves in accordance with such associations. That means, if your teacher is advertising as a ‘senior teacher’, they must be registered as such. Self-appointed status is not in alignment with the Yamas and Niyamas, the ancient yogic moral codes and principles instilled in, and ideally respected by, every yoga teacher. Not only is it misleading the public, it also reflects a lack of support and respect for peers who have worked hard and dedicated themselves to their community and practice. As a general rule, beginner teachers (those who have just finished a teacher training course) are only qualified to safely teach ‘beginner’ or ‘general’ level classes. Specialist workshops, intensives and retreats should be run by experienced teachers ie those with at least 7 or more years of teaching and personal practice experience. The ability to ‘read’ and intuit individual bodies, give postural adjustments correctly and design remedial sequences, develops over many years and is not only a huge responsibility, but a privilege as well. It takes at least 5 years for a teacher to find their individual ‘voice’ and style anyway, so if you want expert guidance and someone to help you cultivate a complete and empowering daily practice, tailored to your specific needs, seek out an expert practitioner.
