Have you ever been to a yoga class where you can feel so relaxed? Either after the class, or in a Savasana? Or perhaps whilst being in an active pose but completely surrendering your body to the feeling of your breath and noticing the positive energy flowing within your body? The energy which in yoga is referred to as ‘prana’ or the ‘life force’. And the positive state of bliss often referred to as ‘bhava’ in Sanskrit. [i]
I know I have. It feels like a blissful state of mind and body, sensation of being free and fresh. A complete zen!
And often that feeling remains for the rest of the day, a complete revitalisation and a feeling of being ‘a new person’. For yoga students, this feeling is what we, yoga teachers, aim for.
But for yoga teachers, creating and manifesting this positive energy flow may lead into a complete opposite, if not properly dealt with. (Some) Yoga teachers tend to absorb all the energy - positive and negative. And if they are not careful enough and don’t have an established ‘self-care’ routine, too much of the negative absorption, combined with busy lifestyles, ever so growing yoga business, competition challenges, hours of unpaid work planning classes and workshops and bills to pay, may lead to a mental breakdown. So, let’s face it, yoga teachers aren’t immune to mental health problems! And we need to realise and face it. No more brave faces!
Yoga business is amongst the fastest growing businesses and is becoming ever so desirable. The multi-billion industry continues to expand yet most of the teachers are barely making ends meet. For every current teacher, there are two more people interested in becoming one[ii]. The number of yoga practitioners in the US alone rose to 36 million in 2016, from 20.4 million in 2012. Fitness industry, yoga clothes, equipment, classes also increased by $6 billion from 2012-2016.
Clearly, yoga is becoming a huge business – for some maybe! For the majority of teachers out there, it is a gruelling industry (Don’t get me wrong I still love my job and have no regrets, but just want to point out that it isn’t all a complete bliss and enlightenment!).
To become a yoga teacher, trainees are usually required to pass 200-hour yoga teacher training, costing on average £1500 (+ books and classes). This only covers the theory. Additional training to become a senior teacher (not including teaching experience) may cost in excess of £3000 and last for a number of years. And then annual CPD hours. And yet – it’s not even a degree.
But these training sessions do not cover the emotional side of being a teacher or the ‘running a yoga business and a busy family’. The training also never mentions financial hardships and working day and night to make ends meet. You need a lot of experience, self-reflection and time to understand how to deal with this. I suppose a lot of this is true for any other ‘recognised’ degree. Costing a small fortune, constant studying for a number of years, sleepless nights, and may still end up on the streets.
I’m lucky that my family has always been my priority. And that teaching yoga comes second and isn’t my only income. But I know a lot of teachers who are struggling, yet still keeping their brave smiley faces, whilst teaching 3 - 5 classes a day! Or carrying on with the ‘day job’ that brings income and then teaching in the evenings. Inevitably, this will lead to a breakdown.
Yoga teachers aren’t immune from a breakdown. Whilst they’re equipped with the ability to slow down their breathing and relax using the yogic techniques, they can still suffer.
And yet, the number of CPD (continuous professional development) training sessions out there designed for mental health in yoga industry is very few. Many are designed for teaching postural techniques, building on the “flow” of a class, yoga sequencing, and teaching various styles of yoga. And there is nothing wrong with those! I think self-care is the primary technique for any new yoga teachers that is needed. And that often gets overlooked, both by students and the teachers. It is incredibly important, as without it, yoga teachers will burn out!
Over the years, I have been suffering with various mental health issues and whilst I’m not medically equipped in treating them, I can recognise the signs. And the best treatment for me - and for a lot of people out there- when life takes over and becomes overwhelming - is to stop. Take count, self-reflect, and slow down. Sit down, take a notebook or a diary. Write down the feelings, emotions, anything that comes across your mind. Draw and paint! Become creative in organising your thoughts.
Some teachers will say do this first thing in the morning, after meditation. I say, do it any time. Whenever it suits, but at first plan to do it – as if you don’t put it in your busy schedule, it will never happen! And then, the inevitable BOOM!
As a teacher, I see so many students not being able to sit still or stand still. During Savasana, new yoga teachers tend to mentally draw the stickmen and plans for their next class. So, being still can be extremely difficult in our busy lives. Observing breath and meditating is a skill and takes time to master. But as with everything practice makes it perfect. All you need to do is make a start! Whether you are a teacher, or a student. Or just anyone who happens to read this.
If you do happen to be a yoga teacher, I invite you to modify the speed of your lifestyle. It is incredibly hard running your business and carrying on with the ‘day job’ and teaching so many classes. Keeping busy may actually divert your attention from the real problem. So, notice your tempo and without judging of feeling guilty, slow down. Don’t be ‘I can do it all!’ man or a woman. Go to a yoga class that you like and completely surrender –abort the class plans. Alternatively, if business helps, be busy by talking about it. Seek help. From a therapist, from another yoga teacher. From a family member, your child or your friend!
Above all, be human. Not a super-hero!
[i] The Encyclopedia of Yoga and Tantra, Georg Feuerstein: bhava means the ‘being’, ‘condition’, nature’, ‘disposition’, ‘feeling’. In Bhakti Yoga, ‘feeling’ also means directing and activating the emotional and spiritual energy created through meditation and practice; on an individual’s chosen deity or object of devotion. It is divided in 5 principal feelings (tranquil mood, mood of respect, brotherly feelings, mood between lovers and friendship mood.
[ii] 2016, Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance (US); national survey