What? Not a yoga superstar?

A close friend (aka my boyfriend) of mine teaches yoga at several locations in the bay area. He teaches all levels but seems to have his strongest following in the basic classes he teaches at one of the local fitness centers. The classes he teaches at the yoga studio have fierce competition in well established classes including Mysore. Last week, I saw him just after his evening class. He had only two students and was feeling dejected with the drop in numbers from one week to the next. “I’m just not good enough,” he murmured.

Of course, we all know that it’s not about the numbers when it comes to teaching yoga – at least not from the standpoint of how effective you are as a yoga instructor. I reminded him of the stories he had shared in the past month of students approaching him after his classes to share how the teachings he brought to class had made a positive influence in their lives on and off the mat. These breakthroughs physically, mentally, and spiritually are what initially drew him into the practice and are the reason he initially went down the path of teaching: to share “the benefits” with others.

The following day, I ran across an article Elephant Journal posted on their site titled “So You Want to Be a Yoga Superstar“. It reinforced the message that I had been trying to covey. I sent the link along with a little message of loving kindness. Too busy to read it, nearly a week passed and the message was still unread. Knowing that the article was not at all about being a superstar, which is certainly not my friend’s goal for sure. It was merely a reminder of everything he knew already, therefore he put off opening the link. I let it go.

Then, he was asked by the owner of the yoga studio to teach her class. She is brilliantly motivating and über awesomeness times ten. It’s a tough act to follow for anyone following in her footsteps and, in my opinion, just what he needed to push him to the next level in his calling to share his love for the practice. As the time for class drew near, he sent me a few text messages and left a couple of voice messages noting his nervousness. “You’ll be fine.” I told him. “They’ll love you, even if you stumble a few times.” I added, “If Jenn thinks you can do it, then you can do it!”

Of course he pulled off with only a brief issue with getting his music going. And this morning, I even saw a posting on FB from one of the students saying that his class was “great!”
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While it is easy for me to note how my friend’s criticism and self doubt trips him up now and again, it is easier from me to acknowledge in him than in myself. How much of the doubts which have arisen around my ability to teach yoga is the result of similar self critique? Is it true that I have nothing to teach others? If that is the case, than why am I attempting to share the lessons learning on my journey here?  Like my friend, I am not setting out to become a yoga superstar; I just want to share this practice with others.