🧘‍♀️ Why Your First Yoga Teacher Matters (And How to Find the Right One)

Your first yoga teacher will shape how you breathe, how you move, how you hold space, and—most importantly—how you relate to yourself.

Whether you’re thinking about doing a yoga teacher training or just deepening your practice, choosing the right teacher is more than a logistical decision—it’s a spiritual one.

In a world full of flashy poses and fast-paced flows, finding a teacher who truly **embodies yoga—not just performs it—**can be life-changing.

So let’s talk about why your first teacher matters… and how to know if they’re the one.

🌿 The Teacher Is the Practice

In yoga, lineage matters. Not just in terms of tradition—but in transmission.

When you study under a teacher, you don’t just learn what they know. You absorb how they live.
Their presence. Their values. Their nervous system. Their voice.
It all imprints you.

That’s why your first teacher can either:

• Open the door to lifelong self-connection

• Or unintentionally reinforce shame, rigidity, and performative spirituality

🚫 Red Flags to Watch Out For

If you’ve ever felt:

• Judged for not being flexible enough

• Like the class was more about performance than presence

• Spiritually bypassed (“just breathe through your trauma”)

• Excluded because of your body, gender, or background

…then you know what it feels like to be taught at, not taught with.

The sad truth is: not every yoga teacher knows how to hold space.
But the right one? They’ll change your life.

💫 How to Know If a Teacher Is the Right Fit

Here’s what to look for when choosing a mentor, guide, or teacher training facilitator:

1. They’re more interested in how you feel than how you look.
   Alignment is important—but so is listening to your own body.

2. They speak from lived experience.
   Not just quoting the Sutras—they’ve been through the shadows and can hold yours.

3. They make you feel seen, not small.
   The best teachers will empower you to be your own healer and guide.

4. They honor lineage, without gatekeeping.
   True yoga is humble, inclusive, and evolving. It isn’t about spiritual superiority.

5. They’re still students.
   Beware of anyone who claims to have all the answers. The right teacher is always learning.

💗 What Makes Us Different at Soul School Yoga

We know what it’s like to walk into a yoga room and not feel at home.
We’ve felt the pressure to perform. The confusion of spiritual jargon.
We’ve also experienced the deep healing that comes from a space where you don’t have to be perfect to belong.

That’s why our 200-Hour Yoga + Reiki Teacher Training was designed by two teachers—Sierra & Janelle—who care more about truth, safety, and self-inquiry than showmanship.

Our approach is:

• Trauma-informed

• Body positive

• Culturally respectful

• Energetically intelligent

This training isn’t about memorizing scripts.
It’s about discovering your voice.

🌊 Come Learn With Us (Even If You Don’t Want to Teach)

If you’re ready to learn from teachers who walk with you—not ahead of you—join us in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, Nov 8–22, 2025.

This is a 15-day immersion in yoga, Reiki, ritual, and real community.

👣 Explore the full training here

Whether you leave wanting to teach or simply be more present in your life, we promise:
Your relationship to yoga—and to yourself—will never be the same.