“Be yourself” is terrible advice if you don’t know who ya are.
This spring (2025), I got sober and started my RYT300-hour yoga teacher training at Citizen Yoga. The work has been clarifying. I’ve been asked to get honest about who I am, what I stand for, and how I show up as a yoga teacher and in my life. Out of that reflection, my core values as a yoga teacher emerged.
I’m sharing them with you because values are more than buzzwords. They’re anchors. They remind us who we are when life starts “lifeing”, and they guide how we connect with one another. Maybe some of mine resonate with you, or maybe they spark an idea for your own list. Either way, my point is not that these are the “best” or the “right” values to have, my invitation is to reflect and to claim yourself.
Why Values Matter in Yoga:
Here are my seven core values for yoga teaching and for life:
1. Gratitude
appreciation, peace, acceptance, hope
Gratitude: the practice of focusing on positive aspects of oneself, life, etc. When I practice gratitude, there is less room for fear.
I remember waking up exhausted after a late night of doom scrolling and realizing I had a choice: burn out on anger, or notice how I got to start a new day from the comfort of my warm bed. That perspective shifted everything.
2. Community
friendship, relationships, connection, inclusion, love
This has been both a huge struggle and an area of major personal growth in my life path. Friendships and other relationships are challenging, worthwhile, and offer so much growth. When I focus on the people around me and make myself more useful to them, life is much more meaningful.
3. Integrity
accountability, conscientiousness, honesty
The insides match the outsides. A building with integrity is steady and unshakable… and so I aim to make my teaching, my words, and my choices to feel the same way.
4. Curiosity
open-mindedness, growth, learning, creativity
I remind myself to ask open-ended questions and avoid getting stuck in my own opinion. Curiosity leads to new ideas, learning, growth, and the kind of creativity that keeps life fresh.
5. Safety
reliability, trustworthiness, freedom, independence, autonomy
This one’s tricky because you can’t grab onto safety; it isn’t something I can pick up from the store. But when I create a sense of safety for myself or for students in my classes, we can soften into possibilities.
6. Purpose
intentionality, authenticity, motivation, drive
Like most of us, I started asking “why” as a toddler. I just didn’t stop. Having a reason to do something, serving on behalf of something bigger, gives me energy… Even if I don’t know what that purpose is, I trust in the powers greater than me.
7. Humor
playfulness, joy, fun, happiness
Having a sense of humor has carried me through absurd circumstances. Really lightens the mood.
My Intention when Teaching
I don’t always get it right. That’s why I keep practicing.
And teaching yoga is an extension of that practice. It’s how I remember who I am, and how I hope you’ll remember who you are, too.
So here’s my flag in the ground:
I teach to remember who we are.
In Closing
What about you? What are your core values? Which ones guide you when life gets messy? Contact me to share your thoughts!