5 Reasons to Never Stop Learning

My Ashtanga teacher posted a notice that he will not be teaching for an entire month. Ever inquisitive, I began to pry.  “Are you taking time off for the baby?” – his girlfriend is minutes from birth. “No,” he replied smiling, “I’m taking time off to work on 4^th series.” I would have applauded if not for the ashtangis quietly practicing nearby.

People leave for long periods to teach in exotic places, but these days it is much less common to take time off to simply study. Sadly, many new instructors do not even have a daily practice.

As teachers, we are students first. Most fields of learning, such as the school system, require continuing education. Likewise, we yoga teachers should be attending as many trainings and workshops a year as possible.

Here are 5 reasons teachers should never stop learning:

1. Get inspired. When we are inspired it has a spider web effect throughout our life. Our energy is brighter, making us more magnetic. Creativity flows.  
2. Be a student again. Teachers give all day long. There is something nice about being somewhere merely to receive. It also helps us gain perspective and compassion for the students taking our workshops and trainings.
3. Growth. If we are not doing the work, we are not evolving. Deepening our personal practice not only gives us content to share with others, we learn more about ourselves. 
4. Broaden Your Horizons. Our lives become narrow if we always do the same things. Get exposed to new ideas and new methods. Study in places you have never been. Meet new and interesting people. 
5. Build your classes. Often the biggest point of resistance is the fear is that class attendance will drop in our absence, but when we return renewed and inspired, people are attracted to the fresh energy and classes flourish!

Check out the YogaWorks teacher training schedule for details, or the workshops and retreats schedule for more opportunities to keep learning.

*photo credit Sasha Juliard

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Sarah Ezrin, E-RYT-500, is an energetic and humorous yoga teacher, writer, and YogaWorks teacher trainer based in Los Angeles. With a profound love of travel, Sarah runs around the globe leading trainings, workshops and retreats. For Sarah, yoga is not about the tricks or the postures; it is about finding one’s center amidst the challenges and chaos of the world. She believes that life is short and that it should be spent laughing, with the people and animals we love, and doing the things we most enjoy, like yoga! Practice with her at several of our LA based studios, or online with myyogaworks.com. For more information on Sarah, visit her website or connect with her on Facebook.