| Developing Your Skills as a Yoga Teacher | | | | the movements you demonstrate and do with the |
| No matter what style of yoga you teach or intend | | | | class. For example, when you say "reach your right |
| to teach, there are many things you can do to | | | | arm overhead," actually raise your left arm, so it |
| ensure a wonderful class for both you and your | | | | mirror the arm used by your class. |
| students. | | | | 7) Repeat postures. Repeat postures once or twice. |
| The following tips are just a few techniques that will | | | | This gives students a chance to most watch the first |
| help bring out the best in your class: | | | | time, but still have enough opportunity to practice the |
| 1) Orient your students to the class. Tell your | | | | posture on their own. |
| students what to expect before the class begins. | | | | 8) Walk the room. Move around rather than stay in |
| 2) Explain the benefits of specific yoga postures and | | | | front. This allows you to be with your students and |
| breathing exercises. Studies have shown that | | | | become more aware of what they need. |
| educating students about their bodies and the | | | | 9) Remind everyone to breathe. Proper breathing is |
| effects of what they are doing, increases motivation. | | | | essential in yoga and helps keep the mind focused on |
| 3) Practice effective communication skills. Teaching | | | | the body, while making movement mind mindful and |
| yoga is different than speaking with a friend or | | | | efficient. Often when students try a new pose, they |
| teaching an individual. It's important to be clear and | | | | tend to hold their breath, so remind students often |
| concise - using too many words can break the flow | | | | to breathe. Explain when to inhale and when to |
| of the class and cause more confusion than help. | | | | exhale. Encourage students to breathe through their |
| Also, make eye contact with individual students | | | | nose. This helps keep their bodies warm, helps filter |
| throughout the class to show your openness and | | | | the air they inhale and helps keep breathing more |
| confidence. | | | | smooth and breath rate slower. |
| 4) Know your material. The only way to feel | | | | 10) Help students develop their inner awareness. |
| confident teaching yoga is to know your material - | | | | Remind students to focus on the feel of a |
| which means to understand the alignment details of | | | | movement, rather than how it looks or how they |
| each yoga posture, as well as the effects and | | | | compare to other students. Focusing on their breath |
| benefits of each posture. | | | | and on inner feel of a pose helps students stay |
| 5) Take it step by step. Talk your students through | | | | present in the moment and connect movement to |
| a pose step by step, emphasizing that they can stop | | | | breath. |
| at any step along the way. Encourage students to | | | | 11) Use positive reinforcement. When you see |
| only go to their edge - that point where they feel | | | | someone doing something correctly, mention it to |
| challenged, yet not overdoing it. | | | | them and let them know that you've noticed their |
| 6) Mirror the postures. When facing your class, mirror | | | | progress. |