Yoga at OHM Newsletter Vicyasa™ 5/25 - 5/31/2026: Do I need a Guru?

"Everything is Guru. But not every student listens." - unknown

A yoga guru is a knowledgeable spiritual mentor or teacher, derived from Sanskrit terms meaning "remover of darkness" [(gu) = darkness, (ru) = that which dispels)]. A guru guides students to shift from naïveté to enlightenment, often acting as a bridge between ancient yogic philosophy and modern daily life applications.

Finding a yoga guru and/or teacher who resonates with you involves identifying your personal goals, trying out various classes, and observing if the instructor provides a safe, knowledgeable, and supportive environment.

First, determine your needs and goals:

• Define Your Goal: Are you seeking physical fitness, stress relief, spiritual growth, or rehabilitation? Different teachers specialize in different styles.
• Identify Your Level: Beginners may want to search for gentle or foundation-based classes, while advanced practitioners might look for specific lineages like Iyengar for alignment or Mysore Ashtanga.
• Look for Authenticity: Choose someone who instructs for the benefit of the students' growth, development and safety rather than for their own ego. A trustworthy and reliable teacher is a guide, not a show-off.
• Value Lineage: A teacher who respects and mentions their own teachers or lineage often indicates a solid foundation.

Don't be afraid to take classes with several instructors, as the right fit often requires trying a few options. Sometimes taking a class in person is the only way to feel if the teacher's teaching style, voice, and atmosphere match your needs. The right teacher helps you connect with your own inner guidance and feel better about yourself after class, about the application of the practice in your own lifestyle and how to facilitate an understanding of what they do and how they do it without judgement.

A true guru exhibits compassion, patience, and unwavering commitment to the student's welfare, without requiring blind submission.

Moreover, everything around us can be a "guru": our experiences, life, happenings, the decisions we make and don't make. How often do we truly listen and recognize our own ability to be our own guru?


A PEEK INTO MENTORSHIP WITH VICYASA™...
Many prospective teachers, graduates of teacher training(s) and a handful of you that have a desire just to dive deeper into the many aspects of a yoga practice and teaching yoga regularly have been greatly impacted by our bespoke mentoring program.

Mentorship sessions can include sharing the exact experience lived, the practical wisdom I and other teachers have gained from our journey in their domain. We are highly skilled at directing strategies and processes that can sometimes transfer across different contexts.

Yoga is a journey as much as a practice. In fact, it's a journey that should never end. Those of us on that journey should be open to learning new things. We should be open to new experiences. That is what mentorship offers. It's an opportunity for a more experienced yoga teacher to share their experiences with you.

I am willing to work with anyone on a 1:1 basis or mini-group. There will be suggestions for your practice/teachings, you get a catered-to-you manual with loads of vital information and you can take notes and record your questions or concerns. I will curate a personalized practice for you, based on your interest, needs, questions and situation. You then take this practice into your own life. What you discover, feel, experience, or learn via the lens of our personal practice will then create the context for potential offerings or paths you take whether in your personal or business life. The practices may be adapted, changed, modified, or added to.

This relationship is important for professional yoga teachers. It’s important because as we dive into the industry we often muddy the waters between ‘teaching’ and ‘personal path.' Furthermore the environment of the yoga industry can be difficult to navigate. No one should try to do it on their own.

What if you're not a teacher and would like to prepare for training or enhance your ever-hungry-desire to absorb all things yoga? Holla' at me.

Feel like your 200 hour training ended with you needing more questions answered? Want to expand on those teachings? Do you feel like there are areas of your teaching repertoire that need enhancing? Contact me for more info and enrollment.

PRIVATES: ONE-TO-ONE WORK!
If you want to set up any private sessions or events, please contact me through email. You can learn more about privates: CLICK HERE!

SINGLE CLASSES
We've added single class purchases to our on-demand offerings. How does it work? A $17 payment will give you access to a single pre-recorded class with Victor or anyone on his staff. The private link with a unique access code will give you entry to that class, which you can load anytime you want. You'll have 24-hours of unlimited access to that class. No refunds, returns and you must use that class within 24-hours of receiving it before it expires. You can request a teacher on our on-demand options... featuring Demetra Kentrotas (@d_meetch), Leanne McDermott (@leannerays), Elinor Cohen (@elinorraerigby) and others.


REGULAR RATES:

• $65 for 30 days of UNLIMITED CLASSES! (includes on-demand)
• $17 for 1 pre-recorded class (24 hour access from purchase)

PAYMENT:
VENMO -- @Vicyasa
Paypal -- [email protected]

NAMASTE,
Victor Cotto
www.YogaWithVictor.com
Instagram: CottoVic
Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™