Impostor Syndrome and your Yoga Teaching

Do you recognize this voice?

• What am I doing here? Am I good enough to teach yoga?
• Am I really an inspired yoga teacher? Can I truly do this?
• I don’t belong here. I am not worthy of this place.

If you do recognize this voice, then you are familiar with Impostor Syndrome. This annoying little voice inside your head, questioning your worthiness and your abilities. I’m here to tell you that you are, in fact, in the right place in your life. You deserve to be here. In this post, I will reveal all about this syndrome, including how to overcome it and move on in your life as the yoga warrior you are.

What is Impostor Syndrome?

Impostor Syndrome refers to the psychology of a person who feels that any success they have is attributed to a random event, or another person or just luck, definitely not to their true value. The term was coined by clinical psychologists in 1978. Nothing new then.

This might come as a surprise, but, according to a study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Science, some 70% of people experience these impostor feelings at some point in their lives!

If you feel you don’t belong, you are in good company!

It is very often that yoga teachers question their worth. They have a constant fear that their gifts will turn out to be a fraud. Not you! Now you know better, and you can claim the place you deserve.

If you give in to those feelings and succumb to the doubt of your worthiness, the consequences are dear and unfair to your spirit. Impostor Syndrome can cost you jobs, hinder you from organizing your amazing retreat, and stop you from taking action and realizing your dreams. It can even make you procrastinate or work and be underpaid, despite your true value.

How to overcome Impostor Syndrome

There is really no need to torture yourself with thoughts of unworthiness and self-doubt. You wouldn’t be here now learning about how to evolve and market your yoga calling if you hadn’t made the decision to follow this path. If you hadn’t done your training and started practicing. If you hadn’t dreamed of teaching and helping others. If you hadn’t shown up for your yoga class every day. Nothing happens by accident.

First and foremost, you need to acknowledge and accept the impostor feelings. It’s important to maintain your awareness of the symptoms and put them in perspective. As a yoga teacher, you know all too well how to observe the thoughts and not engage with them. Think whether this feeling helps you or hinders you. Accept that something needs to shift, but don’t expect things to get better overnight. It doesn’t have to last a lifetime, either. It’s up to you to set yourself free.

Reframe your thoughts and remember that people who don’t share that Impostor Syndrome are no more talented or capable than you. Believe in yourself and what you have to offer. Sometimes all you have to do is pretend you are one of them. By all means, value criticism, ask for help, keep working on your skills, but never for a moment think that you are not worth your place in the yoga world.

Focus on your very special niche and what you have to offer. Be realistic about your expectations, and don’t compare yourself to other yoga teachers. They’ve walked their path and made their choices along the way. You can now make your own and set yourself free from anything that could hold you back.

Share your feelings with a friend or a mentor and people who value you. No need to delve into these thoughts. Talk about it to someone. You could even send me a message about it. I can reassure you that I understand. As I’ve said, you are not alone in this. You can get over this and make your dreams come true. What you are feeling is normal, and others are often in the same position. Share your vulnerability and connect. It will give you strength.

You could even share your vulnerability with your students and enable them to be a part of your change. I am sure they will understand and appreciate you sharing your fears with them. Being a member of a community, or even a leader of a community means that you also have the space to grow inside it. Have trust in your tribe that they will understand your pain and support your growth.

Last words

Embrace your warrior spirit. Choose action over inaction. Just go for it. Make your dreams come true. Bottom line: ignore Impostor Syndrome and move past it. Others have been there as well. Or they haven’t. The point is to grow. Grow as a person and grow as a yoga teacher. You may have doubts and moments of fear, but choose progress and make it happen. If you want some help, you can always contact me. You can also read my blog post on overcoming fears which will help you find clarity and awareness, and empower you to take the next step in your yoga career.

References

TIME, Yes, Impostor Syndrome Is Real. Here’s How to Deal With It, https://time.com/5312483/how-to-deal-with-impostor-syndrome/

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