All of the various Yoga traditions stress that those who teach Yoga be spiritually qualified. The term for a qualified aspirant is adhikarin. In the ancient Vedic text Shiva Samhita (the name translates to Shiva’s Compendium in English) a qualified teacher of yoga has these types of attributes: a positive attitude, a disciplined and faithful practice, respect for his/her teacher, unprejudiced, liberal mindedness, patient, has balanced senses, eats moderately, aptitude for meditation, and self-reliance. This same text also describes a weak (mridu) teacher of yoga – unenthusiastic, fickle, hesitant, lethargic, and ill-mannered. These should not be teachers of Yoga but should devote their time to mantra recitation until such time they evolve and mature spiritually.
A similar but modern description of a qualified Yoga teacher is offered by the 20th century Yoga master, B. K. S. Iyengar in his book, The Tree of Yoga. “The teacher should be clear, clever, confident, challenging, caring, cautious, constructive, courageous, comprehending, creative, completely devoted and dedicated to know the subject….Teachers must be strong and positive in their approach. They must be affirmative to create confidence in the pupils...Teachers must always be learning.”
A similar but modern description of a qualified Yoga teacher is offered by the 20th century Yoga master, B. K. S. Iyengar in his book, The Tree of Yoga. “The teacher should be clear, clever, confident, challenging, caring, cautious, constructive, courageous, comprehending, creative, completely devoted and dedicated to know the subject….Teachers must be strong and positive in their approach. They must be affirmative to create confidence in the pupils...Teachers must always be learning.”
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