Yoga โInstructor Recounts Confidenceโข Crisis After Studio Evaluation
Published October 15, 2025โ 05:40AM โ -โ Aโฃ seasonedโ yoga instructor is speakingโค out after a recent studio evaluation left her questioning herโ abilities, highlighting a growing concern among teachers about pressure toโ conform to rigid performance โstandards. The instructor, โwhoโ has been teaching for over eight โคyears andโค practicing for even โlonger, shared her experienceโ wiht feeling undermined despite a successful track record.
The instructor, โคwho teaches both dynamic and restorative yoga formats, reported receiving feedback โduring an โคevaluationโ at a โchain yoga studio that she was “too sweet” and lacked sufficient “high energy.” She was further โฃtold her voice wasโ betterโ suited for gentler classes.
“I do teach those โขformats,” she โexplained.”I love holding spaceโ forโ restorativeโ practices. But I โคalso love to move. I love to feel strong.โค Being told otherwise made me question myself.”
The evaluation itself contributed to her distress. She described stumblingโ over her words while being observed โbyโค a lead teacher who meticulously timed the class and maintained constant eye contact. While acknowledging it wasn’t her strongest session,โฃ the instructor โคfelt the criticism was deeply impactful.
The experience triggered feelings of โimposter syndrome, a common struggle among yoga teachers, she noted. “I’ve โคspokenโ to many โฃteachers who admit to feeling the same: pressured โขto perform, measuredโ by numbers, and asked to fit into a moldโ thatโ leaves โฃlittle space for individuality or authenticity.”
Despite the setback, โฃthe instructor reaffirmed her confidence in her teachingโ abilities, citing the positive impact she consistently witnesses in her students. “I know I’m a strong teacher physically, mentally, and energetically. โคI’ve watchedโ students leave class stronger, sweatier, and more grounded.”
Ultimately, she believes yoga benefits from diversity in teaching styles. “Yoga โdoesn’t need more drill sergeants,” she โconcluded. “It needs teachers who bring humanity, connection and โpresence into โขthe โroom.”