Practice For the Self, Teach For the Student

I have seen it happen to so many great yogis: when they start teaching regularly their personal practices drop off and maybe even stop altogether.

We only have so much "yoga time" in our lives, and if we let both teaching and practicing eat away at that time, it is inevitable that when we add teaching, our practice must diminish to balance things.

Teaching is for the students. The teacher makes him/herself available as a guide for less experienced practitioners. This time is self-less for the teacher, who is completely focused on the presence, ability and needs of the students.

Being a good teacher requires a lot of personal experience and knowledge which usually comes from practice. So the best way to be a good teacher is to have a good practice.

Personal practice is time dedicated to progress and introspection. This makes it quite distinct from teaching. While practicing, a yogi focuses intently on the self, obliterating all distractions and separations.

Practice is introverted, teaching is extroverted. Practice is for the self, teaching is for the student.