Learning to Lead Yoga Classes in a Second Language
Studying to teach yoga in Spanish
It’s coming up on a year since I moved to Spain. My goal, in moving here, was to improve my Spanish and work toward fluency—a lifelong aspiration. While I still have a long way to go, the journey so far has been incredibly rewarding. Living in a Spanish-speaking country, it’s been exciting to witness how much my comprehension and speaking skills have improved.
Now that I’ve realized I want to stay in Spain longer term, my next challenge is learning how to teach yoga in my second language.
This week, I came across a quote from Sylvia Plath that resonated deeply with me:
“I can never be all the people I want and live all the lives I want. I can never train myself in all the skills I want. And why do I want? I want to live and feel all the shades, tones and variations of mental and physical experience possible in my life.”
This sentiment captures why I’m so passionate about achieving fluency in Spanish. Learning any new skill—especially something as complex as a new language—is demanding and requires time, energy, and patience. But Spanish has already given me a new lens through which to see the world. It’s offered me a fresh perspective and a new way to express myself. Absorbing another language and culture enriches the human experience, because it shifts the way we think and connect.
Right now, I’d describe my Spanish level as intermediate. The yoga classes I teach in Madrid are currently in English, but I’m increasingly aware that, to expand my client base here, I’ll need to learn how to teach in Spanish.
This is no small task. Teaching yoga requires a wide vocabulary—not just to describe physical movement and alignment, but also to guide students toward presence, breath, and body awareness.
My approach to learning Spanish has been immersive and varied: taking classes, studying independently, listening to music, watching TV, reading, and engaging in conversation. My approach to learning to teach in Spanish mirrors that. In addition to studying relevant vocabulary, I’ve been taking yoga classes in Spanish online to absorb the language in context.
Though I haven’t led a full class in Spanish yet, I’ve begun practicing with Spanish-speaking friends. Even teaching someone I feel totally comfortable with is a challenge right now. I often find myself reaching for words, and the effort can be mentally exhausting. Still, I trust that, with consistent study and practice, it will get easier.
As I begin recording teaching videos for YouTube, one of my goals is to script and share classes in Spanish. I believe this process will help me build comfort and confidence, making in-person teaching in Spanish feel less intimidating over time.
Returning to the Plath quote, I believe that learning to teach yoga in my second language will deepen both my teaching and my personal practice. It will allow me to reach more students and to engage with my work in a new, meaningful way—by exploring a different voice, a new mode of self-expression.
At the start, this goal sometimes feels almost impossible. But I’m committed to the journey. With time, effort, and practice, I know I’ll get there.
Thanks for following along as I continue to learn and grow.
