Hot take: Your yoga teacher doesn't need to be an influencer

General Yoga
1

Hey everyone,

I feel like this shouldn’t be a hot take, but after a conversation I had today in the studio I’m not sure…

I’ve been practicing yoga for about 15 years now, and I need to vent about something that’s been bothering me. Maybe I’m just getting old and cranky, but does anyone else feel like yoga has become way too… performative?

Like, are people caring more about the Instagram photo or the TikTok than the actual practice? I was in Seoul for a couple of weeks recently and this was especially noticeable.

I started going to yoga because it was the one place where I could just BE.

No pressure to look good, no need to impress anyone. Hell, I still deliberately set up my mat behind someone else so I can’t see myself in the mirrors. It’s my time to zone out and focus inward.

But lately, I feel like every class I walk into is being run by someone who’s more focused on their Instagram aesthetic than actually teaching. Worse still when they live stream the practice to social media and that’s always in the back of my head.

Don’t get me wrong. I get that social media is part of running a business now. I’ve used it plenty for finding my own clients. But when I’m trying to hold warrior pose and my teacher is adjusting their perfect messy bun for the fifth time or making sure their outfit photographs well, it totally pulls me out of the experience.

I feel like it’s really setting back my practice and I see it in every studio.

I miss the days when yoga teachers were just… yoga teachers.

Those who showed up in old band tees, discussed chakras without irony, and genuinely didn’t care if their classes were “content-worthy.” They had a grounded energy that made you feel safe to just be yourself.

Now it feels like I’m attending someone’s personal branding session. And look, if that’s authentic to them, cool. But most of the time, you can FEEL when someone is putting on a show vs. when they’re genuinely present.

Am I being too judgmental here?

I know I can vote with my feet and find different teachers (and I do try), but it seems like this influencer vibe has infected most studios in my area.

Anyone else noticing this? How do you find teachers who are more focused on the practice than the 'gram? Or am I just being a grumpy millennial who needs to accept that this is what yoga looks like now?

Would love to hear your thoughts. Especially if you’ve found studios or teachers who still keep it real.

17 Likes
2

Deepen Your Practice Beyond the Mat
Finding meaningful yoga discussions and guidance can be surprisingly difficult. Discover a space where your questions are welcomed and your growth is celebrated: Start Your Journey

3

image
image424×356 31.9 KB

Some studio still have the right idea.

4

After years of guiding students through their practice, I’ve noticed many talented teachers burning out from teaching 15-20 classes weekly just to pay rent. It’s heartbreaking watching them lose their authentic connection to poses like Savasana or Tree Pose because they’re exhausted from the hustle.

The financial reality pushes so many toward social media as a survival strategy, which explains why that performative energy seeps into classes where we should be focusing on breath and alignment.

Maybe we could all benefit from more Child’s Pose and less camera pose, both as teachers needing rest and students seeking genuine practice.

5

The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are - Jung.

We’re all losing when studios become stages instead of sanctuaries.

6

There are still some teachers out there who know what’s what. Just takes a little bit of digging sometimes.

7

You know what just hit me, maybe some teachers are so caught up in maintaining their ‘perfect class flow’ for content that they forget basic human needs, like when someone literally just needs a sip of water in HOT yoga class.

8

In my small town, most yoga teachers are still very community-focused and use social media simply to share class times or local events. It’s refreshing because the emphasis here remains on personal growth and community support rather than online presence.

Isn’t that what yoga is truly about?

9

I loved when my favorite teacher simply held space for us to explore our own bodies rather than commanding us through poses like a drill sergeant or performing for cameras, she chose the humble path of pure teaching, and it was absolutely changing.

10

When the external distractions become overwhelming, I guide students back to fundamentals through longer holds in Tadasana (Mountain Pose) with eyes closed, focusing solely on the subtle swaying that reveals our true center.

Try incorporating Pratyahara practices, sense withdrawal through Shanmukhi Mudra, where you gently close the ears, eyes, and nose, creating an instant retreat from the performative chaos.

It can remind us that the deepest yoga happens when we turn away from mirrors and cameras, returning to the intelligence of our own breath and the wisdom already residing in our cells.

11

Um, something that maybe hasn’t been talked about enough is, well, how this whole influencer thing could possibly be, I don’t know, discouraging?

Like, there might be really amazing potential teachers out there who just don’t look the part or whatever, and they might feel like they shouldn’t even try to become teachers. I mean, I think this could be a problem because then we might miss out on different kinds of teaching approaches and, you know, people from various backgrounds who could really add something special to education?

I’m not totally sure, but it seems like it could make the profession less diverse in terms of teaching methods and the kinds of people who become teachers.

12

The truest teachings flow through teachers who channel ancient wisdom rather than curate content, there’s this meaningful video exploring how the most life-changing yoga happens when instructors forget the camera exists and remember they’re vessels for something much greater than likes and follows.

13

Honestly, the worst part is how this influencer culture has completely warped pricing, studios now charge $35+ for a drop-in class because they need to maintain this bougie aesthetic with perfect lighting and designer props.

Meanwhile, the most changing yoga I ever experienced was in a community center basement for $5 suggested donation.

14

In India, where yoga originated, the focus is still on the spiritual and philosophical aspects, and thank goodness for that!

The West has turned yoga into this bizarre Instagram circus. In India, you’ll find classes in humble homes or community centers, where teachers aren’t obsessing over their follower count or trying to sell you their branded water bottles. There’s no ‘swipe up for my discount code’ nonsense.

The idea of yoga instructors morphing into social media influencers just isn’t a thing there, and honestly, that’s exactly how it should be. They’ve managed to preserve the actual being real of the practice instead of turning it into another performative wellness trend.

15

My favorite teachers who’ve kept the same devoted students coming back for years barely touch social media, they pour that energy into crafting thoughtful sequences that actually transform how we feel in our bodies. It’s been humbling to realize that the most magnetic thing about a teacher isn’t their Instagram aesthetic, but how present and grounded they make you feel in that sacred studio space.

I might be biased though. I don’t really do social media myself and I tend to gravitate to others who are like minded.

16

Have you considered exploring online classes with smaller, lesser-known teachers? (You might find they offer a more intimate experience.)

Sometimes the hidden gems are the most rewarding.

17

I once attended a yoga retreat in a secluded area [located several hours from the nearest city] where phones were strictly banned [participants had to surrender devices at check-in].

It was such a huge difference to the influencer-driven classes [where attendees often spend more time photographing poses than practicing] and allowed everyone to be truly present without any digital distractions [no notifications, no social media updates, no pressure to document the experience].

18

In the 1960s, influential yogis like B.K.S. Iyengar built their following through word of mouth and the depth of their teachings, not flashy marketing. Maybe we can learn from that era?

19

Please as a beginner, it’s so important to find teachers who genuinely care about your safety and proper alignment rather than just creating beautiful poses for social media, as your wellbeing matters far more than any aesthetic.

20

I’ve been practicing since 2009 and it’s wild how much the vibe shifted around 2010-2011, my first teachers were these wonderfully crunchy souls who’d show up in tie-dye talking about Mercury retrograde and leading these small, phone-free retreats where nobody documented anything.

Now everything feels so polished and chosen, like the practice itself takes a backseat to projecting this perfect wellness aesthetic.

Edit: Not saying all pretty yoga spaces are bad! Just miss when the energy came from years of practice rather than a perfectly coordinated outfit