How I started to teach in English

Today I want to share my personal journey of learning English and practicing yoga.

My name is Kateryna Aleshchenko. You can also call me ‘Kat’. I know ‘Kate’ is often used as well, but it just doesn’t feel like me. So, Kat :) 

I was born, raised, and still live in Ukraine. For me, learning English is about freedom. To communicate while traveling, expand my professional knowledge, and practice with English-speaking teachers.

Yoga and language learning have a common key. Consistency. If you stop practicing, both become a history. Being great ten years ago is the past. Practice or nostalgia 😊

So, in 2022  I worked as a yoga teacher, lived in Kyiv (Ukraine) and was looking for ways to keep my English in a fit.

The traditional way to learn English is through a language course. I chose an online school, took a level test, and started learning as an intermediate student. I remember those three months as a warm-up, refreshing my ability to express myself in English.

It was absolutely the right decision - the decision to dive into the process without searching for something perfect. It gave me time to build a real desire for more, something deeper and more specific.

The truth is, change often comes with a hint of sadness. I felt a bit disappointed realizing that, despite my progress, I wasn’t gaining my professional vocabulary. I couldn’t teach in English. I could make friends, but I couldn’t work. It was good, but not enough.

So, I quit my course. Instead, I bought an arm balance course from an English-speaking teacher, picked up a book about asanas in English, and subscribed to classes with an English-speaking yoga teacher.

About two weeks after finishing my course, I received an unexpected proposal - to teach yoga in English at a language school. Someone had recommended me. I was thrilled and immediately said yes.

Then they asked me to prepare a 15-minute demo class because there were two other candidates for the position 😊 I gave it my all. It wasn’t perfect, and I wasn’t entirely confident, but I did it. And after that demo, I felt nothing but gratitude for the opportunity.

At that moment, I made a decision: if they didn’t choose me, I would find another way to teach in English. After all, YouTube is open to everyone.

They chose me. And now, 2.5 years later, I’m still teaching at StudyLess. Honestly, I adore this place.

If this were a fairytale, that would be the happy ending. But life doesn’t work that way.

For a long time, I struggled with explaining things in English. I did my best, but it never felt like enough—it wasn’t as smooth or natural as in my native language. I read, I learned, I taught, and I took the time to grasp specific vocabulary. Still, building confidence was a slow process.

Now, I feel a deep desire to help others overcome their language barrier on their yoga journey.

Thank you for being here!