Be Your Own Guru

The Heart Always Knows: Becoming Your Own Guru

For centuries, yoga has been shaped by the teachings of male gurus, figures held in reverence as spiritual guides. While many offered genuine wisdom, others misused their power, leaving behind a trail of betrayal and disillusionment.

These stories, while painful, have sparked a deeper question: Do we truly need an external guru to guide us? Or, like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, can we awaken to the truth that we’ve had the power and wisdom within us all along?

At the heart of this realization is a profound shift: the understanding that yoga and life itself aren’t always about seeking answers outside of ourselves but about reconnecting with the inner teacher, the heart.

The Heart Always Knows

 Looking back, I can recall many times when, deep in my heart, I knew the right answer to a question or
situation. Yet, I allowed myself to be swayed by outside sources. Perhaps a teacher, a friend, or even societal expectations. Those moments taught me the importance of listening to my inner wisdom.

The heart, often called the seat of intuition and connection, is where our inner teacher resides. It’s that
quiet voice within that knows what’s true for us, even when the mind is clouded with doubts or external
influences. When we tune into the heart, we find clarity, truth, and guidance.

This doesn’t mean rejecting teachers or the guidance of others but instead means approaching it with
discernment, always balancing external input with the truth we feel within.

A Teacher Who Points Us Back to Ourselves

One of my most treasured teachers, Bhante Sujatha, a Buddhist monk, beautifully embodies this principle. He always reminds me, “I am just a man.” He acknowledges that, like all of us, he, too, needs the guidance of noble friendship, a reminder that no one is above the need for connection and support.

I especially appreciate how Bhante invites people to his temple, not with the words “Come and believe,” but instead with “Come and see.” This simple shift creates space for exploration rather than indoctrination.

This approach is a profound reminder of what a teacher can be not a figure to follow blindly but someone who offers tools and perspective to help us grow and trust ourselves.

When we elevate our teachers to Gurus, it can be devastating when the “guru” falls from grace. We have seen this over and over in spiritual communities, really anywhere we’ve been given too much power and authority, and it was taken advantage of. Unfortunately, when this happens, the teachings get questioned instead of just the person who fell from grace. So much is lost. This happened with many of the yoga Gurus in India and even in the USA. My own experience in studying Anusara yoga has similar issues. I had never met the founder of Anusara, John Friend, but I appreciated what he created. The alignment based yoga, the weaving in of yoga philosophy. It was a life-changing practice for me, and yet, when his misconduct destroyed the community, not only did he go away, but what he
created was in many ways, lost. Teachers who revered him now had to disassociate from the brand.

Yoga's Shift Toward Inner Authority

The history of yoga has often elevated male gurus as ultimate authorities. While their teachings have shaped the practice, they have also created hierarchies that, in some cases, allowed for the misuse of power. This misuse has been a learning tool in itself and has reshaped instruction away from manual adjustments to respect people’s space and bodies. There are, unfortunately, disturbing images of abuse.

Today, yoga is evolving. It’s becoming less about placing authority outside of ourselves and more about
cultivating our inner knowing. The essence of yoga has always been union, not only with others but within ourselves. Becoming your own guru means stepping into this unity, trusting your heart, and embodying your
own wisdom.

Practical Ways to Tune into Your Inner Guru

How do we connect with the heart and become our own guides? Here are a few practices to help you discover and trust your inner wisdom.

1. Heart-Centered Meditation

Sit quietly with your hand over your heart. Breathe deeply and ask yourself, “What does my heart need me to know?” Listen without judgment or overthinking.

2. Journaling for Clarity

Reflect on moments when you’ve ignored your intuition and where it led you. Ask yourself:
• “When have I known the truth in my heart but ignored it?”
“What would my life look like if I trusted my heart more fully?”

3. Discernment Practice

When seeking advice or guidance, pause and check in with your heart. Does this teaching resonate with your inner truth? Trust your heart to act as your compass.

4. Seek Communities Not Hierarchies

Surround yourself with people and teachers who encourage exploration rather than demand blind Faith. Communities rooted in shared wisdom can help you connect more deeply to your own.

5. Practice Svadhyaya (Self-Study)

Yoga philosophy invites us to engage in self-inquiry. Explore the teachings, but always balance them with your lived experience.

A New Paradigm of Yoga

Yoga today offers a more inclusive, accessible path, one where anyone, regardless of gender or
background, can step into their own power. The journey to becoming your own guru is not about rejecting teachers but reimagining their roles.

A true teacher points us back to ourselves. They remind us that the wisdom we seek is already within us, waiting to be uncovered.

Like Dorothy’s ruby slippers, the tools we need have always been within reach. Yoga, at its essence, is the practice of uncovering those tools and listening to the heart, trusting our intuition, and embodying our own truth and power.

So, pause, breathe, and listen. The answers aren’t out there; they’re within.