Aligned Mentors Enhance the Process (Yoga & Beyond)

On what we study, how we study, and who we learn from (Part 2)

Last week I wrote about creating the conditions for a practice to thrive through steady foundations. While what we learn, how we learn it, and how we apply it is ultimately up to us, the people we learn from also have a pretty meaningful impact.

For example: Let’s say you love a weekly sweaty vinyasa yoga class (or a fitness method, nutrition theory, spiritual practice, dance style, art or writing class, etc).

Then suddenly, for whatever reason, the teacher doesn’t feel aligned—or you try someone new and it just doesn’t land. Maybe it even leaves you feeling a bit funky about a practice you typically enjoy and usually nourishes you.

This doesn’t mean anyone or anything is “wrong.” But this is where using discernment to explore different teachers and leaders can be really useful.

If you’re super grounded, this may not feel as imperative so long as the content itself excites you—sometimes that’s enough. But if, like me, you’re sensitive to energy and thrive in aligned community, this can make or break an experience.

For example:

I didn’t dislike school (but I did have questions about the system…) and although I earned decent grades, I struggled with Math. I never quite connected with my teachers’ approach. In high school, a friend helped with a problem I couldn’t get past, and I was shocked when it finally clicked. Same material, different guide, and suddenly I got it.

Similarly, for those of us who geek out on nutrition: If an expert you admire suddenly shifts gears and doesn’t align with your desired approach, you have the agency to change course. I loved exploring Ayurveda with Divya and Dr. Teitelbaum because they encourage individuality, fluidity, and discernment alongside Ayurvedic principles.

Same goes for dance. I didn’t have much choice when I studied at my local studio or while at university, and I naturally related to some teachers more than others. Later on, I learned to use my energetic barometer to sense which teachers felt like a good match. I knew that vibing with the teacher would give me space to grow and expand.

Exploring aligned experiences & guides

The yoga teachers I’ve studied with have offered insights from their unique lens, even when teaching similar methodologies. Studying Iyengar with Nikki continues to inform and inspire how I practice and how I support students with diverse needs.

This concept applies beyond yoga—to coaching, leadership, education, health and wellness, spirituality, personal growth, and so on (even high school Math).

I personally find it it important to understand what we value in a leader before we buckle up and commit our time and energy. I typically seek and admire qualities like:

• Presence. Are they attentive to both the subject and the people in front of them?
• Compassion. Do they balance discipline and encouragement with understanding?
• Inclusivity. Does their approach feel accessible? Do they feel approachable?
• Adaptability. Can they adjust or shift if necessary and not default to rigidity?
• Integrity. Are they walking their talk and practicing what they teach? How?
• Humility. Are they honest about who they are and what they know? Can they teach from a system or lineage without being closed-off or dogmatic?

I also aim to embody these qualities myself as a student, guide, and human.

Sometimes we don’t have the luxury of choosing our guides, and showing up for the content alone can still be enriching. But with the virtual space being what it is (both a blessing and a black hole?!), we have endless topics and leaders at our fingertips.

And just because we appreciate a practice or teacher doesn’t mean we can’t question or disagree with aspects of it—turning inward and trusting ourselves is essential, too.

Whether studying with someone or self-educating, we can continually ask ourselves:

• Why does this that subject matters to me right now?
• Who feels aligned to guide me?
• How can I engage and dive in with attention and intention?

P.S.A. It is so important to continue to learn with and from each other instead of relying solely on screens and AI! Community and human connection feel extra vital right now.

Rinse & repeat

What we study, how we study, and who we learn from will naturally shift as we shift and evolve in various ways. As Nikki sometimes shares in class: More will be revealed.

I still think it’s invaluable to:

• Cultivate a personal baseline understanding of something. It gives us useful tools to branch out and expand our unique understanding of that thing.
• Thoughtfully choose mentors and leaders. Grounded, collaborative, compassionate, and aligned guides can deeply enhance the learning experience.
• Check in with ourselves regularly. From there, we can make informed decisions about what to continue, deepen, or step away from—including who to study with.

Onward

Remember that some of the most profound teachers and the lessons we learn from them during our time in Earth School surround us in everyday life:

• Nature: Changing seasons, weather patterns, growth cycles, decay and renewal.
• Art: Music, film, dance, visual pieces, poems, books that move us or spark inquiry.
• People: Friends, family, students, bus drivers, strangers—charming or triggering.
• Challenges: Personal or collective circumstances or interactions that test us.
• Ourselves: Our inherent wisdom and intuition—when we slow down and listen; when we learn from experience how to exercise our wisdom in ways that benefit ourselves and others.

In what ways has having a steady base or aligned guide helped you learn more about a subject that matters to you—or helped you learn more about yourself?

Message me if cultivating your own unique steady foundation (in food, yoga, or lifestyle) is something you’d like to explore. Check my free assessments and resources.

Take good care,

S

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