Teaching Yoga When the World Feels Heavy

Our students come to yoga for a hundred different reasons: to process, to escape, to connect, to move, to feel, to numb. Not everyone needs the same words or lesson. And yet, as teachers, there’s this pressure --especially from social media -- that we need to have the right words + the ultimate clarity. But here’s the thing: there is no one right thing.

I’ll be honest: I was scared to even put this post up. I knew people might think it’s not enough, or that I’m “doing it wrong.” But a lot of yoga teachers feel the way I feel. We’re human, too. Some of us feel numb, confused, angry. We’re all doing the best we can. 

We don’t have to put pressure on ourselves to “get it right.” We don’t have to pretend we have clarity we haven’t yet found ourselves. It’s okay to process what’s happening in the world privately, in our own practice, in our own lives. It’s from this personal work that we can teach practices that we are actually using to navigate the world.

Here are three ways I’m personally navigating the heaviness, and how I’m bringing these teachings into my classes:

Ahimsa (Non-Harming)
I’m being extra kind to myself and those around me. I’m taking extra care of my neighborhood wildlife, because that’s something I can control right now. In my classes, I invite students to practice this through positive self-talk -- a little compliment to themselves during a challenging pose, a few extra moments of gratitude for being present together on the mat.

Pratyahara (Turning Inward)
I’m limiting my consumption of social media. It’s hard, because it’s part of my job, but too much information overload is harmful to my nervous system. In class, I encourage students to practice this by noticing the pause between stimulus and response -- the breath of arrival into a pose, the act of simply hearing sensations without immediately interpreting them.

Dvesa (Avoidance)
I notice my own tendency to avoid discomfort, especially hard conversations about the world or learning new things that feel emotionally heavy. On the mat, I bring this to students’ attention by pointing out moments of avoidance -- holding bridge pose for three minutes and guiding them through the physical discomfort. Witnessing their choice to stay with it is always powerful.

Yoga teachers, the world is heavy right now. Your job isn’t to explain it, fix it, or carry it for everyone who walks into your studio. Showing up, holding space, and teaching from what’s actually supporting you is enough. Trust the practice, trust the teachings, and trust that presence speaks louder than perfect words.

And let me be so clear: this isn’t a call to silence or inaction. It’s about finding the inner steadiness that allows you to show up more skillfully in your teaching, in your community, and in your life. Some days we’ll feel clear and confident; other days we’ll feel like we’re just barely holding it together. That’s okay. It’s real. It’s human. 

ILY

xo,
Charlotte