10 Things I’ve Changed in How I Teach and Lead

When I taught my first yoga class over twelve years ago, I was terrified—and obsessed with doing it “right.” My cues were memorized, the sequence written out on a card, and my voice shook every time I said “inhale.”

A decade later, things look and feel different. I’ve led thousands of classes, trained over a hundred teachers, and built a community that continues to teach me every single day.

Here are the top ten things that have shifted for me along the way.

1. The best teachers are always students.
When I started teaching, I thought certification meant I was “ready.” Now I know learning never ends. There’s no single teacher or method that holds all the truth. I keep studying, reading, listening, and taking classes whenever I can. Every time I return to my mat, I’m reminded that curiosity—not certainty—is what keeps my teaching alive.

2. Hands-on assists don’t need to be deep to be effective.
Human touch is healing on its own. A grounding hand at the foot, a palm on the upper back as a reminder to breathe, or simple eye contact can create connection that’s more powerful than physical correction. It’s not about fixing someone—it’s about being present with them.

3. Repetition brings me home.
I value variety, it keeps practice creative and alive, but I’m also craving something dependable. Our Power Up (Journey Into Power) sequence has always been my home base. It’s the rhythm I return to when I need to feel grounded, strong, and centered. After years of teaching it, I’ve come to see the value of experience, not just for my students, but for me. The poses don’t get easier or harder, they just keep revealing more.

4. Deeper isn’t always better.
Every body is different. Teaching with the assumption that everyone can, or wants to, go deeper isn’t realistic. I’d rather guide students to listen, find their own edge, and take shapes that work for them. My cues focus more on action than appearance and students are encouraged to adapt as desired.

5. Community is the real class.
Beyond the poses and marketing, I’ve realized the most meaningful thing we create is community. The conversations before and after class, the milestones we celebrate, the way people lift each other up, this is the practice. Every class is a chance to remember that yoga doesn’t stop at the edges of the mat.

6. Every teacher has a unique voice.
When Up Yoga first opened, we all taught the same way because I thought that was needed to build consistency and brand identity. Over time, I realized real consistency comes from shared values, not identical classes. Now, each teacher’s individuality shines while our community still feels unmistakably “Up.”

7. I’m still learning the power of silence.
Each time I mentor a new teacher, I’m reminded that silence is powerful—and that I’m still learning to use it. I tend to fill space with words, wanting to encourage and connect, but the real transformation often happens in the quiet moments between cues. When I get clear on my intention, trust the flow and say less, the practice speaks louder than I ever could.

8. Not everyone will like me—and that’s okay.
This one took time. I wanted everyone to approve, to stay, to think I was doing it “right.” But freedom lives in authenticity. The more I belong to myself, the more I can truly belong here—with people, in my work, in my purpose.

9. Yoga is a business—and it’s filled with humans.
Running a studio means navigating payroll, taxes, scheduling, heartbreak, friendships that come and go, gossip, joy, and growth. It’s all part of it. The key is keeping my drishti on the business: our values, our students, our mission. That’s what keeps me grounded when things get messy.  And I keep my personal life out of the business side as best I can.

10. Leadership is a practice too.
Just like a chaturanga, this business has had its ups and downs—and it takes trust, strength, and alignment to stay steady through it all. I’ve shaken while letting a teacher go, cried when we closed for COVID, and felt the uncertainty of shutting down our St. Paul studio. But I’ve also felt pure excitement watching Up Yoga expand and thrive here in Minneapolis.

Leading this studio has taught me that heart and spreadsheets belong together. Trust the process. Check the numbers. Breathe through the hard stuff. Repeat.

I’m still learning how to lead with equal parts courage and compassion. This practice, this place, and these people continue to shape me every single day. If you’ve practiced with me, taught with me, or grown alongside me, thank you.

Here’s to the next decade of learning, unlearning, and growing together—one breath, one class, and one beautiful spreadsheet at a time.

- Lindsay Grabb