Below are all the questions for our written and video interviews.

Required Questions

These two questions must be answered by all interviewees.

Introduction Question

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

This will be the first question in your interview. Please give your name (full name, first name, nickname, or yoga instructor name, whatever you prefer) and optionally mention something about you such as what style of yoga you practice/teach and/or how long you’ve been practicing/teaching yoga.

Free Question

Is there anything you’d like to say to the community?

This will be the last question in your interview. If you’d like to say thanks for reading/listening, wish people good luck in their practice, extend a call to action for the reader/listener to take a yoga class, or just put some good yoga karma out into the world, this is the place to do it!

Optional Questions

Please answer at least 10 of these questions. They will come between the Introduction and Goodbye questions.

General Questions

Why did you get into yoga? Medical reason, spiritual reason, someone inspired to get you into yoga?

What is yoga to you? (exercise, a form of medication, a way of life, etc.)

Is yoga a fad?

When did you start practicing yoga?

What is your favorite style of yoga to practice?

What do you like about this particular form of yoga?

What has yoga done for you as a person?

Is yoga more a physical or spiritual endeavor?

Do you believe it is an alternative form of healing and medicine?

What do you think of famous people getting into yoga?

Do you associate yoga with religion? If yes, how so?

Do you do any other forms of exercise besides from yoga? If so, how does yoga benefit your performance in that sport?

Do you have a particular yoga mat brand that you like and why?

What is your favorite yoga wear brand and why?

Is expensive yoga wear about fashion or are there functional benefits?

Where do you want to be with yoga in 5 years from now?

How has yoga changed your life?

Are there any differences in yoga classes/studios/practices in Japan and abroad? If so how are they different?

In Japan some studios offer classes only for women or the studio itself is only for women. Do you feel comfortable practicing with men? Visa versa?

Can you recommend your favorite yoga studio or class in your city for those people who may travel to your city in the near future?

Who is your Instagram yogi crush and why?

Teacher-Specific Questions

Why did you want to become a yoga teacher?

What type of yoga do you teach?

What yoga teacher training have you done?

How do you stay up to date on the yoga industry?

What is your favorite style of yoga to teach?

How important are yoga teacher certifications?

Do you prefer teaching small groups, large groups, or one-on-one?

What do you think of teaching yoga online?

What do you think of teaching yoga to large groups in public spaces?

What type of person do you feel can most benefit from yoga?

What is the best type of yoga for beginners?

What is your yoga philosophy?

How do you handle student injuries during your classes?

What makes a “successful” class – how do you judge your teaching after a class?

What are some challenges you’ve faced as a yoga teacher?

How do you foster relationships with students?

How important is networking with other yogis (teachers, studio owners, prominent practitioners, etc.)

What is the most difficult part of being a yoga instructor?

If you could give aspiring yoga teachers, or potential teachers some advice, what would it be?

What is the best advice you ever got from one of your teachers?

What makes your yoga classes unique?

What is the most important skill a yoga teacher should have?

Who is your biggest influence?

What is your “end goal” with teaching, i.e. where do you want to be in five years?

What was the biggest realization you had after becoming a teacher that improved your classes?

What do you think about the “yoga boom” and how it affects teachers, studios, students, and the yoga community/industry as a whole?

What is your favorite asana? And why?

Is there any particular asana you are currently working on?

Are there any items that you recommend for improving flexibility, such as a yoga wheel?

What do you recommend to students who want to improve their flexibility?

What do you recommend to students who want to improve their balance?

What do you recommend to students who want to improve their strength?

How often do you think a new student should practice yoga?

How long a person should practice yoga to get yoga benefit in their daily life?

What is the hardest part of being a new yoga teacher?

How do you teach students who are more advanced in yoga practice than you in class?

What is it like teaching abroad?

Style-Specific Questions

Why did you get into this particular type of yoga?

SUP Yoga

What is the most common question people ask you about SUP yoga?

Should the students have both yoga and SUP experience before trying SUP yoga?

What should a student wear when he/she is taking SUP yoga?

If a student gets motion sickness easily, can she/he still try SUP yoga?

If a student is not so comfortable with water, such as she/he cannot swim, can she/he still take a class?

What is the most important thing in SUP yoga? Flexibility, strength, and/or balance?

Do you get the same amount of yoga practice on a SUP board?

Aerial Yoga

What is the most common question people ask you about aerial yoga?

Does a student have to have good yoga background before trying aerial yoga?

What do you have to wear in a class?

Does it hurt to use a fabric when I go upside down?

Do you get the same amount of yoga practice doing aerial yoga?

Acro Yoga

What is the most common question people ask you about acroyoga?

Do I have to have a partner to take an acroyoga class?

I am a petite girl, can I be a base for a big guy?

I am a big guy, can I still be a flyer?

Do you get the same amount of yoga practice with a partner doing acro yoga?

Maternity Yoga

What is the most common question people ask you about maternity yoga?

I have never practiced yoga, but I heard maternity yoga is great during pregnancy. How can I get started?

Until which stage of pregnancy, can I participate in maternity yoga?

I have 10+ years of yoga experience, do I need to take a maternity yoga class or can I take a regular yoga class that I’m familiar with during pregnancy?