This photograph was taken in 2001, sixteen years before Dr Abby Hoffmann wrote this article. It captures an early chapter in the journey that would eventually lead to the development of Yoga Sports Science®.

Originally published 2017 · Written by Dr Abby Hoffmann

Editor's Note | Looking Back from 2026

When Dr Abby Hoffmann wrote this article in 2017, Instagram yogis were becoming increasingly influential in shaping how yoga was presented and perceived.

Nearly a decade later, social media continues to play a role in the yoga community. But Abby's original question remains just as relevant: what gives a yoga teacher professional credibility beyond their online following?

In this article, Abby explores how evidence-informed teaching, specialist knowledge and an understanding of sports science can help yoga teachers develop the confidence and credibility to work with athletes and within professional sport.

We've revisited her original article while preserving the perspective and hist...