From Yoga Teacher…to Yoga Student…to Yoga Teacher…

They say that no man is an island, and that is certainly true of yoga teachers.
Every yoga teacher, whether a beginner fresh out of teacher training with a 200 hour certificate or a master with decades of experience, learned from somebody, and will pass on their own wisdom to their own students.

Spend a few minutes with Rodney Yee in Love and Kindness in Your Practice and this interconnectivity becomes apparent.

Rodney drops quotes as easily from teachers like Ram Dass and Krishnamurti and poets like Rumi as from his own mind.

The result: a mélange of insight and questioning, an exploration of how we perceive time and the importance of continually shifting our perspectives.
In listening to Rodney, it is easy to feel ourselves fitting into the traditions of which he is a part.

As intriguing as the philosophy, though, is what Rodney says in answer to Sheila from Hawaii’s question, “What role does love play in your practice and teaching?”
And that is pure Rodney: “This big idea of love? I don’t know if I’m qualified to say. I feel like I’m in the sea of love…Does a fish describe the ocean? Well, maybe a little bit. But for the most part, it’s just so immense, and so big, and so deep, and so complete. I’m just in it.”

When we watch an episode of Talking Yoga like this one with master teacher Rodney Yee, it becomes crystal clear that we are all students, embracing tradition and learning from those who are willing to teach us.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned from your teacher that you’d like to pass on to those who come after? Tell us in the comments below, or in the discussions about this episode on Twitter and Facebook. Be sure to include the hashtag, #MyYogaTeacher.