Yoga Teacher Talk is a series for current or prospective yoga teachers. We also have a dedicated space on the Yoga Forum where you can discuss and share ideas. Come join!

The other day I received the following message from a YBC reader and fellow yoga teacher: I would love to hear what your take is on students who simply drop from all classes, and never return again. I understand that "life happens" but I am wondering if there is some advice you have on how to handle this. I dream of opening my own studio one day. I currently teach in a gym as a subcontractor, so I am responsible for everything --advertising, bookkeeping, planning & have a full-time "day" job, too. When attendance drops, I start to worry first about the students' well-being, but secondly, that my teaching is not effective or that I will not be able to make a living teaching/running a studio full-time.

Heads up! I just added a new pop-up class called Slow Yoga in a Fast World to the schedule for Jacksonville Beach, Florida on November 17, 2014.

Yoga Teacher Talk is a new series I’m excited to share for current or prospective yoga teachers. I’m hoping that these posts will not only help people, but spark conversation amongst people either below in the comments or over here on the Yoga Forum, where we had a dedicated forum for all things related to yoga teachers. As always, feedback and suggestions for topics are welcome!

So you’ve completed teacher training. Now what? Do you feel like a deer in headlights? Fear not, friends, because today it’s all about learning to find your authentic teaching voice.

One of the things I love about yoga is that there’s so much space for people in the yoga world. (Ok many yoga studios won’t agree, but that’s another story for another day. BTW, if you own a yoga studio and don’t like outside teachers coming in, email me because I am genuinely curious as to why. End rant.) Anyway, in my personal opinion, everyone brings something to the table and has something delicious they can offer.

And as a new student, if you’re anything like I was, you might feel like you don’t offer much. Your handstand is non-existant, your legs bend in downward dog, and you feel like you barely know your asana from your elbow. Guess what? None of that ish matters. You wanna know why?

Because that teacher with the perfect handstand - there’s no such thing as perfect, but just go with me here - that teacher doesn’t come with all your life experiences. You have certainly been through something, worked through something, had personal encounters with different things than she has. So you have something to share- your life experiences. Own them. Step into them. And let them guide you down a path of authenticity.