Ask The Yogi
Teaching Jobs and Competition
Q. The competition for classes to teach appears to be intense, people who were your friend before you were qualified to teach a class, suddenly are no longer friendly when you can teach the classes that they do. Sure, everyone has to make a living but we thought being yogis would make us immune to the normal human responses of competition, protectiveness, hoarding, etc. How do we deal with our disillusionment, hurt, anger, fear about all of this. How do we become a yoga teacher? How do we find places to teach?
A. Competition is not out there… It is inside of us. When we see it as a “thing” or real object that is negatively impacting us, it is most likely a manifestation of the speck that is in our own eye projected out into the world. The idea of external competition often reveals an attitude of lack within us and a belief in unlimited resources or unworthiness which needs to be brought into the light. This does not mean that there will not be more than one person who desires something. However the enlightened one always realizes that the sought-after object is another form (limited) which comes from unlimited consciousness. So there are only situations that lead to a greater awareness of this consciousness and imposing our label of competition is really the act of our unconscious and habitual way to isolate ourselves and view the world as an enemy to struggle with.
On a more practical level, when you solicit for a teaching position, quite often there will be another person also trying to secure the same teaching position, but Universal law will always ensure that the right teacher will teach when they are called upon. You can not change the other person’s thoughts or actions, you can only receive that person(s) by being mindful of their pleasure and happiness and rejoicing in their merits and just maybe, that will reflect back to them. In other words, when you experience this feeling of “coldness’ from them, get to the root of the problem — ask how the interview went and be sincere in their merit as it were your own and take pleasure in whatever the outcome because the outcome is just and perfect.
(answered by Jeff and Maredith)
EDITOR’S NOTE: This individual followed this advice as well as her own practice and opened herself to focus on what she really wanted. She allowing herself to feel worthy to teach and opened herself to what she wanted to happen in her life. She soon received more teaching job offers then she knew what to do with. -JM
Jeff Martens is a teacher, writer and co-owner of Inner Vision Yoga. All suggestions are voluntary. Consult a qualified teacher or your physician before you embark on any practice in which you are unfamiliar.
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