Ask a Yoga Teacher

YuMee Chung is a former securities lawyer turned yoga teacher who has quite a following. She teaches around the globe, and is dedicated to promoting yogic wellness. Named as one of Yoga Journal’s “Who’s Who,” we also claimed her as one of our who’s who in this month’s Ask a Yoga Teacher.

What is the easiest part of being a yoga teacher?

Being a yoga teacher is the best job ever. Seriously. I can’t think of a better reason to get up in the morning. It is immensely gratifying to do what you love best for a living. You can be having a really tough day and then you step in to lead a yoga class and you feel uplifted in every way. It’s my touchstone. 

Many people don’t feel that the hours they spend at work are the most uplifting part of their day. They have to don their suits and put on their game faces. I’m the exact opposite. Every time I teach, I get to trot out my best self and connect to my tribe--I communicate uplifting material to likeminded people in peaceful, friendly environments. I’m grateful to have work that feels aligned with the rest of my life, and visa versa, rather than a life than feels fragmented.

So you began your yoga career while you were still working as a lawyer.

I started a yoga studio while I was working as a lawyer, and I overdid it. I took on way too much. I would work my day-job, teach evening classes at the studio, do administrative work, sweep the studio, clean the toilets…  I had to learn how much I could take on in a sustainable way.

You often teach workshops for teachers.  Tell us about your interest in this area.

When we become yoga teachers, we have to realize that we are now business people. We don’t have benefits, pension plans or the protection of employment standards legislation. We have to run our careers like any other business. This includes business planning, budgeting, bookkeeping and marketing. It’s a little like getting a business degree on the fly. There’s so much that goes into running a successful yoga career. You need good intentions--I really believe in this--but I also believe in spreadsheets and impeccable attention to detail.

Do you think that the yoga boom will die down or is here to stay?

People have been talking about the so-called “yoga trend” ever since I started taking yoga in the 90s, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. New studios are opening all the time. Studio chains are growing and yoga is definitely mainstream. Many of the people who started this as an exercise regime have made a lifelong commitment to the yogic lifestyle. I personally intend to do this for the rest of my life both on and off the mat.

What's a favourite way to wrap up an exhausting day?

I’m really in love with my Yoga Tune Up massage balls. The balls offer a portable, deep tissue massage. Perfect for hardworking yoga teachers. Actually, they’re perfect for anyone who has a body!

Learn more about YuMee and her classes and workshops at http://padmani.com/ (her spiritual name, Padmani, means Lotus Girl).  You can also listen to her free online yoga classes, and soon you’ll be able to shop at her online yogic lifestyle store, featuring amazing earth-friendly brands for busy yogis.

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