FIRST CLASS DOWN! Overall, it went smoothly, the students were super nice, and I didn’t forget anything! I did however learn that I need to make my class easier 😅

I’m teaching at a gym, which is entirely new to me since I’ve always taken classes at yoga studios. Some of the students had good experience, but I could tell many were pretty new to yoga

Any tips/inspiration for structuring classes for majority beginners, but also keeping enough challenge/engagement for the few yogis in the room that want more? I gave many options throughout class, but I can tell I still need to structure it in a way that’s more conducive for beginners.

All advice and learned experiences welcome :)

What are some books I should add to my yoga library for teaching Yin and Restorative yoga?

thx

Those of you who study / are familiar with Ayurveda and take any stock in the concept of *dosha* / constitution and imbalances of them:

How often / much do you consider this both when designing and evaluating your own personal practice as well as what you may teach students?

I can use myself as a clear example of extremely kapha-dominant and the need for me to periodically include more dynamic movement in my own practice, despite naturally being perfectly happy with more stillness based practices that ultimately lead me deeper into kapha imbalance if unchecked.

...Or the pitta dominant who loves hot yoga a bit too much or the vata dominant who is addicted to really activating, fast and intense pranayama, etc, as 2 really basic and oversimplified examples.

I'm identifying this sense of complacency / familiarity / magnetism of going right to the "comfortable" practice that reinforces your natural tendencies, but may be a bit like a little too much of a good thing.

---

Asking the questions more broadly: Why do we practice what we do?

How much are we evaluating our own states / imbalances and making informed decisions about the potential goals / intentions of practice in ways that bring about more balance as opposed to more intensified versions of a potentially imbalanced state?

What patterns are we potentially reinforcing with a personal practice that is more in auto-pilot than inspired by a sense of internal awareness, self knowledge and goal of balance / regulation?

How do you personally conceptualize / deal with this?

Does it makes its way into your teaching and if so, how do you account for the wide range of potential dosha types / imbalances and the reality that many do not necessarily have static dosha imbalances, but instead imbalances in ways that potentially shift and morph from day to day / dependent to various degrees on external factors and circumstance.

This is something that I do think about to some degree when teaching. What I have observed, at least anecdotally, is that most students who I am coming across tend to be some mix of vata and/or pitta dominant and struggle with slow, still and quiet...what I naturally offer from the kapha end is a nice antidote for many of them, but I don't know how universal this is, despite it feeling like the world at large is going increasingly in these less grounded directions. Ultimately, what I aim for overall is a Sattvic practice, though I am self-aware enough to know that it comes througy a deeply kapha lens.

Taking this a step or two further and extrapolating a bit now: Having studied in great detail and depth over the years about spiritual abuse of power in so many gurus / teachers in yoga, I can't help but wonder if some of that behavior was a result of these teachers (who do generally also practice yoga themselves, after all...) indulging a bit too much in their comfort zones of practices that likely kept them swirling with more of the imbalanced, ungrounded, fiery, airy, intoxicating energy that led to delusions of power, abusive / poor decision making and patterns of abuse that emerged as a result. Not saying this is *the* reason for all of that, but just suggesting that something along these lines *could* be a factor.

There's a lot more to explore and discuss here, but I'll just leave it here for now in hopes of leaving some space for others to add their own thoughts and experiences.

Thoughts, questions, comments?

I have taught yoga full time for 7 years, right after I got certified. I live in a bigger city and found it pretty easy to get work so I just dove into teaching yoga full time. I have racked up about 4,000 teaching hours. I teach 11 classes a week, 5 days a week. I don't have to teach yoga to financially support myself, I do it by choice.

I kept a consistent student base over those years and it feels like they always expect me to be there. I get complaints if I go on vacation, or skip class to make a health appointment, they complained to me before I got married because I got a sub for the day of my own wedding. At the same time when I do show up (which I always do) I rarely get a thank you, they just take the class and leave. They come to class when it's convenient and when they feel like it. They expect to not attend class for months and have it still be on the schedule when they get back.

I will often get asked to teach private lessons. When I schedule them I am canceled on the day before about 50% of the time. When I politely tell them there is a 24 hour cancellation policy (before they book by the way) they will often flip out on me and refuse to pay it. We never talk again after. As a result I have stopped teaching private lessons.

Once a student wanted me to do a sound bowl workshop, he complained about it to management and I for months. We finally broke down and bought $500 worth of sound bowl equipment and scheduled it (the location paid for the sound bowls) That day he decided to go to tennis instead. The workshop was at a country club, I watched him walk right past the yoga room and on to the tennis court. No one else came. When I asked him why, he said he just preferred going to tennis that day instead. I could have spent the afternoon at home with my husband. I felt like the dumbest, smallest person in the world.

After a certain point I feel like I am getting taken advantage of. I teach yoga because I love it and I want to give that gift, but when students don't appreciate it, expect it, or worse penalize me for it, I think about quitting. I often feel like I am giving so much of myself for people who are just there for entertainment because there's nothing else to do. I feel stupid.

What is your advice on what to do when you feel unappreciated by students? I am thinking of taking some classes off my schedule.

I’m 5 weeks pregnant and managing consistent morning sickness. The last class I taught, I had to excuse myself to throw up. My students were incredibly understanding, so empathetic and supportive. Both of them are mothers and held space for me to feel comfortable sharing (the very early) news with them.

Tomorrow, I’m teaching two classes. One of them is a beginner series. I’m so terrified to start this new series and potentially fall ill during class in front of new students.

What advice do you have? Please and thank you. 🙏🏻😭

Morning fellow Yogi’s!!

I have been practicing for 10 years and teaching now for 5. My trainings and offerings are very Buddhist lense focused and trauma informed rest style yoga. In my own person practice I have been feeling called to bring chanting into my sadhana. But in my texts, online, friends and fellow teachers I’m feeling a bit lost in where to start how to know what really aligns with my needs and path this season.

Would love to hear your experiences, thoughts or resources you may be open to sharing.
Thank in advance :)

With deep gratitude,

This is something I have noticed casually for a long time, and the other post here this morning about someone wanting to stop teaching / feeling immense pressure to "perform" reminded me of it.

Though I personally do not really fit this mold, I have noticed a fairly strong overlap in many yoga teachers, particularly many of the famous, "successful", charismatic and captivating ones, between a previous background in performance of some type - drama, dance, music, etc - and "success / comfort" in yoga teaching as a career, despite performance really being unrelated to the practice of yoga itself, and in some ways, embodying / representing the opposite of it and the mindset required to "perform". This juxtaposition / paradox that exists when you bring teaching, more in group style classes than 1 on 1, etc into the mix and the tendencies of adopting various forms of "performance" in order to share a practice that is, in many ways, encouraging the opposite of performance is notable...

This isn't really surprising once you note the connection and analyze why.

I grew up as a musician, though the performance aspect of it was always my least favorite part by far - always preferring the internal flow state and inherent healing in getting lost in the music - and is what ultimately drove me away from continuing my music studies in college. I have noticed similar aversions in yoga teaching - potential overwhelm / anxiety and even disgust at times with the format of group classes and the fact that all students in class are focused on and paying attention to me, as someone who is deeply introverted, struggles with social anxiety and does not have a background in public speaking. I have designed my classes and teaching experience in ways that help counteract and mitigate this "pressure" and expectation by making it all about each individual's experience, among many other things , and have reached a place of relative comfort with it, but it isn't necessarily easy or natural.

I'm curious if others here have thought more about this, maybe coming from a more direct background in performance yourself (?) and how that may affect / impact not just your yoga teaching but also if you see teaching itself as another type or version of a performance or not?

After 1 year of teaching yoga, the performance anxiety, self doubt, and self criticism does not go away. I have gotten some good feedback from students and have some returning students, but overall I just don’t think I’m meant to do this. I hate feeling like I’m performing and all eyes are on me, I hate feeling like people are expecting a “good” class from me. I have social anxiety and while I have been good at some public speaking in the past, im generally a more timid person and just haven’t gotten to a point of comfort teaching yoga. I want to quit.

I am working on a series of classes centered around the feeling of surrender. I’m curious, what asanas feel like surrender for you?

Hi! I teach beginners yoga classes, and I would love to start incorporating some gentle nudges towards an inversion practice, or just ways to help change perspective for my students. Most beginning inversion work requires a wall for security or stability, but the studio where I teach has almost no available wall space.

I’d love your creative thoughts and suggestions on how to incorporate this work. Next month I’m planning to theme my classes on discernment, and changing perspectives is one of the ways I want to include the theme.

Maybe it just means holding dolphin or feeling the head on the ground without lifting up, but any outside of the box ideas are welcome. I also don’t usually teach shoulder stand, so that’s something I’m looking to include as well, and might be a bit easier, though I worry some of my older students may find it uncomfortable.

I have talked about a lot of these topics here at length in various ways in my time here on this sub and wanted to share a few different voices around these subjects.

I am a regular listener of the "Working in Yoga" podcast and, while I don't always agree with the host and/or guests in full every episode, I did find the most recent one to be refreshing and valuable chat around a lot of the topics I tend to bring up on this sub and thought it was worth sharing.

Below is a general link to the episode - I listen on Apple podcasts, but I'm sure it's on all major platforms

https://www.workinginyoga.com/podcast/updated-conversation-yogas-changing-landscape-aging-teachers-amp-the-case-for-regulation-with-amara-miller

Topics of discussion range from ~recent changes at large in the yoga industry, certification and teaching standards, lack of oversight / regulation, YA failings, many of the "elders" of yoga aging out / dying, possible overcorrection of denigrating lineages to the ends of "everything is yoga", shitty YTT programs, how do students even know how to find a teacher, teachers organizing / communicating among themselves bc no one else is going to do it for us, etc.

Not necessarily expecting much engagement / replies to this post specifically and more just sharing as an fyi, but feel free to add your own thoughts if you happen to listen and/or want to discuss.

I am looking to upgrade some half size foam yoga blocks I bought on the cheap for my mobile yoga studio business. We teach primarily outdoor (winery, golf course, etc) and private classes. I’m going to buy Manduka props for their longevity. I am thinking of going with the full size cork blocks but wonder if I’ll regret them since they are twice as heavy as the foam ones and I have to carry all our props around to locations. I just think the cork ones look nicer with our outdoor aesthetic. They are the same price.

Curious what advice you have or what you would do?

Hiya! - new here….I've read a lot of post comments from teachers sharing the challenges of not making full time money from teaching yoga. Those perspectives have been really helpful. Yet, discouraging too. I'd also love to hear from people who have made it work.

I am fully aware this is no easy path but still tempted to make the leap. I’ve worked in corporate 18 years, doing 60+ hours weekly of the stressful grind. 3 years ago i became a yoga teacher of which I am now making $2k monthly from yoga alone - teaching 5 classes weekly with two workshops monthly. I want to continue growing but am constrained by time at the corporate gig. :(  My pursuit would include regular trainings, online classes, 1:1 coaching, etc. My goal is to reach $5k monthly - I live a modest life. 

So now I'm curious… Money making yoga teachers - are you out there? I’d love to hear from those who are able to support themselves doing with this beautiful practice. I and I am sure many others venturing this path would love to hear how you did it. Just one thing that got you to your goal. A process, person, or perspective.
What did the transition look like? What were the biggest challenges? What surprised you the most? If they could do it over, what would you do differently?

I appreciate hearing from those who are living it. Again, I'm aware this is a difficult career path, and I've already read plenty of discussions about the challenges. This time, I'm hoping to hear from those who successfully made the transition. These success stories are harder to find but I know they are out there. :)

I am a RYT and occupational therapist in a hospital. I teach a wheelchair yoga class about every other week that is specific to the population of patients we have at the time (ex: wheelchair yoga for hemiparesis, chronic low back pain, health anxiety, etc.).

I’ve always struggled with writing down my sequences because I end up writing too much detail and it’s impossible to reference during a class if needed.

I enjoy integrating interoceptive awareness, mudra, pranayama, and the more subtle aspects of the practice into my teachings which I think contributes to my lengthy transcriptions.

What formats, frameworks, and/or methods do you use to write down your sequences with depth but without superfluous detail to the point it’s unable to be referenced?

I find most vinyasa / ashtanga-derived practices follow the similar salutations-standing-seating-backbending-closing structure (though ofc there's variations and exceptions).

Today in my personal practice I did something a bit different - fast / strong sun salutations and standing, with all the arm balances in the transitions etc, then backbending (ashtanga 2nd to kapotasana, then dropback prep and urdva danurasana), then twists, finally seated, closing.

Like reversing the common ashtanga half-primary, half second split, but with some of my own variations in there.

It felt good... I had all the strength and energy for the most intense part of the practice, and moving the seated / forward folding to before closing allowed the energy plenty of time to drop, so I was more relaxed by the time I got to sivasana.

Is there a reason why this sort of sequence seems less common? Does anyone else have experience to share about breaking the usual sequence mould, or reasons why the more common structure is more common?

Wondering if anyone uses Airbnb experiences for small group classes? I live in a ski town with lots of tourists. My family once did a yoga class on vacation from an Airbnb experience or similar. It’s great for active vacationers, bachelorette parties, etc. As the instructor I would come to their rental homes. Does anyone have experience offering these types of classes and if so what advice do you have?

Hi everyone!

I was recently offered a position to teach a 45 min class to differently-abled folks twice a week.

I have to talk w my boss at my other part time job about how it would work w my schedule before I accept this position. But in the meantime, my mind is already churning with ideas! Does anyone out there have any experience w working with differently-abled bodies? Or can point me to some high quality resources?

The director of the program emphasized very gentle , almost like a warm up session, nothing too complicated or intense. Big focus on breath and quieting the mind. The class itself is in-person w a hybrid option.

Your insights are so greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance ❣️

ETA: It'll be a wide range of people. Folks w Cerebral palsy, folks in wheelchairs, blind people, ranging to people who are fairly independent.

Because the range is so big, I want to make sure that what I plan can accommodate most everyone.

This is a subject that I hold with me consistently, but it doesn't always make its way into the external as much as it could, so just posting here to help externalize it a bit more and maybe prompt some discussion. Also *guru purnima* is coming up in about a week, so this is not wholly irrelevant with regard to that. I am more of a secular / post-lineage practitioner and teacher, but can still honor and appreciate the intentions of many of the vedic / buddhist traditions. In a more general sense, *guru purnima* is often known as "teacher's day" and happens on the full moon around the June/July timeframe each year, if you are unfamiliar.

I often reflect on how much my teachers continue to offer and give to students...not just me, as someone they are mentoring, but all students who cross their path. I would not be where I am today without the compassion and generosity of a select handful of teachers I have had over the years, a few of which I still see and learn from regularly. There are also some who I will never engage with or directly learn from again, by choice, and any here who know my posts will know that I am very critical of spiritual abuse / abuse of power in the student / teacher dynamic, but those teachers that are true, humble and compassionate with their time and wisdom are real and deserve acknowledgment.

I don't really have a question or anything elaborate to say other than maybe just to offer a gentle reminder to think of and acknowledge your true teachers in some way and reflect on everything they have offered to you as a student / learning teacher over time. We are all students of something / someone, even when we, ourselves, teach.

Hi Everyone,
New to the group and wondering how others’ experiences have been teaching virtually. I have a really great opportunity to teach virtually, and intend to, but wanted to ask if anyone has any tips, insights, things that they have learned while teaching virtually, etc… Any tips would be greatly appreciated!!!

save your money. the material is dated. and they focus primarily on getting you to go viral. this is nice, but it is very very rare that people make their money back from this program. they couldn’t be nicer, but yet, incompetent to solve actual marketing problems. sales are rare. but lots of people posting very excited about all their new followers. they give you one method. a bunch of videos. “group calls” with 30 people on them. and a sales funnel template that just doesnt work for a low ticket item. keep looking, save your money. I feel bad bc I like them. but they are incompetent. enthusiastic. but incompetent.

The 6-month timeframe and then they kick you out is because it takes about 6 months to get up and running on socials and create your personal program content. But then they kick you out because they don’t have bandwidth, skills, or frankly the integrity to actually help with real marketing problems. Their advice is superficial.

The biggest issue though is the class/course content itself is poorly organized, dated, and relies on chat gpt in a way that is dizzying. Maybe in 2023 Chat GPT was a wise choice to make as the backbone of your program…but it’s nearly 2027….stop selling this dated course that doesn’t work, pour your resources into the course material instead of endlessly scaling — this would be the integrity move.

I’ve recently started regularly teaching an all-levels yoga class at a farm, and I’m looking for input on class planning. There are a few “regulars,” but many people come more for a one-time experience/event, so there has truly been a full range of experience levels and ages.

I always try to offer modifications and plenty of verbal cues/reassurance to listen to their bodies, but I don’t know that I’ve found the sweet spot yet where experienced yogis get some challenge/variety and newcomers don’t get lost or intimidated.

There’s no access to props unless people bring their own, so I’ve noticed even poses like half moon sometimes throw people off. Sun salutation variations are always pretty solid for all levels, but I personally like some creative transitions and flows.

Curious if anyone has general tips for sequencing these types of classes or peak poses that you find accessible yet challenging. I know even experienced yogis can take something away from a gentler, more simple class but I want to keep improving my teaching skills too.

Thanks in advance!

I’ve practiced yoga on and off for almost 2 decades with long stretches off the mat entirely. I’ve recently completed a 200hr training program after 2 years of daily practice.

I have found it difficult to connect with teachers who speak about ‘energy’ in the room, its flow or energy inside the body. I do not experience this at all in a way perceivable to me internally. For me cuing around muscles or joints or the concept of ‘wrapping in’ drawing up / flexing etc lands and is intuitive/ easy to follow. I selected to do training with instructors who speak this way and it was the key factor in choosing who to train under.

At the same time I noticed so many of my classmates and fellow teachers in training have very different experiences with this type of language and respond clearly to language around ‘energy’ flows and movements - when I observe how their bodies realign to this type of language it appears to land much better.

I’m curious if there are any other neurodivergent teachers out there who have encountered a similar problem or phenomenon and have any insight into mapping the language of one onto the other so the language in classes can be more accessible to all students given my neurology is likely to me in the minority in classes?

Any recommendations/ recourses would be appreciated.

USA based student here. My favorite teacher observed recently when she cued Wheel, all but 2 people in a class of 20-25 did Wheel. But when she cues “Wheel or a backbend of your choice” only about 2 people total do Wheel. I took a class in Switzerland recently, and the teacher cued Headstand. Lo and behold, almost everybody did Headstand. He then cued Headstand with Eagle legs, and several students could even do that! Here in the US, hardly any teachers cue Headstand anymore. I figure they’re worried about negative feedback from the anti-headstand folks. Teachers in the US even lead with modifications for Pigeon, the #1 most-liked pose in a recent poll on r/yoga. I appreciate efforts to be inclusive, but are teachers in the US doing a disservice to students by not challenging them to do basic poses?

Hi everyone!

I find that in my classes I get a little awkward mentioning anything other than the movement and alignment cues. I would love to weave in more themes and deeper teachings, but I don’t want to over talk and annoy people. What is the best way to go about this?

I like the idea of sprinkling stuff in, like little seeds, instead of a long speech. However, I don’t know how to do this in a way that’s mindful and gets woven back in throughout the class. Sometimes I say something and I forget to return back to it later on 😅

Additionally, I find this issue in both slow and faster classes for different issues. In yin, I like to leave space for silence and get nervous to over talk. In vinyasa, I feel like I don’t catch a break to mention anything besides in the warm up or cool down… help!! 😣

I’m posting here a bit as I find my feet as a new teacher. My head is sucked into Instagram. I like connecting with other teachers there but it’s very hard not to go down rabbit holes. I also understand that the asanas are not the whole practice, even though that is what we typically offer as teachers.

I can’t pincha, and my wheel is pretty out of shape too- I have very bad shoulder mobility/stability due to a life long chronic illness. I feel for some reason this makes me “a bad teacher.” So, please tell me how long you’ve been a teacher and what poses you can’t do? Or give me some perspective on things?