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