How to stay authentic as a Yoga Teacher on Social Media
How to stay authentic as a Yoga Teacher on Social media
In the digital era, social media has become an essential tool for yoga teachers to connect with audiences and other teachers, potential employers, share their philosophy, and build their personal brand. The pandemic expanded the potential market for online yoga classes, leading to a rise in on-demand offerings (Grand View Research, 2024). Research by Kim, et al (2023) found that 84.6% of people intended to continue online classes even after studios reopened.
Yet, the fast paced nature of online platforms often creates complex expectations around self-presentation. For yoga teachers, the balance between professionalism and authenticity is essential. Honoring the origins of Yoga while communicating effectively cultivating trust and meaningful relationships with their followers is both a personal and professional responsibility. This post explores how yoga teachers can show up professionally and authentically on social media, while staying true to their values and teachings.
Defining “Authenticity” in the digital space
Authenticity on social media varies by platform and demographic. Often, individuals presented differently across social media, constructing a narrative where their personal identity aligned with their brand to attract like-minded audiences (Santer et al, 2023). Bullingham & Vasconcelos (2013) advocate that aligning one’s online persona with their real-life identity, values and intentions showcases authenticity. For yoga teachers, it means sharing personal experiences, insights, and vulnerabilities that resonate with followers, rather than presenting polished, unrealistic versions of their lives.
Yoga is a deeply personal and evolving practice rooted in yogic philosophy and the Vedas, dating back over 5,000 years to ancient India. The practice commercialized in the 19th century in the US, creating profitable business revenues in Yoga studios, clothing brands, books, teacher trainings, for tourism purposes, etc. (Grand View Research, 2024; Cowans, 2016). The perception of yoga on social media is primarily reduced to physical form and practice, and traditional teachings are shown in the service of self-promotion (Malenovic, 2016).
Building an Authentic online presence
Balancing personal and professional identity online as a Yoga teacher seeking to present with authenticity is a challenging task. To honor the traditions of Yoga it starts with choosing Yoga teacher training programs and resources at authentic sources, in India or offered by reputable Indian schools online (Cowans, 2016). After engaging deeper into yogic practice, I went to India to complete my training at The Yoga Institute in Mumbai. Since then, I have continued to take courses held by Indian schools, listen to teachers, read books, and follow content on social media that is recommended or written by Indian scholars. Without honoring the traditions, yoga teachers might unintentionally disrespect the practice and therefore risk presenting themselves as opportunists (Cowans, 2016; Malenovic, 2016). Yoga becomes a commercialised business and not a helpful health and wellbeing tool, which is intended to be free of cost and of use to everyone despite their origin.
Both my website and Instagram portfolio reflect on yogic principles to the best of my knowledge, and rely on research I do before every post. As someone who has grown up in a Western society, yet a strong cultural background, I can understand how being authentic to yourself and yogic philosophy can be challenging as a yoga teacher. Still, denying where Yoga is coming from is being ignorant to the truth, and essentially being inauthentic. Yoga will always have roots in India, in philosophy that goes beyond physical practice and a long tradition, so it is our responsibility as teachers to carry that along and incorporate it in our teachings.
The role of Visual Content in communicating authentically
Platforms like Instagram rely heavily on visuals, algorithms, trends, hashtags and audios which can pressure content creators toward perfection, distractions, comparison and feeling overwhelmed (Maares et al., 2021). For yoga teachers, authenticity in photos and videos means embracing imperfect practice, yoga poses, simple every-day struggles and joys, making the content relatable and not idealized (Bullingham & Vasconcelos, 2013; Santer et al, 2023). While there is no framework to ensure the audience will perceive you authentically as a yoga teacher, there was a research done by Maares et al. (2021) presenting that showing different personal aspects of life, creates a more honest and credible persona, hence to be considered as authentic one. Authenticity is valued and that means sharing the traditional teachings of Yoga after researching reputable sources. If us as teachers wish to create meaningful connection on social media, we have to ensure communication about Yoga is kept truthful.
Authenticity and Lifelong learning
Committing to being a Yoga teacher means embracing lifelong learning, not just trough continued study of yogic philosophy, but also through navigating the evolving development of social media. Some trends may shift, but the teacher’s responsibility remains rooted in sharing respectful, inclusive and truthful representations of Yoga. Authenticity in this space is not about perfection or performance - it is about presence, humility and listening. Staying authentic on social media is an ongoing process that requires reflection on our own teachings, personality, previous experiences and understanding what Yoga is to us as teachers at this stage in our life. Our life circumstances might change, but the authentic traditions of Yoga remain.
Reference list:
Cowans, S. (2016). "Yoga On Instagram: Disseminating or Destroying Traditional Yogic Principles?" Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, 7(1). Retrieved from http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/a?id=1475
Grand View Research. (2024). Yoga market size, share, growth & trends report 2030. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/yoga-market-report
Kim, S., Solow, J., Lein, D. H., & Singh, H. (2024). Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on yoga instruction: Examining teaching methodology, class components, and injury patterns in the Northeastern US. EXPLORE, 20(6), Article 103079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2024.103079
Malenovic, J. (2016). Social and digital mass media impact on the perception of yoga. International Scientific Yoga Journal Sense, 6(6), 66–78. https://yoga-sci.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/4.-Social-and-Digital-Mass-Media-Impact.pdf
Maares, P., Banjac, S., & Hanusch, F. (2021). The labour of visual authenticity on social media: Exploring producers’ and audiences’ perceptions on Instagram. Poetics, 84, 101502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2020.101502
Santer, N., Manago, A., & Bleisch, R. (2023). Narratives of the self in polymedia contexts: Authenticity and branding in Generation Z. Qualitative Psychology, 10(1), 79–106. https://doi.org/10.1037/qup0000232