yogateachers – From the Ocean to the Mat

February 11, 2018February 13, 2018

Pacing Yoga Classes: How to Deal with Too Much or Too Little Time

I recently wrote about strategies for timing and pacing your group classes accurately. In a perfect world, these would work every time and you would never need to consider “damage control.” In our wonderfully imperfect reality, you’ll find yourself derailed from time to time.

So what do you do when you realize your timing is off?

In case you’re reading this thinking – well this doesn’t apply to me; I plan my classes and prepare enough that once I start teaching, I know my rhythm and trust my routine.

For you skeptics, here are some examples:

A student might come in late and distract you or disrupt the flow of class
You might need to spend extra time breaking down postures if you have a class including people newer to yoga in general
A student might have a question, or an emergency that requires attention
You might get nervous and talk/cue faster than you plan to (or slower!)

In sum, sh*t happens, and you can prepare yourself for it now, or panic in the moment. These are some of my preferred strategies for managing the two forms of time interference.

Scenario 1: Ending Too Soon/Needing to Fill Time

I’ve found that running through class too quickly is most common for new teachers. In developing our “voices” – and our general comfort levels in front of a room – many of us, as new teachers, move through class sequences more quickly than we plan to. Sometimes this stems from nerves – speaking faster than we intend to; other times it relates to a fear of pauses (which can, importantly, give students time to settle into a posture or connect to their minds, breaths, intentions); or it can just be a function of learning how to plan and sequence classes appropriately for your given class time.

My absolute number one suggestion to any teacher struggling with “extra” class time is to not conceptualize this issue as a need to “run out the clock.” More time means more opportunity to provide value to your students! Teaching yoga is such a gift – and extra time means more opportunities to share your well-earned knowledge and value with others.

The appropriate strategies for handling your extra time will depend on the type of class you are teaching.

If your class is intended to be an energetic/fast-paced class, you will not want to sacrifice these unintended 10, 15 (or sometimes even more!) extra minutes with postures that slow down your class too quickly.

Given a class that prioritizes movement, here’s what I’d suggest:

Your students should be very warmed up by now. You can use this time to introduce more advanced postures (if you are comfortable doing so).
You can also repeat part of class that you practiced earlier, but cue your students to pay attention to how their bodies might experience these postures differently now.
A technique that combines the previous two might include revisiting a posture, but adding options for more advanced interpretations. As an example: half pigeon. Half pigeon has a lot of variations! You can guide students into a “mermaid” variation, bending one knee and possibly grasping the raised foot with a hand, or finding the elbow and reaching for a bind in your hands. You can also cue a spine-strengthening variation, inviting students to bring weight out of their hands, maybe floating their arms and using their spine strength to keep their upper body raised. Another go-to of mine involves cueing students to bring their front shin closer to parallel to the front of the mat. Most students bring their front foot to the hip crease in half pigeon – but guiding that foot forward helps to open the muscles necessary for hanumasana, or front splits. All of these are ways to level-up a pose you might have previously included in class, and fill your extra time with extra value.

If you are teaching a class that is more focused on meditation, or otherwise more slowly-paced, you can use your spare time in other valuable ways:

Add a yin or restorative posture. Some of my favorites are supta baddha konasana, supported fish pose, supported bridge, or Figure-4. You can use the time they are in these postures to lead your students through breathwork, discuss the importance of balancing physical movement with awareness of the mind and breath, or any other guided meditation.
Extra long savasana. Note: my characterization of “extra long” is completely subjective. You might teach a style of class that asks for a 2-minute savasana; others require 10+ minutes. Either way, by extending your usual savasana segment of class, you have the chance to bring guided meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, or just extra time for the body to absorb the benefits of the preceding physical movement.
You can also give a few minutes for “play time.” I love having the time in a class to tell students they can use a minute or two to find any movements, poses, or stretches their bodies feel like they need to complete their physical practice. Some students will move immediately to savasana, but others welcome the time to find their own physical expressions before their final resting pose.
If you have the foresight to know that you might end too soon, there are strategies you can use throughout the earlier parts of your class.
- Add a child’s pose between any and all class segments! Child’s pose is an amazing posture you can do a lot with. Cue students to pay attention to different parts of their bodies in this pose – their feet, the back of their rib cages, the connections various parts of their bodies form with the earth. You can cue different arm variations – reaching the arms to one direction, then the other; bringing the arms down along the side of the body (where the hands are close to the hips for seashell or embryo pose); or bending the elbows and bringing the palms together for prayer pose behind the head for a nice tricep stretch.
- Add extra time to postures you might normally find movement in. Encourage students to close their eyes and fully inhabit downward facing dog, mountain pose, halfway lift from forward fold, etc. Take this time to add in some extra anatomical knowledge, breathwork, or meditation. You learned a LOT in your training – these are awesome, extra spaces to gift that knowledge to your students!

Scenario 2: Ending Late/Going Over Time

Going over time is a problem many teachers struggle with – both those who have just started, and those who have been teaching for many, many years. Some (though not all) students are very sensitive to classes not ending on time, either because they have busy schedules, or have strong feelings about their time being respected. As a teacher, you definitely do not want that very avoidable factor to be the reason that students leave a class unhappy.

Here are some strategies I’ve picked up along the way for offering a full, complete class, but being respectful of your students’ time:

If you start late:

Let people know ahead of time! If your class is small enough that you feel comfortable giving this note, you might mention something like – “we’re starting a couple minutes late – is everyone ok if I keep you a couple minutes late?” The vast majority of the time, this question will not be met with resistance. But, students will appreciate that you’ve acknowledged that you both want to provide them with the duration of the class time they expected, and that you respect their time.
If anyone indicates that they need to leave immediately when class was scheduled to end, make sure they are sitting close to the exit and let them know that you will take care of cleaning up their props so they can leave quickly and quietly.

If you realize during class that you will go over time:

Similarly, give the class a heads-up! Be sure to tell the class you will let them know when the scheduled end of class time is approaching. You could say something like “We will probably be going about 10 minutes over class time. I will let you know when we are close to __ (the scheduled end of class), in case you need to leave.“
If possible, it is best to move into a cool-down section of class before the scheduled class end time. This allows the students who need to leave to still transition safely from, depending on the style of your class, a more active portion to their post-class activities. Think about it like any other physical exercise – warm-ups and cool-downs are incredibly important for safety, recovery, and maximum benefits of your physical activity.

As with most aspects of teaching yoga, pacing and structuring classes becomes easier with time, practice, and experience. Managing extra or too little time in your classes with eventually feel less like a need for “damage control” and more like an opportunity to practice flexibility and adaptation as a teacher.

In the meantime, I hope these suggestions are helpful as you find the reactions and strategies that feel most natural to you.

Please share your thoughts and ideas with me below – and, as always, thank you for reading!

-JW

January 28, 2018January 29, 2018

A 4-Step Guide to Pacing Yoga Classes

One of the most sacred aspects of taking a yoga class is the opportunity to surrender.

Surrendering concern about past occurrences or future possibilities.
Embracing the present.
Allowing your instructor to hold space for you in every way: guiding your mind, guiding your body, guiding your breath…

…and

Trusting your instructor to pace and time your class both safely and accurately.

Purely in terms of customer service, there are two reasons to time your class accurately:

Your students are paying for a guided experience lasting a specific amount of time. If you end unreasonably early, you aren’t providing them the full experience they were promised. Think about how you would feel if you paid for, say, an hour with a therapist, an attorney, an accountant, or a massage therapist- and the practitioner ended the session after only 45 minutes? A yoga class should be viewed no differently.
Your students are trusting you to respect their time by ending the session when it is scheduled to end. People are busy, and finding the time for self care isn’t always easy. If you end a class far beyond its scheduled time, you run the risk of – albeit ironically and unintentionally – adding stress to a student’s day rather than relieving stress. Say a student schedules an important appointment for half an hour after a yoga class ends. If you run a class over by even 10 minutes, you reduce their time between activities by 30%. This could lead them to, worst case scenario be late to their appointment – or, best case scenario, still be more rushed than they had planned.

Aside from these important customer service considerations, there are even more vital concerns about your students’ bodies.

Portions of your class should be timed to prepare the body to move through your sequence safely. If you do not spend enough time warming up or cooling down the body, your students might experience injuries.
On a more optimistic note, your students will receive more benefits from their practice if their bodies are adequately warmed up! Whether you are working toward a peak posture or attempting to positively impact overall strength, balance, and flexibility, an ample warmup will help your students reach these goals.

And finally, YOU will benefit from time management!

By pacing and timing classes your classes accurately, you’ll find that teaching is easier, less stressful, and more enjoyable.

Hopefully I’ve convinced you that pacing and timing is important. Easier said than done, right? Well, actually, it is pretty easy if you use the following four strategies:

What Matters Most? First and foremost, think about the structural ratio of your class. You don’t need to be a natural mathematician to understand this concept – basically, it’s what you spend more or less time doing within your class time. Think about it like this: If you’re teaching a vinyasa flow or power yoga class, you’ll be actively moving much more than in a gentler or restorative class. Understanding this seemingly basic concept is integral to timing your class. Will you be spending most of your time on breathwork? Balancing postures? Emphasizing physical stillness? Physical movement? Mindfulness? Though many yoga classes integrate concepts, you’ll find that most classes have a central theme to them, and you want to structure your class appropriately to honor that primary concept.
The Method’s in the Music. Music will become your best friend for pacing, if you work in a space that allows music (in Western culture, most do). Yes, you may need to spend some personal time figuring out what songs pair well with which movements, but it is SO, so worth it in the long run. If you put in the work and planning, you will determine which song pairs with which movements and sections of class. Hearing a certain song end will cue you to transition to your next portion of class. Another song might give you an indication of having just 10 minutes left, so you know to move toward your cool down. This will allow you to lead the room through a practice without the reliance – or perception of reliance – on a clock.
Clockwork Organization. Set time markers for yourself. This is a strategy I use a LOT, both from when I started teaching, and to this day. Whether it’s a clock in the studio, or my personal watch, I think about my class in segments. Depending on the style I teach, there will be a set time I spend on the introduction to the class, a warm-up, a central segment, cool-down, and savasana – followed by the closing of the class. As an example, I might think of a 1-hour vinyasa flow like this: by 10-15 minutes in, I want to be done with warm-up, by 20-30 minutes time I want to be in the most physically intense part of the practice, by 50 minutes I want to be cooling down, etc. (note: this is just an example, so timing will vary depending on your personal style, the studio’s expectations, and type/level of practice). As you teach more, you’ll probably find yourself relying less and less on a clock or watch, since the balance of class will start to come naturally. Nevertheless, it’s a fantastic tool to help guide you through your structure and pacing.
Beginnings and Endings Matter. Don’t underestimate your start/stop time! I’ve practiced many different styles of yoga, and respect that various traditions have various “best practices.” That said, in most styles of yoga, it goes without saying that you’ll spend some time 1) introducing the class and 2) closing the session. If you are intent on starting and ending your class on time, you will want to factor this time into your overall class structure. One of the best ways to do this is by practicing at home – yes, out loud, and maybe even in front of a friend/friendly audience (sometimes scary, sometimes awkward, I know – but SO, so useful). Some questions to keep in mind: “How will I start class?” “Introduce myself?” “What instructions are important/relevant?” “What do I want to say to close and end the class?” Also keep in mind that you might have announcements to include at the end of your session. Whether it’s mentioning an upcoming event or workshop, a limited time pricing deal, or any other studio announcements, as long as you are expecting people to stay on their mats, they are in your class, where you are holding space. So all of these instructions, introductions, and closings should be factored into your overall class time.

Wherever you are in your teaching journey, I hope these four tips make pacing and timing your classes easier, and more enjoyable! Keep in mind that as with all things, accurate and effective pacing takes practice. Be patient with yourself, keep learning, and allow yourself to evolve.

What are some strategies you use for pacing your classes?
Is there anything I missed above?
As a student, how do you feel about classes going over or under time?

Thanks for reading,

August 21, 2017August 24, 2017

The Top 3 Things to Do (and Don’t) after Yoga Teacher Training

So you’ve finished yoga teacher training… now what?

You’ve invested time, money, and energy into a yoga teacher training program. You’ve met new people, honed new skills, and likely learned more than a few things about yourself on the way.

So now what?

This question is all too familiar to new graduates of yoga teacher training. While you may now be certified to teach, actually securing a teaching position is its own journey.

As someone who embarked on this journey, herself, and has witnessed many others navigate the transition from training to teaching, I can attest there is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Still, there are several strategies everyone should employ – and avoid – to ensure future success. Here are my top 3 do’s and don’t’s:

DO:

DO Keep Using Your Skills

The number one issue that I was both warned about as a student, and have later witnessed as a teacher & mentor, is that people complete their training… and wait…and wait… and wait. Don’t let your skills atrophy. Think of your knowledge as a muscle – use it!

If you don’t have the opportunity to start teaching your own “formal” classes or work with private clients, then reach out to your friends. Ask people in your social circles to let you practice-teach using them as students. If you feel ready, ask local yoga studios if they offer (or are willing to explore) community/donation-based classes that you can teach either free of charge, or at a significantly discounted rate. Think of this as playing the long game – as with any industry, you need experience to be hired. So even if you find yourself initially teaching for free, you can leverage this experience when applying and auditioning for paid positions.

DO Stay Open to More Learning

A good teacher in any field always remains a student. Even if you left your teacher training feeling ready to take on the world and a class of your own, there is always more to know.

Also recognize that everything there is to know about yoga cannot possibly be covered in 200 hours (or 500, or 1000, or 10,000). Think of your 200-hour certification as a Bachelor’s Degree, and your post-RYT200 time actually working with students as your advanced degree.

This doesn’t mean that you aren’t ready to teach after earning your certification. But the best teachers are open to recognizing areas of improvement or gaps of knowledge they want to address. This is part of your yoga, and part of your yoga teaching!

Continue to take classes as a student. Look for specialized workshops led by master teachers, or in areas you think could use more training.

DO Confidently Chase Opportunities

As with everything in yoga, self-awareness is a balancing act. While you want to be honest with yourself and others about the areas you might want to improve, maintain the self-confidence to embrace and communicate your strengths!

Think of it this way- the worst thing someone can do is say no. Very rarely will someone come to you asking you to teach. To successfully secure employment, you WILL need to become comfortable reaching out to people and pursuing opportunities. Register your information in as many online directories of local yoga teachers as possible. When you attend classes at yoga studios, mention you are a yoga teacher and, using your judgment, ask about employment opportunities. Consider making a website and building a social media presence around your offerings as a yoga instructor.

Of course, in the yogic spirit of balance, there are several behaviors to always avoid when making the transition from yoga student to teacher.

DON’T:

DON’T Market Yourself Dishonestly

In my opinion, this is the most important “don’t” – which is why I place it first. Think of satya, the yama representing truthfulness. In recognizing and communicating our true abilities, there is a marriage of confidence and humility that the self-aware and honest yoga teacher learns to hone.

This is such an important principle, but one that I believe can be difficult for people – even with the best intentions – to visualize. So here are a couple examples:

Example 1: A prospective private client approaches you to ask for a restorative session, but you have little to no experience in this area.

Response: Be honest! There are ways to do this without entirely dismissing the possibility of securing the client.

You might say something like:

“My specialty is ____. I am happy to do some research on restorative yoga and lead you through a session, or refer you to someone with more extensive experience in that area.”

If the client opts for a teacher with more experience, she will know that you act with integrity, and might either seek you out in the future or recommend you to other prospective clients. If the client chooses to move forward with you, your candor provides you with a landing pad that will cushion any growing pains you might experience as a teacher while navigating the session.

Let’s look at a more high-stakes example.

Example 2: A prospective client is interested in advanced-level private sessions, perhaps focusing on inversions and arm balances. You do not have much experience with these postures, either in your own practice or as an instructor.

Response: If you have little to no experience teaching these postures, faking your way through a private session risks consequences much more dire than embarrassment or your reputation. Your client could face serious injuries if you do not lead him safely in, through, and out of these poses. If you find yourself in this situation, always opt to refer the client out to a different instructor, but provide your reasoning so she doesn’t feel rejected.

You might say:

“I don’t feel comfortable enough teaching those groups of poses to offer you a safe and constructive learning environment. I am happy to refer you to ____, who I trust can provide you with a safer experience. If you are ever interested in [insert your area of training/knowledge], I would love to work with you!”

As with our first example, even in losing a prospective client, you gain their trust – and potential future clients because of it.

DON’T Instruct Without Insurance & Documentation (boring but so, so important)

You hopefully covered the importance of liability insurance in your “Business of Yoga” section of training, but it is worth emphasizing here. Even in seemingly casual settings, you always want to ensure you are legally protected. Buy yoga teacher insurance, and design a liability waiver for private sessions or classes. There are numerous free templates you can find online and personalize for your needs. Even if you’re teaching a free class in a park, or working with a group of people you know, think of it this way:

Worst-case scenario, anything can happen. Injuries – or even freak accidents – are rare, but you want to be protected. You also have an obligation to your students to inform them of any potential risks associated with your classes or sessions.
Presenting these materials speaks to your professionalism. Many yoga studios require teachers to possess their own individual insurance – especially if you are hired as an independent contractor. By having these materials prepared, you will present yourself as an organized, professional candidate for open positions. Similarly, you will reinforce your legitimacy to new clients by showing up with organized, prepared materials.
It’s good practice! We often focus preparation around what we perceive as more complex, and ignore the basics until necessary. You’ve probably spent more time thinking about teaching postures and sequencing classes than the process of introducing yourself, beginning and concluding sessions, and explaining consent forms and waivers. The more experience you have practicing these conversations, the more smoothly your classes and private sessions will run – allowing you to focus your energy on the actual content you are providing.

DON’T Jump Without Research

This final tip is less high-stakes than the first two, but very important. After achieving your RYT-200 goal, you might feel ready to take on the world and tempted to chase other dreams. This is all well and good – but do your research! Resist the urge to jump into business ventures just because they have “yoga” in the name.

One of the most common tendencies I see in students going through teacher training is a desire to open their own studios.

Remember that a yoga studio is, first and foremost, a business. You can be a top-notch instructor, but a shoddy business owner. Conversely, successful studio owners might not have any experience teaching yoga.

If you are serious about wanting to open your own studio, I highly recommend working for a period of time in an administrative role at an existing studio. Behind-the-scenes experience is invaluable, and can help you determine whether you truly wish to embark on a journey that, while rewarding, is also very time-consuming and challenging.

In conclusion,

I first and foremost want to congratulate you on embarking on this new chapter of your life! Teaching yoga is such a rewarding experience on many levels. The best part – it is a dynamic experience of constant exploration, empathy, and self study. You will rarely be bored and frequently be challenged.

Your thoughts?

In that spirit – I want to hear from you!

Yoga teachers – or teachers in training – what would you add to my lists of do’s or don’ts?

How would you advise people who are just finishing their teacher trainings?

October 13, 2015May 9, 2017

Why to Enroll in Yoga Teacher Training – Even if You Don’t Want to Teach Yoga

Don’t want to teach yoga? Teacher training might still be for you – yes, really!

Though it may sound contradictory, yoga teacher training isn’t just for future teachers. Some people come to the realization that they do not wish to teach their own yoga students as they are going through a training program. Other people enroll in a teacher training program knowing this the whole time.

I personally fell into a different camp. I knew I wanted to teach yoga, and enrolled in a yoga teacher training program to obtain the necessary skills and credentials to do so. I’ll admit to being mystified as to why people would allocate time and money to yoga teacher training if they weren’t going to “do” anything with it.

As I came to realize, there are LOTS of reasons – and “doing something with it” takes many forms. Though yoga schools differ in the weight they place on various sections of curricula, you can expect to walk away from a teacher training with the following new additions to your soul, spirit, and practice:

You will enhance your own practice

This is perhaps the most common reason, outside of plans to teach, that people cite for going through a yoga teacher training program. Though I walked into my training realizing this would likely be an additional benefit, I had no idea how much YTT would help my own practice.

You will both learn and understand the logic behind correct alignment. You will start to recognize strong (and poor) sequencing when you are in yoga classes as a student. You will learn how to listen to your body, and what adjustments you need to make for your own practice without relying on someone else to provide cues.

2. You will learn new skills to incorporate into other parts of your life

Being a yoga instructor is only partially about yoga. It largely involves public speaking (regularly cited as one of people’s most common fears), which you practice by teaching your fellow teacher trainees and sometimes even “real” classes if you shadow a mentor in the community.

Additionally, you will gain training on client relations, marketing, finances, scheduling, and business management skills. Depending on the yoga school, some of these topics are more heavily covered than others, but you can expect to walk away with more confidence and an enhanced “toolkit” of interpersonal and management skills to bring into other areas of your life.

You will broaden your worldview

Yoga teacher training is in many ways a series of lessons on culture and history. You will trace the origins of yoga back to the Vedas, learning Sanskrit terminology for asanas, the Hindu symbolism behind many poses, and the story of yoga’s migration to the West. You will find how your unique practice fits into these broad lineages of yogis and gurus

You will make new friends and connections

For one, you’ll be connected to some awesome new yoga teachers in your community whose classes you can take in the future! But aside from the practical benefits of connecting with fellow yogis, you will meet people from all walks of life.

These people may become your best friends, your yoga family, future business partners, or just acquaintances passing through your life like ships in the night. Whatever their role is revealed to be, you will learn from them, they will learn from you, and your life will be forever changed.

You will learn more about yourself

Though teacher training provides a great deal of objective information – facts about anatomy, how the human body processes breath and movement, the history of yoga — the majority of teacher training is about finding your own voice.

And this “voice” doesn’t just mean the words that come out of your mouth. Your voice is your attitude, your pace, your tone, your approach to the world. You look inward to explore who you are at your core, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and goals.

Maybe the title of “yoga teacher” isn’t something you see, or want, for your future. But as you construct your list of goals for the next year (or 5, or 10), don’t write off “yoga teacher training” on the sole basis of not wanting to teach your own students. Many people enjoy teacher trainings as a gift to themselves – an opportunity to look within, strengthen their own yoga practices, and form lifelong connections.

Are there other benefits you obtained through your teacher training? Join the conversation below. As always, thanks for reading.

August 11, 2015February 5, 2018

So You Want to Start a Yoga Practice…

So You Want to Start a Yoga Practice….

But have no idea where to begin?
Don’t know what kind of class to take?
Are nervous about being a new student in a room with experienced students?
Don’t know what to bring or wear?

Guess what – all of these are completely normal concerns. As a yoga student and instructor for a combined 10+ years, I know that starting a yoga practice is a wonderful, yet potentially overwhelming experience. I hope that the information I provide in this post will help anyone apprehensive about their first class transform some of that anxiety into excitement.

Note: This post is meant to be a broad overview for people completely new to yoga. Each topic can be covered in more detail, and I am happy to provide you with more information upon request.

What Kind of Class Should I Take?

This is the most common question I get from yogi-curious friends. As yoga becomes more widespread and mainstream, it seems there are endless types of classes and studios to choose from – which can be extremely overwhelming for a beginner!

Articles such as this one from Mind Body Green provide a good overview of the major types of yoga and can help demystify some of the words you hear yoga-practicing friends throwing around (e.g. ashtanga, vinyasa, hatha).

Many studios offer classes for complete beginners. These are usually appropriately named, ranging from “Intro to Yoga” or “Yoga for Beginners.” If you don’t see these classes offered in your area, look for “Level 1” classes.

If classes have more detailed names, ones labeled “Hatha” or “Yin” are great for beginners since they tend to move at a slower pace than “Vinyasa” or “Power” classes. Though “Restorative” classes are wonderful for beginners due to their gentleness on the body and slow pace, you tend to practice relatively fewer poses in comparison to other types of yoga. So if you want a more comprehensive introduction to specific yoga poses, I’d suggest Hatha or Yin.

What Studio Should I Go To?

If you have coworkers or friends who practice yoga, ask for their recommendations! Otherwise, use Yelp, Google, or other search engines to find studios in your area. Studio websites will almost always provide their class schedules, where you can scan for the types of classes listed above (Beginner, Level 1, Hatha, Yin). Many gyms, churches, and community centers offer yoga classes as well. Finally, sites like MeetUp are good ways to connect with people in your area, and find yoga classes in more informal settings (often free or priced lower, too!).

I Don’t Want to Start in A Group Setting

One of the most common concerns I hear from people completely new to yoga is that they feel anxious about starting out in a group setting. People are worried they will have trouble keeping up with the other students, look like they don’t know what they’re doing, or practice poses incorrectly.

From my years on my mat and leading classes, I can assure you that your fear of looking out-of-place is much more an insecurity than a reality. In addition to my very first yoga class ever, I have been new to many studios and styles of yoga. We all start somewhere and your fellow students will be focusing on their own practices. But I also realize this can be easier to say than to fully embrace when you are brand new.

If you are set against starting in a group class setting, consider practicing a few sessions in private instruction. While private yoga instruction will usually run more expensive than group classes, the one-on-one setting will allow you to receive individual, personalized guidance through poses as well as the opportunity to ask any questions as they come up.

To save money, try looking for newer instructors. As with any service, yoga teachers who are just starting out will charge much lower prices than those with more experience. Do an Internet search for yoga teacher training schools in your area, and call their contact number to enquire about current trainees or recent graduates looking for private clients.

Another way to save money on private yoga instruction is through bartering. If you can provide a service in return (maybe you do hair, have a vegetable garden, make jewelry, do taxes), some teachers will offer their services for free.

What Should I Bring?

My personal rule regarding accessories for any new hobby is to try before I buy. No activity is one-size fits all, so you may find that yoga just isn’t your thing. With this in mind, I would encourage you to wait to buy a mat (unless you know you will use it for other exercises too) or any props like blocks or straps until you’ve taken a few classes and know you will be returning for more.

Every studio I’ve been to has had mats available for students to use (often free or for a max $1 or $2 rental fee). Most studios are good about cleaning these, but you can bring a towel from home to put over the mat if the thought of using a shared mat bothers you.

Yoga studios that incorporate props into their classes will also have blocks and straps available for students, so no need to buy or bring your own.

You will also want to bring water. Many studios either sell water or have a water fountain available, but some don’t. Depending on the level and style of class you are taking, you may not need it, but it is always better to have on hand than go thirsty.

You might want to bring a hand towel for wiping off sweat, though this is entirely optional and depends on personal preference as well as the difficulty level of the class.

What Should I Wear?

The short answer: clothing you can comfortably move around in. Movements you should be able to do in your clothing include: sitting comfortably on the floor, kneeling, bending your knees, raising arms overhead, and folding forward. Make sure that your top is either long enough to tuck into your waistband or form-fitting enough that it won’t fall toward your head when you bend over. Be prepared to take your shoes off. If you prefer not to be barefoot for any reason, bring a pair of socks along (though barefoot is better because socks can slip on yoga mats).

Will The Instructor Touch Me?

This one is a bit of a wild card. Many yoga teachers do give physical adjustments. These range from placing a hand on your shoulder to encourage you to open your chest, to raising your palm with theirs to level your arm, to placing a hand on your hip to encourage the squaring of your pelvis. Other instructors prefer to only give verbal instruction on proper alignment. It often comes down to the personal style of the person teaching.

Since students vary widely in their comfort levels with touching, many instructors set aside a time in the beginning of class to say something along the lines of “I offer hands-on adjustments; if you would prefer not to receive adjustments for any reason, please raise your hand.” They usually say this while students are in a pose with their heads down or eyes closed so you don’t have to feel uncomfortable about raising your hand. Since not every instructor incorporates this question into his or her classes, if you have a strong preference against not being physically touched, it is perfectly ok to approach the instructor before class to let him or her know. Some people bring notes listing “no adjustments, please,” to leave on their mats as well.

I Had A Bad Experience – Is Yoga Just Not For Me?

Not everyone is going to like yoga – and that’s a-OK! But too often I’ve had someone tell me yoga is too intense, only to learn that the one class they tried was hot power yoga, or that they thought yoga was boring, but had only tried a restorative class. (Note- I love hot yoga and don’t find restorative boring, so these are just examples!).

If you fall into this category, remember that there are a LOT of options in yoga. A yoga class can be a fast-paced workout, gentle meditation and breathing exercises, a series of simple stretches, and many, many other styles. Just as it would be unfair for someone to visit one city and make a judgment about the entire county- the same applies to yoga.

Aside from not liking the style of yoga class, sometimes people have a bad experience with an instructor or students in their class (one of my clients started private yoga sessions because someone passed gas in her face during a group class!). Even if you have a horror story of your own, please consider giving yoga another try! Teachers bring their own styles and personalities into the room, and not every one will suit you. And, some days might just be “off.” I strongly encourage you to try at least three classes – or styles – or teachers – until you swear off yoga forever :).

If you are thinking about starting a yoga practice, I hope that you do! I based the points in this post off of my own experience and the questions of students, clients, and friends. I plan to add onto it as new questions come up, so please comment with anything you think I missed, or suggestions of your own.

As always, thanks for reading.

Namaste,

May 12, 2014May 12, 2014

The Newest Beginning: RYT 200

In full disclosure, the majority of this post is taken from a selection I recently posted on my Instagram account ( @yogijennyswan ) but I know this community has much insight to offer as well, so I extend my request for advice to any interested and willing ears. 🙂

With both excitement and a bit of apprehension, I am happy to announce I have officially enrolled in an RYT 200 teacher training program for this summer/fall.

To accompany his post, I intentionally selected a photo that represents what I consider to be the “organized chaos” of my daily life. I have a messy kitchen, a surplus of cat paraphernalia, and a discombobulated stash of books, art, and music.

Professionally, I first identify as a criminologist. I love what I do, and have many goals for my life that stem from my primary career trajectory. However, our self concepts are inherently multidimensional. Aside from my main job, I am a hospice volunteer, a marathon runner, an artist, wife, sister, daughter, and many more- as are all of you.

At the risk of sounding trite, I have found a home in yoga- a home that allows me to be my fullest self in each of my roles. It is this identification and acceptance of the self that I hope to enable others to achieve through their own practices- and precisely why I wish to become a yoga instructor. As I have reached out to others- physically, through my own practice in various studios, as well as virtually on social media and blogs, I have been so happy with the climate of inclusion the yoga community facilitates.

You ALL have been incredibly welcoming, encouraging, and inspiring. As I embark on this new journey, I would love to hear your thoughts on:

1) teachers – advice you have for new instructors

2) newbies to yoga – how you would like a teacher to approach a beginning class

3) veteran students – the good, the bad, the ugly of teaching styles, philosophies, etc you’ve experienced

4) anything else under the sun I failed to include within those first categories.

I love you guys- thank you for supporting and inspiring me!!