Influence vs. Expertise

The first time some one referred to me as an “influencer”, I was really taken aback.

I was pregnant with my twins when Instagram was taking off, and was on and off bed rest, and basically only sharing a picture food diary of vegan pregnancy awesomeness on Instagram when it started. Using IG’s filters on the poorly lit food pics, to boot!!!  So, while I was very passionate about the deliciousness I was posting, there were no bikini yoga shots for me to build a massive following, and become an “influencer”, the way I watched others doing.

By the time I did decide to invest in Instagram as a platform, because I realized that I could share yoga and the lessons it has taught me with so many more people there, I felt like I had already missed the boat a bit.  But, I took the time to learn, I listened to the handful of people who I respected and had been successful there, and slowly but surely got enough of a foundation there for this person to refer to me as an influencer.

TBH, when she called me that, at first I was offended. I am a yoga teacher. Yoga changed my life on every level, and I have dedicated my life to sharing these practices that have shaped me for the better with others.

And, let’s be honest, “influencer” doesn’t have the nicest connotations.

So, it got me thinking: WHY? Why do people have a derogatory tone when talking about “influencers”?  More personally: why does this term rub me (specifically) the wrong way? What nerve is it striking?

When I met the amazing woman I am pictured with here, Aly Teich, I was struck by the fact that, aside from being an amazing journalist and the  Founder of The Sweat Life, she was one of the “OG” influencers in the online fitness space. Influencer in that: masses of humans tune in to what she has to say, and are INFLUENCED by it. HUGE amounts of people RESPECT what Aly has to say, because she EARNED their respect. Over time, and with a ton of hard work and SWEAT.   Aly didn’t build her community by posting picture-perfect beach bikini shots, or laughing posed photos with matchas and smoothie bowls in front of expertly lit , insta-worthy pink backdrops.  Aly digs deep, and adds value to peoples’ lives by researching, consulting with experts, and sharing information.

On our first meeting (love at first talk, OBVIOUSLY), we spoke about INFLUENCE vs. EXPERTISE (check out Aly’s views on the matter in this incredible piece). Aly has always been clear that she is not a trainer, not an instructor, not a health expert. She shares her OPINIONS, and reports ABOUT trainers and methods and studios, but doesn’t give uneducated advice.

Somewhere in this first meeting of ours, I realized where my resistance towards these “influencers” who I didn’t want to be lumped in with stemmed from.

Due to no one’s fault but my own, I have long suffered from imposter syndrome. After practicing yoga all day every day for YEARS, after getting my first YA RYT 200-hr, after teaching 25 classes a week for YEARS, after celebrity private clients, after writing the first yoga blog SHAPE Magazine ever had for every week for YEARS, after creating and producing the entire Yoga encyclopedia and program for Microsoft Windows, I was STILL looking over my shoulder when people pointed at me, or chose me, thinking (and saying!), “someone else SURELY is more qualified than I!” (To do this, answer this, etc.)

And, I realized that somewhere deep down, when it came to all of these “influencers” who rubbed me the wrong way: I was (without recognizing it) JEALOUS. The thing most of them have in common is that they suffer from the OPPOSITE of imposter syndrome (whatever that is termed). Because: most of the time, they have taught less Yoga classes than I can count on one hand, and/ or they are fresh out of a  super-sub-par Yoga Teacher Training (that gave them far less than the 200 hours it claims, which is a WHOLE other post), they were brand new to the yoga practice, AND were proclaiming themselves Yoga experts. They were proudly and loudly sharing poses day after day with improper form, and doling out advice.  AND: they were so supremely confident in themselves in a way I couldn’t fathom for the first decade of my yoga journey.  What I was trying to bury and not recognize was: I was jealous of their confidence.

But, when I unpacked this further, I realized: I was not jealous of their lack of knowledge, or their lack of experience, or their lack of ability. SO, I shifted my perspective, and practiced one my favorite Niyamas, SANTOSHA, which very basically means: contentment.

I am VERY content with all of the hours of practice and learning I have put in (and continue to put in) to learning and evolving as a Yoga teacher, and INFLUENCER, in this space. And, I wouldn’t trade a single one of those hours for bravado or confidence paired with little to no experience IN YOGA (which is VERY separate from Social Media prowess or photo + editing abilities).  My ability to OWN all of my attributes, and be proud of them, and not feel ashamed of proclaiming that I do, in fact, have MANY years of experience, training, and knowledge under my belt, is entirely on me.

I came to realize that my resistance to being called an “Influencer” comes from my association of that term with: smoke and mirrors, and no real knowledge, or training, and a massive lack of humility.  Because the biggest thing that is REALLY lacking in the fitness / influencer space is: HUMILITY.

And, the willingness to admit you are new! It’s OKAY TO BE NEW! We all START as new in our fields.  I LOVE new yoga teachers, I spent years TRAINING people how to be yoga teachers, and helping them refine their skills. No hate for newbies from me!! So, to any new yoga teachers who have a large platform (or don’t), please don’t feel like you have to pretend that you are an expert before the ink dries on your teacher training certificate.

What happened to apprenticeships?! I had so many amazing teachers who let me observe their classes (even though I had taken each of their classes hundreds of times). They MENTORED me!  WAAAAAY back when I was in Yoga teacher trainings (yep, I’m a dinosaur next to all of these newbies), observing seasoned teachers teaching was part of getting certified.

The willingness to ask for help, to say you are new, and don’t have the answers, is ADMIRABLE! Continued learning is part of being a great teacher.  Sometimes I wonder if the new TTs tell their trainees not to admit they are new?!  Because this “I am an expert now that I have a piece of paper saying I am a teacher” mentality feels very pervasive in the “Influencer” space.  OBVIOUSLY there are exceptions to this, there are MANY actual experts in the space, but let’s not confuse expertise with influence, because they are VERY different things, and confusing them is DANGEROUS, and will easily lead to injury.

This very long-winded post to say: fact-check your online (and IRL) “teachers”.  If you are taking advice from someone, make sure she or he is qualified to give it!  Quick hint: if a “yoga” person has her/ his knee well beyond the ankle in her / his warrior poses, DO NOT follow what they do!

Meeting and getting to know Aly has taught me to embrace my YEARS of experience and training, and allowed me to feel more comfortable speaking my truth and sharing what I have learned.  So, thank you, to my amazing, inspiring, and beautiful friend!  Thank you for reminding me that it is my DUTY as a teacher to share the knowledge I have accumulated.  And, I commit to doing so more and more on every platform I have.  Because the more real knowledge and love and positivity that is out there (even if it isn’t perfectly staged and shot), the better.

Your turn: what do you think of all of these Instagram, self-proclaimed fitness, health, and wellness experts?  Do you take advice from people on social media?  Please share in the comments below!

All LOVE and LIGHT,

Heidi

xoxo