You have your certification. You've practised your flow a hundred times. You're ready — and yet, the first few times you stand in front of a real class, you'll make mistakes. Everyone does. But some mistakes are more common than others, and the faster you recognise them, the faster you grow.
Mistake 1: You demonstrate too much
New teachers feel safest when they're performing the poses themselves. So they demonstrate. Constantly. The problem? While you're in your own Warrior II, you can't see what's happening in the class.
The fix: Demonstrate only new or complex poses. The rest of the time: look, walk, guide. Your primary role is to see your students, not to practise with them.
Mistake 2: You overfill your classes
New teachers are afraid of "running out" — so they pack 25 poses into 60 minutes. The result is a hectic experience where students never get to land in any pose.
The fix: Fewer poses, longer time. 10-15 poses are plenty for a 60-minute class. Give students time to find the pose, feel it, and breathe in it. Silence is not emptiness — it's space.
"New-teacher me wanted to fill every second with instruction. Experienced me knows that the best moments in a class are when nothing is said."
Mistake 3: You use too many words
"And now bend your right knee to 90 degrees, keep your left leg straight, press the outside of your left foot down, lift your arms up overhead, hands together, and look up at your thumbs..." Who can remember all that?
The fix: Cue in layers:
- First: the big movement ("Step one foot forward")
- Then: refinement ("Knee over ankle")
- Finally: the intention ("Feel the power in your legs")
Not all at once. Give students time between each layer.
Mistake 4: You copy your favourite teacher
It's natural — your favourite teacher's style inspired you to teach. But you're not them. And your students can tell the difference between authentic teaching and a copy.
The fix: Be inspired, but find your own voice. What are you passionate about? What's your strength? Maybe it's anatomical precision, maybe it's poetic cueing, maybe it's humour. Whatever it is — ownership beats imitation, every time.
Mistake 5: You don't set boundaries
New teachers want to please. So they teach for free, say yes to every time slot, accept low pay, and adapt to studio demands without negotiating.
The fix: You are a professional. Have a minimum rate. Have clear boundaries for when you're available. Respect your own time — if you don't, no one else will either.
The best mistake of all
Is to start. Perfectionism is the greatest enemy of new yoga teachers. You will make mistakes — and that's the point. Every mistake is feedback. Every class is a learning. The most important thing is that you teach, evaluate, and adjust.
Our yoga teacher training includes extensive practice teaching with individual feedback, so you can make your mistakes in a safe space. Or read our guide to cueing and voice use for more teaching tips.
