Living Yoga is the First Credential

How Embodied Practice Becomes Confident Teaching

Many people begin yoga for grounding, clarity, or stress relief. Over time, something quieter and more powerful happens. The practice starts following you off the mat.

You notice how you speak.

How you pace yourself.

How you listen to your body.

How you respond when life shifts unexpectedly.

This is not accidental. This is yoga working.

But for those who feel called to teach, living yoga is only the beginning. The next step is learning how to translate lived experience into responsible, skillful leadership.

Living Yoga Versus Teaching Yoga

Living yoga is personal.

Teaching yoga is relational.

Personal practice asks: What is true for me?

Teaching asks: What is supportive, safe, and accessible for others?

This distinction matters.

A teacher is not someone who has perfected poses or memorized philosophy. A teacher is someone who can hold space, read the room, and offer practices that meet students where they are, not where the teacher wants them to be.

The Shift From Practice to Presence

At a certain point in training, something changes. The focus moves away from performance and toward presence.

Teachers begin to:

• Pace classes based on the energy of the room

• Offer options instead of expectations

• Value restraint as much as effort

• Understand that stillness can be as impactful as movement

This is where real teaching begins.

When a teacher understands yoga as a living framework rather than a checklist, classes become more grounded, more inclusive, and more sustainable for both student and teacher.

Why Philosophy Matters in Real Life

The foundational teachings of yoga are not abstract ideas. They are practical tools.

They guide how a teacher:

• Speaks to students with care and clarity

• Honors physical limitations without diminishing empowerment

• Balances discipline with compassion

• Navigates change, uncertainty, and growth

When philosophy is embodied, teaching becomes less about instruction and more about facilitation.

The Responsibility of Teaching

Teaching yoga is a responsibility, not a performance.

Students trust teachers with their bodies, their nervous systems, and often their vulnerability. That trust requires:

• Ongoing self-study

• Respect for individual differences

• Clear boundaries

• Willingness to adapt

This is why strong teacher training focuses on application, not just theory.

Taking the Next Step

For those feeling called to teach, the question is not, Am I ready?

The question is, Am I willing to keep learning?

Teaching yoga is a practice in itself.

It asks you to:

• Keep refining your awareness

• Stay curious rather than certain

• Lead with humility and clarity

• Commit to growth on and off the mat

Living yoga is the foundation.

Teaching yoga is the continuation.

And when done with integrity, the two become inseparable.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you feel called to deepen your practice, explore teacher training, or understand how yoga can be lived and taught with integrity, I’d love to connect.

Whether you are curious about yoga teacher training, mentorship, continuing education, or simply want to talk through where you are on your path, you are welcome to reach out via CHAT to begin a conversation with Michelle. #livingyoga #edgeyogaschool #yogateacher