When I first started teaching, I thought I had to sound like “that yoga teacher voice” — you know the one: calm and floaty (Don’t lie, you’ve tried it too.) But here’s the thing: God didn’t call me to be a knock-off of someone else. He called me to show up as me. Too much coffee, sometimes crying during final prayer and consistently forgetting my left and right. So, if you’re wondering what really makes a good yoga teacher, especially as a Christian teacher, here’s what I’ve learned.
1. Use Your Voice
You don’t have to sound like your training instructor or the gal you follow on Instagram. Use your own words, your own quirks. God gave you your voice for a reason — let it be heard.
2. Ask Open-Ended Questions
Instead of telling people, “You should feel peace right now,” try: “What do you notice God is stirring in you?” Give them room to meet Jesus in their own way. Spoiler: it’s usually way better than anything we could script.
3. Less Talk, More Space
I know it feels weird to let silence hang in the air. But sometimes the quiet is where the Holy Spirit does His loudest work. Don’t be afraid of a pause. You don’t need to narrate every exhale.
4. Remember Your Why
This one’s huge. Your why isn’t perfect playlists, creative flows, or impressing anyone with your crow pose. It’s Jesus. Lead people to Him, not to yourself.
5. It’s Not About You
Shocking, I know. But the best classes aren’t where your students remember you, they’re where they walk out thinking about what God showed them. So maybe keep your dramatic monologues and Cirque du Soleil moves at home.
6. Use Names + Really See People
When you remember someone’s name and call it out in class, it matters. People light up when they feel noticed. Jesus saw people in a crowd, we can too. Even a simple, “Hey Sarah, great to see you,” is ministry in itself.
7. Consent + The Power of Touch
Touch is powerful. But it’s also personal. Always ask first (I love using consent coins). When it’s welcome, a simple shoulder press in final rest can feel like God Himself saying, “I’m here, I’ve got you.”
8. Honor Every Body
Every student’s body is different. Some are healing, some are tired, and some are just learning to trust their own skin again. Offer modifications. Celebrate options. Remind them that there’s no “one right way” to do a pose — only the way that honors where they are today. When we make space for every body, we reflect the heart of Jesus: inclusive, compassionate, and never shaming.
A Little of My Story
When I felt called to teach, I honestly wrestled with the Lord. I didn’t even like working out. I had a disordered view of my body. I still mixed up left and right on the regular. And I thought, “How could I bring people to freedom if I was still figuring it out myself?”But God reminded me, that’s exactly why He called me. Because it was never about being perfect. It was about being willing. He doesn’t need polished, He needs present. And that’s where the real ministry happens.
Happy teaching, friends!