Non-yoga skills that yoga teachers need to develop

Anatomy, philosophy and class sequencing – these are typical subjects that might come to mind when we think about advancing our yoga teaching skills and growing in our profession. But there are a whole range of less obvious skills that you'll need to develop in order to become a really good yoga teacher. Let's call them non-yoga skills. It's everything else you have to be good at, other than your topic. And it's a lot. 

Who else other than a yoga teacher gives a 90 minute memorised yet adaptable speech – a crazy mix of a technical manual, stand-up comedy and lecture all in one – several times a week? And these are just some of the skills you need to some degree in order to become a yoga teacher with an edge. Between doing your taxes, being a social media expert and organising events, it's a lot. You have to be a bit of a polymath – a person whose expertise spans different subject areas.

As a yoga teacher, it's clever to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Maybe by giving yourself a score between 1-10 from the list below. Then make a plan for the next couple of years. Play your strengths. Deepen your knowledge in areas you love. Become an expert in your natural areas of interest and skill. But don't just do that. Develop your weak areas as well. Especially if you have been teaching for a while already. Learn, grow and broaden. Gain confidence.

So what are some of these non-yoga skills?

1. Public Speaking skills. You stand in front of people and give instructions. This is the very definition of public speaking. You need to address the class without feeling nervous or awkward, whether you are facing 40 students or 2.
2. Customer Service skills. No matter to what degree you teach, you are a business. And customer service is the key to most successful businesses. You must help people, be reliable, give a little extra, answer questions, be cheerful and friendly. 
3. Communication skills. You have to give a 90 minute non-stop speech with well chosen words. You have to vary your language and it helps to have a sense of rhythm and poetry, to offer cultural references and have a sense of humor. Meanwhile you have to speak clearly. To the whole group, but also connect on an individual level.
4. Leadership skills. You have to be a good example. By practicing and learning, making healthy lifestyle choices and bringing your energy to the class. You have to share and relate experiences in order to help students understand the practice on all levels. You show rather than just tell. This also requires a deep understanding of who you are and a good dose of honesty.
5. Business skills. You have to understand how to price what you offer, no matter to what degree you teach yoga. You must create sustainable business models and probably run your own company. 
6. Patience skills. You cannot rush into this profession. Becoming a good yoga teacher will take about 10 years, most experienced yoga teachers agree. Be humble and let it take time. Don't take on too much. 
7. Voice skills. You use your voice a lot, and you can and should work with it. Your students' nervous systems are directly affected by how your voice is perceived. 
8. Branding and Marketing skills. You are a brand, no matter to what degree you teach. Knowing who you are, what your purpose is and who your target group is are essential components to efficient marketing.    
9. Networking skills. You will likely be more sustainable if you build a network of other teachers similar to you, other yoga teachers from other lineages, specialists (such as massage therapists, therapists, physio therapists etc.), yoga studio owners etcetera, rather than just struggle on your own.    

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