What should you look for in a teacher? First and foremost, he/she/they should be a practitioner in an ongoing dialogue with, and exploration of, all the elements of practice, be it Yoga, Ayurveda, or Hanna Somatic Education. Daily practice should be integral to their life. Competent teaching rests on that bedrock. 

Photo: Derek Pashupa Goodwin

Next, it’s important to assess a teacher’s capacity to recognize and adapt to your circumstances. Yoga is not one-size-fits-all. Ayurveda is always geared to the individual. Somatic education starts with your particular condition and needs. While the tools of practice may overlap from person to person, each student is unique in her/his/their intention and desires. Work with a teacher who listens carefully to you, sees the best in you, and then teaches you how to practice so you can meet your current needs and progress towards longer-term goals. 

Whether I am offering HANNA Somatic Education, Ayurvedic Health Counseling, or Yoga/Yoga Therapy, I always aim to

• Create and hold a safe space for inquiry and exploration

• Offer teachings and tools conveyed in a way that’s meaningful to the individual student

• Help students identify habits and patterns that may stand in the way of finding contentment and joy

• Encourage the development of a personal, consistent practice

• Foster a compassionate awareness of “right relationship” to self, family, friends, and the larger community

• Support the quest for a life lived with intention and purpose

• Awaken and deepen connections to the body’s wisdom and especially to the breath