Yoga Teachers' Mental Health: Yoga's Not So Dirty Secret with Kim McNeil

intelligent edge yoga

The intelligent edge yoga podcast was produced by Kathryn Anne Flynn; author of Teach Kind, Clear Yoga: A Guide for Practitioners and Teachers. To learn more about Kathryn, practice online, or find retreats and training opportunities, visit kathrynanneflynn.com

Show Notes:

Let's talk about mental health and yoga teachers, since so many people who turn to yoga are seekers or individuals looking for greater wellness. Kim McNeil from Calgary, Alberta and I open the conversation - imperfectly, compassionately, and honestly.

• We talk about Kim's background, and what it's like to be an introvert in a job that favours extroverts.
• How teaching yoga can cultivate a different persona in front of classes, and introduce the term "cult of personality" as it applies to yoga teachers
• The secrecy around mental health challenges for yoga teachers, as if perfect mental health were a pre-requisite for teaching
• The difference between learning from a difficult situation and teachers making excuses for being "challenging" (ie is that person a mirror for you?)
• The needs of co-regulation and community that yoga is attempting to provide, imperfectly, and developing skills for being well
• Acknowledging the need for creating a stable, healthy relationship for teaching yoga (building confidence) and being steady in yourself