What makes a great teacher?
What are the ingredients you need to be a successful yoga teacher? By Dawn Harlow
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A great yoga teacher is defined by far more than their ability to demonstrate complex poses or recite ancient texts. At the core of exceptional teaching lies a genuine commitment to serving others and fostering transformation.
The foundation begins with integrity — teaching what you truly know and embody in your own life. The best yoga teachers don't claim to know everything, but they authentically share what they've learned through personal experience and daily practice.
Authenticity and humility form the cornerstone of effective teaching. Those who have devoted themselves to the practice — sacrificing time, energy and comfort in their studies — understand that the teacher-student relationship is built on trust. This trust becomes the essential catalyst for transformation, creating a safe space where students can share their stories and vulnerabilities.
The greatest gift I ever received as a teacher is that they trusted me. Trust is essential for change. For people to trust you, to be able to share their stories, really allows both to elicit great change.
True yoga teachers embrace the paradox of their role: while there exists a natural polarity between teacher and student, there is also a fundamental equality. The best instructors remain perpetual students themselves, understanding that learning never ceases and lessons continue to unfold throughout life's journey.
Success as a yoga teacher varies widely depending on individual goals and intentions. However, at its essence, I believe successful teaching involves helping others with compassion and devotion, going beyond the ordinary to facilitate genuine transformation. A teacher’s ultimate purpose is to help students move through life’s challenges, particularly in our modern world filled with suffering.
The true measure of success lies in enabling students to feel emotionally free, happy, centred and grounded — developing the courage to live authentically and fulfil their unique purpose. A great yoga teacher serves as a vessel for profound change, demonstrating through both instruction and example that humans can be compassionate and kind.
In the end, what distinguishes an exceptional yoga teacher is remarkably simple yet profound: they genuinely care. This authentic concern for students' wellbeing and growth transcends technical knowledge or physical ability, creating the foundation for meaningful guidance that extends far beyond the yoga mat.
Ready to embark on your journey to become an exceptional Kundalini yoga teacher? The 'New Dawn' Kundalini Yoga Academy, the modern-day future school of Kundalini yoga teachers, begins its next training programme in October. This leading-edge Kundalini teacher training course is designed to empower individuals with profound knowledge, transformative practices, and the necessary tools to become exceptional Kundalini yoga practitioners.
For more information about becoming a Kundalini yoga practitioner or to enrol in the upcoming teacher training course, please email help@dawnharlow.com.
Dawn Harlow is a writer and KRI certified kundalini yoga and meditation teacher. For the last 15 years, she has dedicated her life to studying and mastering the humanology and philosophy of this sacred technology. This is the foundation of her mission which she continues to share globally with both women and men. She combines teachings on health, psychology and spiritual philosophy for people to live their most fulfilling life.
Om Magazine
First published in November 2009, OM Yoga magazine has become the most popular yoga title in the UK. Available from all major supermarkets, independents and newsstands across the UK. Also available on all digital platforms.
