The irony of teaching peace while battling inner chaos, why are so many yoga teachers struggling?
Have You Ever Met a Stressed Out Yoga Teacher?
Let me guess, YES!. And if you haven’t, it’s probably because they hide it well. After all, who would trust a yoga teacher who looks like they are on the verge of an existential breakdown? The irony is almost poetic, those who dedicate their lives to teaching inner peace are often the ones battling the loudest mental storms.
And I get it. Yoga teachers are supposed to be the embodiment of tranquillity, rolling out their mats with effortless grace, whispering words of wisdom while maintaining an almost untouched sense of peace. But let’s be real, most yoga teachers I know are barely holding it together. Behind the Instagram posts of click-worthy backbends and calm meditations, behind the Om chants and the incense sticks, there’s a different story unfolding, a story of exhaustion, anxiety and sometimes, deep disillusionment.
So why are yoga teachers some of the most stressed out people? Let’s dive into the paradox of modern yoga teaching and uncover what’s really going on.
The Capitalist Trap – When yoga becomes a hustle
Yoga is an ancient spiritual practice, but in today’s world, it has become a business. And not just any business, a highly competitive, cutthroat and often underpaid one. Yoga teachers are constantly pressured to market themselves, build an online presence, get more certifications and fill up classes, all while pretending to be completely at peace.
Ask yourself this, would you feel peaceful if your entire livelihood depended on how many people showed up to your class? If your financial stability was tied to unpredictable attendance, seasonal trends and the latest yoga fads? If your ability to pay rent meant you had to post reels every day about mindfulness and “authentic living” while your own nervous system was barely coping?
Modern capitalism has turned yoga into a product, and yoga teachers into content creators, branding experts and business owners. The result? A never-ending cycle of stress, where the very thing that was meant to free the soul becomes the biggest source of mental burden. The art of yoga has been diluted to fit consumerism, where teachers often find themselves walking a tightrope between honouring tradition and catering to market demand.
The Exhaustion Crisis – Teaching yoga shouldn’t feel like a marathon
Let’s talk about energy.
Yoga teachers are constantly giving. We hold space for students, guide them through classes, offer words of encouragement, adjust postures and sometimes even serve as therapists (unpaid, of course). We absorb emotions, witness personal struggles and often carry the weight of other people’s trauma without anyone asking how we are doing.
Now, here’s the hard truth, many yoga teachers teach out of love, not because it is financially rewarding. But love alone doesn’t pay the bills. So they take on multiple classes a day, running from one studio to another, teaching privates, leading retreats, hosting workshops and maybe even running an online course. Their schedules are packed, their bodies are tired and their minds never stop racing. Even moments of stillness turn into planning time eg:- sequencing classes, responding to student queries, recording content.
Ever noticed how some yoga teachers look physically drained, with that telltale exhaustion in their eyes? That is not enlightenment, it is burnout disguised as resilience. There is an unspoken expectation that yoga teachers should never complain, should always be available, and should constantly project a sense of peace, even when they feel anything but.
The Financial Reality – Passion doesn’t always pay
Here’s an uncomfortable truth, many yoga teachers are struggling financially.
The romanticised idea of leaving a corporate job to “follow your passion” and teach yoga sounds beautiful, but it comes with a harsh reality check. Unless you are a well-established teacher with a loyal following, teaching yoga doesn’t always provide a stable income. Many teachers are paid per class, which means if students don’t show up, they don’t get paid. Some studios even operate on a profit-sharing model, leaving teachers financially vulnerable.
Now, imagine trying to maintain a sense of inner peace while wondering how you will pay rent this month. Doesn’t sound so fulfilling anymore, does it? To make ends meet, some teachers resort to offering branded merchandise, private coaching, and social media courses, none of which they initially envisioned as part of their yoga journey. The very practice that was meant to liberate is now shackled to financial survival.
A Contrast – Stress in the West vs simplicity in India
One thing I have observed is how yoga teachers in the West seem far more stressed than those in India. In India, yoga is deeply woven into the fabric of life. It is not just something you learn in a studio or a retreat, but a way of being, absorbed over time.
For many Indian yoga teachers, their practice is not separate from their daily lives. It is not an additional task to be fitted into a schedule, it is part of their existence. Simplistic living is not a foreign concept, nor is running after material success as aggressive as in the West. There is a greater sense of contentment with what is needed rather than constantly striving for what is wanted. Validation and people pleasing are also far less common.
In fact, most people take up yoga teacher training not to commercialise it, but as a means to deepen their spiritual journey. Acceptance and adjustment come naturally, and stress does not feel as overwhelming as it does in the West. In contrast, in many Western cultures, success is measured by external validation in form of student numbers, social media engagement, and prestige. Yoga, instead of being a personal exploration, often turns into a race to the top, where teachers are expected to stay relevant through constant innovation.
In India, the approach to yoga is deeply intertwined with the philosophy of non-attachment. There is an innate understanding that yoga is not a career, but a way of life, and that its benefits cannot be rushed. In the West, however, yoga is frequently marketed as an instant solution, whether it be for mental health, weight loss, or stress relief, creating unrealistic expectations for both teachers and students alike.
So, what is the way out?
If teaching yoga is making you more stressed than centred, something needs to change.
Yoga was never meant to be a business empire. It was never meant to be a performance. It was never meant to drain the soul in pursuit of profit. It was meant to be a process of self-realisation, an intimate exploration of the inner world.
Perhaps it is time to redefine what success looks like in the yoga space. Perhaps it is about going back to why we started this journey in the first place. Maybe the true markers of success aren’t in the number of students, followers, or financial gains, but in the ability to embody yoga beyond the mat, to find contentment in the simplicity of the practice, and to embrace the path without losing ourselves to the demands of the world.
And if we have lost that along the way, then maybe, just maybe, it is time to find our way back.
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Namaste!
Madhura x
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