YogaLondon: Teaching Your First Yoga Class

The Significance of the Moon to Yoga		Close

If you are familiar with ashtanga yoga, you've probably been cautioned against practicing yoga at the time of a full or new moon.

This has little to do with the popular notion of higher incidences of accidents and birthings during full moons, but more to do with our internal energies at these times.

A full moon is the product of the sun and moon at opposite ends of each other, and the earth fixed between. This positioning causes both the sun and moon to gravitate to the earth, resulting in the pulling of tides in bodies of water. Alternately, a new moon occurs when both the sun and moon are in conjunction.

More about the significance of the Moon to Yoga

Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher Training March and April 2012
Posted by Yoga London

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Teaching Your First Yoga Class
Anna Oldfield on 17 May, 2011 |

So you’ve developed your own practice, completed teacher training and gained all the necessary qualifications but are still feeling those butterflies at the thought of leading a class. Teaching your first class can be a nerve-wracking experience and the best way to keep calm is through thoughtful preparation.

Plan the sequence you will teach, structuring it to suit the needs of the group. Whatever level you are teaching, it will be important to make sure you have modifications prepared so that the class is accessible to everyone - even if the group is experienced you may be faced with injuries. Test out your sequence to ensure that it flows well, and that the timing is right. A great confidence booster can be practising with a friend or family member first so that you know you can teach the material in the set time and are familiar with the sequence.

When planning the lesson you will naturally want to pull out all the stops to ensure your students are impressed by the class. It is important to remember that what you find a challenging and stimulating sequence will be overwhelming for a less experienced practitioner. Teach a sequence you are comfortable with, and make sure that in seeking to create a class which the students will love, you don’t lose touch with your own voice. Remain true to yourself and your confidence will shine through.

Making a small sheet of notes to look over before the class or glance at during practice (if strategically placed where you can see it), is another way to calm those nerves. Keeping a record of your sequences is also great for future reference, and noting down what worked well and what didn’t will help you plan future classes.

Don’t over plan, though: it is important to remain flexible. Always prepare extra material that you can include if you have extra time, and know what can be cut without disturbing the balance of the sequence. Be responsive to your students and alter your sequence to match their energy levels.

Do your own practice earlier in the day so that you are already warmed-up, then use any time you have before the start of the class to centre yourself. In order to give the students a brilliant class it is important to fight your nerves and stay present to the moment. If you retreat inwards and cave in to your anxiety you risk not being engaged in the class; and providing the students with the individual attention is essential for a safe and satisfying practice.

Organisation and advance preparation are the key to remaining calm. Remember any props or equipment you may need such as a watch or speakers if you are using music, and arrive early to ensure that you have time to set up. Greet the class as they come in and make them feel at ease - if this is their first ever yoga lesson they may be feeling just as nervous as you are!