Is Mentoring Important For Yoga Teachers?

Mentorship is an essential, but often an overlooked, part of a yoga teacher's journey. Formal training is important – it lays the foundation. Having a mentor offers a personalized guide for deeper learning, emotional support, and valuable career insights. Finding the right mentor can be a transformative experience, this blog will explain why.

Even after completing your 200-hour (and maybe even 300-hour) training, do you ever feel like you’re still figuring things out on your own? 

Perhaps you’ve already been teaching for a few years, but still feel a little lost. Your answer? Find a mentor.

I remember the first time one of my favorite teachers mentioned her teacher. When I inquired more after class, my teacher shared what a profound affect her mentor had on her practice and teaching. 

It was then that I began to realize the importance of having a mentor as both a student and a teacher of yoga.

In this article, we’ll explore why mentoring matters, how it benefits you, and how to find the right mentor. If you already have a mentor, this article will help you make the most of your relationship with them. Let’s dive in!

What Is A Yoga Mentor?

Yoga is a culture and lifestyle steeped in the tradition of mentorship. At its very origins as we know them, yoga is a practice passed down from guru or mentor to student.

Before it was widely taught in full classrooms and online platforms, it was a highly personal experience. When you connect with a yoga mentor, you are tapping into tradition and history far beyond the two of you.

In simple terms, a yoga mentor is a more experienced teacher who offers guidance, support, and feedback to help you grow in your teaching and personal practice. Initially, this relationship may be focused solely on the physical practice, but a good mentorship often becomes much deeper, encouraging personal growth, learning, and self-awareness.

Other key roles that a yoga mentor may have include:

• Providing insight on teaching techniques, class structure, and sequencing.
• Offering career advice and business guidance.
• Acting as a sounding board for challenges in the yoga teaching journey.

Of course, each mentorship is different. Learn more about different mentorships later in the section How to Find the Right Mentor or in What Every Yoga Instructor Should Look For in a Yoga Mentor. 

Why Mentoring Is Important For Yoga Teachers

To understand why mentorship is important, it is helpful to know the difference between a yoga teacher trainer and a mentor.

Your yoga teacher trainer is the person who instructed your 200- or 300-hour training or other continuing education courses you’ve taken. Because a training is generally centered on a specific curriculum, there is less room for individual guidance and catered conversation.

Mentorship is a much more personal approach. Rather than teaching from a syllabus, a mentor shares from a place of knowledge and experience. It is entirely personal. That does not mean that your teacher trainer cannot also be your mentor. In many cases, the connection forged during teacher training lends itself to a positive mentorship upon certification.

A mentor can help you develop skills above and beyond what you could learn in any guided training. This can be especially beneficial for those who learn best in a one-on-one setting or have taken their YTT online or in a way that lacks extensive individual contact. Some of these invaluable lessons include:

Continued Learning And Skill Development

Aside from additional classes and certifications, a mentor can help you deepen your understanding of alignment, anatomy, and adjustments. They offer valuable feedback on how to improve cueing, sequencing, and class planning.

As you work together, study how they effectively manage student needs and injuries. Learn tools for holding space and improving your presence as a teacher.

Building Confidence And Overcoming Self-Doubt

Working with a mentor not only teaches skills but builds confidence as well. They can provide constructive feedback that helps you refine and improve your teaching.

If you’ve ever taught a class and then were left wondering if it went well, this is where a mentor can help. As someone who has been where you are, they can help provide validation and reassurance, as well as direction in developing your authentic voice and teaching style.

Business And Career Guidance

If you think you may enjoy being self-employed or opening your own studio, a mentorship will be a shortcut through many pitfalls and hardships that come with entrepreneurship.

You can learn how to market yourself, build a client base, and create workshops or retreats. A mentor can provide insight into setting prices, handling contracts, and creating offerings that resonate with your community.

They can also provide insight into the realities of building a successful and sustainable yoga business.

Emotional And Mental Support

Yoga teachers are often stereotyped as Zen, blissed-out individuals, but that is not the reality for many of us. Just because we strive to share peace, and connection does not mean our lives are always peaceful and connected.

When teaching can feel isolating - mentorship offers a sense of connection. It can help you navigate burnout, boundary-setting, and overcoming imposter syndrome. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from one of my own mentors is her dedication to her personal yoga practice and attention to self-care. A good mentor guides you, not just the yoga teacher in you.

Benefits Of Having A Mentor As A Yoga Teacher

The benefits you gain from mentorship will be unique – they will be the lessons you need to progress as a student and teacher. A few of these benefits include:

• Accountability: A mentor helps you stay committed to your goals, whether it’s refining your teaching or launching a new program.
• Perspective: Learn from your mentor’s experiences - gain insight from their mistakes, successes, and lessons.
• Networking: Mentors often introduce you to opportunities and connections in the yoga community to help guide you on your journey.
• Support System: With a mentor, you have someone to turn to with questions, ideas, and challenges.

Just as you care for your students, your mentor can become a trusted confidant who holds space for you.

How To Find The Right Yoga Teacher Mentor

Before choosing a yoga teacher training program, you likely researched programs, attended classes at the studio, or spoke with the teacher trainers.

Finding a mentor should include much of the same. Let’s talk about what to look for in a mentor, where to find a good one, and how to approach them.

What To Look For In A Yoga Teacher Mentor

When seeking out a yoga mentor, it's important to consider a few different considerations. First, look for a teacher who resonates with you. Perhaps it's their teaching style or philosophy that you connect with or simply a deep feeling of respect and connection that draws you to their work.

Look for someone with experience in the areas you want to grow in, such as a studio owner, retreat leader, or online teacher. They should be someone you trust and feel comfortable sharing your struggles with.

Your potential mentor should also have availability and willingness to invest time in mentoring, as should you, in order for the mentorship to truly thrive.

Where To Look For Your Yoga Teacher Mentor

Start your mentor search with people you know. Think about former teacher trainers from your YTT, experienced teachers at your favorite studio, or others you’ve met at retreats or community events. Another great place to look is local studios that may offer mentorship programs.

If you don’t have close connections in your local yoga community (or if there isn’t one where you live), you can find a mentor through online communities, networks, or social media. Workshops and yoga conferences are also great places to connect with experienced teachers.

How To Approach A Potential Mentor

Once you have a mentor in mind, let’s talk about your elevator pitch. If your potential mentor is not someone you know well, it may seem awkward to walk up and say “Hey, would you be my yoga mentor and teach me everything you know?”

Before you talk with them about mentoring you, set up a foundation. If you can, start by building a relationship - take their classes, engage in their content, and show genuine interest in their work. When you’re ready to make contact and ask the question, be clear about why you’re seeking mentorship and what you hope to gain. Be sure to respect their time and energy.

Propose a structure that works for both of you. If they say no, don’t take it personally. Look for another person until you find the right match.

How To Make The Most Of A Mentoring Relationship

Once you have a mentor, what do you do? Because there are no set guidelines or course content, you and your mentor can work together to create an experience all your own. Here’s how to get started:

• Set Clear Goals: What areas do you want to focus on - sequencing, business skills, personal practice, etc.? Revisit your progress on these goals often (use S.M.A.R.T. goals to make this process even easier)!
• Be Open To Feedback: Growth requires honesty and vulnerability, which can be challenging for all of us. Be willing to confront parts of yourself and your teaching that you’re uncomfortable with.
• Show Up Prepared: Bring specific questions, challenges, or goals to each session. Your mentor’s job is not to spoon-feed you. It’s up to you to bring what you want to the table and then work together on it.
• Respect Boundaries: Understand your mentor’s limits and respect their time. Treat them with kindness and realize that they too are human. We all worry about being judged at some point, and that can be a scary part for mentors too. Do not judge them or their choices, but rather learn from them.
• Stay Committed: Implement the advice and practices your mentor suggests. We all love seeing our students succeed in class, and your mentor feels the same. As much as you share your challenges with them, don’t forget to share your successes too!

Now that you’re (hopefully) feeling excited about finding a mentor, go out and do it! Mentorship can be a powerful tool for personal and professional development in your teaching career.

It provides guidance, confidence, and growth that you may not find on your own. 

As you learn from a mentor, it will benefit your students as your teaching is refined and improved. More than that though, mentorship is an incredible gift for yourself.

While it may seem tedious getting started, it is worthwhile to have a mentor of your own, someone to hold space for you, guide you, and make a difference in your career and personal yoga journey.