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As the studio lights fade, AP World History teacher Caylen Beight moves among rows of yoga mats in lavender-scented air. She pauses to help one student lower her shoulders, then continues through the room.

For Beight, teaching history and practicing yoga have developed side by side for about 13 years. What began as a hobby introduced by her sister’s friend eventually became an essential outlet—and a second teaching career.

“I have a lot of flexibility, so I just naturally gravitated towards it,” Beight said.

Her connection to yoga deepened during her first year as a teacher. Fresh out of college, she was balancing lesson planning, grading and classroom management when the practice offered relief from the pressure.

“Yoga was a release from my first year of teaching,” she said. “I loved it.”

From student to instructor

Beight decided to pursue yoga certification after the COVID-19 pandemic closed her studio and left her with unexpected free time.

Breaking into instruction proved harder than she anticipated. Studios wanted teachers with experience, but she needed a job to gain that experience. Her first opportunity came at a congressional summer camp in 2021, followed by classes at a college church community center.

Four years later, Beight teaches every other Friday at Karma Yoga. Her approach has also evolved. After beginning with intense power yoga sessions in large rooms—90-minute classes that left participants drenched in sweat—she now teaches vinyasa classes designed to be slower and more restorative.

Her open studio classes can include both beginners and longtime practitioners. That range requires her to adjust her instruction and use props to make poses accessible to people at different skill levels.

“There may be people new to the practice and people who’ve been there forever,” Beight said.

Lessons that carry into school

The patience required in yoga has influenced how Beight teaches history. In both settings, she tries to meet students at their current level and help them progress at a manageable pace.

Sophomore Saachi Thomas said Beight’s relaxed, adaptable style has made AP World History feel more approachable.

That same calm authority shapes the atmosphere in her classroom, according to sophomore Jimin Lee.

“I don’t think I’ve seen Ms. Beight get mad at all,” Lee said. “The class atmosphere is also pretty good. It’s under control, but not where everyone’s silent. A lot of people talk and participate in discussions.”

Beight’s path to Karma Yoga tested the composure she now brings to both rooms. During her audition, she stumbled early in her sequence. She laughed, continued and finished convinced that she had lost the opportunity.

Instead, the studio appreciated seeing how she responded to the mistake.

“They were like, ‘We actually really like seeing you,’” Beight said. “It’s really important to see you not be a robot and get bogged down and mess things up.”

Her own practice has brought similar challenges, including difficulty mastering advanced positions such as the splits. Those struggles helped her view yoga as an ongoing process rather than a series of accomplishments.

“Yoga is not about getting good at it,” Beight said. “It’s about the process. I think that it creates a growth mindset.”

Yoga has also reinforced the importance of developing an authentic teaching voice. Beight said every instructor delivers material differently, whether leading a studio session or a history lesson.

“You have to find your own way,” she said.

Beight hopes to travel and attend yoga classes in other countries as she continues developing her practice. For her, reaching one milestone simply reveals another opportunity to grow.

“Once you get there, there’s something new for you to do,” Beight said. “You can build on that and do it once again. There’s no end goal to it.”