We were lucky to catch up with Alexandria Waycott recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alexandria, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

A bit of a backstory: I knew that I would be a yoga teacher when I was 5 years old, after I attended my first yoga class with my mom. Fast forward to my first year of undergraduate school as an English Lit major, I completed my first yoga teacher training. It was a month-long intensive, and I was so eager to start teaching yoga that I actually started handing out resumes before the training program was even finished. I’d basically been waiting my whole life to teach yoga! I didn’t have any experience yet, but I was confident that I would find my way. I ended up teaching at a whole bunch of places right away, including gyms, studios, private residences, my university – even at a pharmacy that had an odd multipurpose room attached to it.

I said “yes” to every opportunity to teach during my early days as a yoga teacher, as I genuinely wanted to gain experience. It felt exciting to have a job that was purposeful during university – a lot of my peers were working long hours in restaurants and hospitality, and as a student, teaching yoga provided me with a good work-life balance and the ability to work shorter hours outside of school rather than a full 8-hour shift, leaving me with the time I needed to study and complete assignments.

At the time, I was really focused on completing university, simply because that is what I had been socially conditioned to do. People often assume that if you study English, you’ll become an English teacher or professor, but that never felt like the right path for me. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I attended grad school in the Netherlands hoping that I would get some clarity on whether or not to pursue a career in academia. This was followed by a brief stint working in a university that solidified what I knew deep down, which is that I don’t thrive in bureaucratic environments. I need space to be creative and make my own decisions. Eventually, I decided to pursue teaching yoga full-time… it just took me 6 years and a couple of degrees to come to that conclusion. I’m glad I took the long road and tried things out, as those years were very formative in terms of my personal growth – I did a lot of traveling, worked abroad, moved to three different countries on my own, had different jobs and relationships. I wouldn’t be who I am today if I didn’t have those experiences.

Looking back, it’s wild to me that I am still teaching some of the same students today that attended my initial yoga classes over 13 years ago. It’s a testament to the power of consistency – for the students, and for myself as the teacher. Over the years, I’ve taught in many locations, but there are some students who have been with me throughout that entire time. I often say that it took me a while to mature into my role as a yoga teacher because I was so young when I started, but yoga is a lifelong practice, and I trust that everything continues to happen in its own time.

Alexandria, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Sure. My name is Alexandria Waycott, and I’ve been teaching yoga for over 13 years. I’m currently based just outside of Vancouver, Canada. I’ve had the opportunity to gain teaching experience in so many diverse environments, and have been around long enough to have watched the yoga industry evolve. All of that experience informs the work that I do today.

My primary focus is to provide high-quality yoga education, in a way that is sustainable and long-lasting – not influenced by trends. I’m very clear on what I do, and my business has 3 primary pathways that allow me to work with yoga students, yoga teachers, and aspiring yoga teachers.

For folks interested in developing a sustainable yoga practice that supports the current phase of life they are in, I offer monthly pre-registered yoga classes out of a local multidisciplinary clinic. This model lends itself towards progressive yoga education that builds over time. The best part about these classes is the community that has formed over the years! These classes are ideal for folks looking to make some social connections. I never enforce a silence policy in these classes, as the pre- and post-class chatter is the best part! A lot of new students tell me that they felt nervous before joining their first yoga class, but I find that this model makes things feel more personal and comfortable for new students – their nerves usually disappear completely after the first class, and they look forward to attending every week!

For aspiring yoga teachers, I offer 200-hour yoga teacher training that takes place completely in-person. I think that for initial yoga teacher training, it’s really important to teach to real people and to train folks in a way that is experiential. I’m really proud to have written the entire curriculum myself – it’s a culmination of over a decade of knowledge. I know that the program will continue to evolve and grow with me, and it’s incredible to see what the graduates of my program are out there doing – teaching chair yoga, working with athletes, pursuing yoga therapy training. They are doing incredible work.

Finally, for current yoga teachers looking to refine specific skills, I offer continuing education. I love to teach on communication, refining verbal cues, and skillful class sequencing. To be a successful yoga teacher, you have to be committed to lifelong learning, and I love supporting other teachers in this way. I’ve personally been through plenty of trial and error as a yoga teacher, as part of the process of figuring out what “works.” It’s an honor to pass along some of the skills I’ve developed to up-and-coming teachers. Currently, I’m working on a new creative project that I hope will be a valuable free resource to other yoga teachers. I can’t say what it is quite yet, but keep your eyes peeled!

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

Yes. One million times over. I’ve never doubted that sharing yoga is what I’m supposed to do. Of course, there are plenty of challenges that come with running any type of business, but I think the challenge is one of the factors that keeps me present and engaged in my work. I would feel bored if every day was the same, and I find teaching yoga and running the business side of that to be a huge creative outlet for me that I get a lot of joy from.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I always say that consistency is so important for yoga teachers. People need to know that they can rely on you to show up when you say you’re going to, and that you’re going to arrive prepared and professional – this is how we establish trust with our students. I’m very committed to maintaining a consistent teaching schedule so that my students know that class is always going to be available to them when they need it. In addition to consistency, I think my personality combined with my love for language and communication has made me known for my precise, direct style of teaching. Students often comment that they could take my class with their eyes closed if they want to, which is a huge compliment!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alexandriawaycottyoga.com
• Instagram: @alexandria.vinyasayoga

Image Credits

Haven House Photographic