The role of the teacher
In many yoga classes today, the teacher functions more like a fitness instructor — calling out poses, keeping the pace, and providing a workout. While there is value in movement, this approach often leaves the student entirely dependent on the external voice in the room. If the teacher stops talking, the student doesn't know what to do.
In the Iyengar tradition, the role of the teacher is fundamentally different. The teacher is not there to perform the poses for you; they are there to educate you about your own body. A right-fit teacher is one who moves you from dependence to independence.
Developing internal authority
You know a teacher is right for you when their instruction begins to translate into your own physical understanding.
"In our lineage, we do talk a lot, we give a lot of cues, but we ask if they feel it. And if they don't feel it, then we try to show them how." — Tiffany Bergin
A good teacher gives you specific, actionable cues, but they do not stop there. They ensure that the cue lands in your nervous system. They ask: "Do you feel the difference when you press the outer heel down?" If the answer is no, they provide a prop, a physical adjustment, or a different cue until the sensation registers. They are teaching you the language of your own body.
Over time, this process builds profound self-awareness. I have many students say that when they practice at home and encounter a physical issue, they think: "What would Tiffany say? What would Tiffany do?" They internalize the teacher's voice until it becomes their own self-discernment. That is the hallmark of a right-fit teacher: they give you the tools to eventually guide yourself.