Yoga Teachers, You Need These 4 Unexpected Ways to Work Through Imposter Syndrome

"Imposter syndrome can make someone so obsessed with pleasing or being perfect, yet so unsure of their capacity to do so, that they become stuck in procrastination or self-recrimination or both. Obviously that's not a desirable or sustainable state in which to exist, let alone teach from. And there is a need to explore and understand why we're experiencing these thoughts that fall beyond the scope of an article."

"But before any of us decide to give up on teaching or reconcile ourselves to leading class with heart palpitations and cold sweats, consider whether there are aspects of imposter syndrome that could be reframed as a super power. How to Reframe Imposter Syndrome If there's a secret upside to imposter syndrome, it's the realization that your capacity to teach yoga does not depend on your confidence in yourself or your abilities."

Yoga teachers often doubt their ability to share the practice, questioning strength, flexibility, spirituality, articulation, wisdom, popularity, or creativity. These doubts sometimes amount to imposter syndrome, a persistent fear that one is unworthy or lacks qualifications. Teachers experience anxiety, over-preparation, procrastination, self-recrimination, and being mentally absent during class. Such states hinder sustainable teaching. Some aspects of imposter syndrome can be reframed: teaching capacity relies less on confidence and more on continued engagement and willingness to share. Reframing can transform anxiety into a motivating awareness rather than a barrier to teaching. Exploring these patterns and seeking support can help teachers teach from presence rather than fear.

Read at Yoga Journal