“], “filter”: { “nextExceptions”: “img, blockquote, div”, “nextContainsExceptions”: “img, blockquote, a.btn, ao-button” } }”>
Are you going out? Check out this article about the new Outside+ app now available on iOS devices for members!
>”, “name”:in-content-cta”, “type”:link”}}”>Download the app.
If you’re studying to become a yoga teacher or have recently completed yoga teacher training, chances are you’ve heard that experience is the most important training for teaching. It’s true. Learning to teach effectively takes practice. But what I still see in the current educational landscape are many interested yoga students who have graduated YTT and want to teach, but haven’t had the opportunity to hone their craft.
Many teacher training graduates have approached me with the same basic question: “How do we get ourselves in the door as teachers? How do we prepare for auditions and teaching without having a chance to practice?” It has never been easier to land a studio teaching spot, especially for new teachers (including those who have been certified online without having the opportunity to practice teaching in person).
Frankly, I believe that the amount of material covered in most 200-hour yoga teacher training courses is insufficient to prepare someone to become an amazing teacher. Still, there are things both new and experienced teachers can do to continually improve their teaching outside of a studio environment, including the following ways I practiced teaching before having a regularly scheduled studio class.
I continue to practice these today, outside of my teaching schedule, and you can come back to these tools throughout your teaching career to keep your skills sharp and yourself inspired. No matter how many years of practice, teachers must continually work on their approach to emerge as effective yoga teachers. I think the most important thing as a teacher is to remember that you are (and always will be) a student.
1. Record yourself
Listening to yourself while you teach is an extremely useful way to hone your skills. Whether you’re recording a free lesson to offer to a friend in your backyard, or simply recording yourself teaching an imaginary student, you can use the recording to observe yourself and your actions and record the details of your lesson. to clean.
I guarantee there are things you say or do that detract from your teaching – and you’re probably not aware of it. Here are a few common things you can watch and listen for, whether you’re sitting and listening or actually taking your own class.
Pace, clarity and tone of your voice
Are you rushing your words? Are you mumbling? Do you end every sentence as if it were a question? Do you sing your lines? Does your voice change from your authentic way of speaking to what you think a yoga teacher’s voice should sound like?
Filler words
We all have words that we tend to use repeatedly, like “eh” and “so,” when we don’t know what we’re going to say or when we lose our thoughts. You probably already know which one you use, but you might be surprised how often you rely on it. Also listen to words you use intentionally but repeat often, including “beautiful,” “big breath,” “and then,” or certain verbs, such as “extend” or “extend.”
When to offer information?
New teachers often say all the cues they can think of when teaching a pose on the first side. Once they reach the second side, students often hear silence. Be sure to spread your cues and give students time to integrate what you just said before offering them additional instructions. There’s already enough going on in your students’ minds, so clarity in communication can have a huge impact on the way they absorb the information.
2. Keep a cue book
When I first started teaching, I was given a regular hatha sequence by the studio where I trained. The series included a fixed number of postures in a specific order, which were taught in 60 or 90 minute lessons. Although there are pros and cons to learning a set sequence, I am very grateful that I had the time to focus on developing my ability to learn these poses before I had to worry about the order.
Whether you learn a set sequence or not, I recommend grabbing a notebook and keeping it as your “playbook.” You can also keep notes on your phone or in a Google Doc and add to them continuously, even on the go. Dedicate a page to each pose you learn. On each page, write down the key elements of the pose, instructions on how to enter and exit, variations, and cues.
In my opinion, the best signals a teacher can give are those that come from their own experiences with the form. To help develop original cues, you can write down what you experience as you practice and observe yourself in shapes. You may also notice interesting signals you hear when you attend classes.
Also see: More directions and how-to’s for common yoga poses
3. Work one-on-one with a friend
After my first yoga teacher training, I was fortunate that my supportive partner felt like doing yoga – every night. Bless his heart. I gave him private lessons and asked for his feedback for months as I worked on my teaching. Working one-on-one is very different from sitting in a room full of students, but it is a wonderful opportunity to see how a body responds to the words you say. Sometimes what you say out loud sounds exactly in your head because you know what you want the student to do, but then you look at their body and they just don’t understand.
Of course, this could mean they didn’t listen, but there’s also a good chance you need to say it in a different way. Working one-on-one can help you work through some of your language issues before guiding an entire class of students through their practice. Grab an extra yoga mat, clean your floors and invite a friend or two for free yoga!!
4. Have a home practice
This is difficult if you are not used to practicing alone. But as you develop as a teacher, I believe that maintaining a home practice may be the most important tool to strengthen your teaching. It is critical to develop a connection with your practice that is authentic and yours alone. Also, the observations you make while practicing will inevitably influence your teaching. Notice which poses are difficult for you to breathe through. What do you wish someone would say to you as you try your best to stay in Warrior II Pose for 5 breaths when all you want to do is walk away from your mat and change the laundry? Notice which transitions between positions feel smooth or awkward for your body. Write it all down and put it away so you can use it in your class in the future!
5. Continue to learn, study and seek new information and experiences
Sometimes navigating the new teacher space can leave you feeling quite helpless. I remember times when I desperately wanted to do more to progress quickly as a teacher, but I knew I needed experience and time. This cannot be done hastily. In the meantime, listening to yoga podcasts, reading books, and seeking out new types of movements and teachers felt quite productive as I continued teaching. In the long run, continuous learning is essential to staying inspired – and staying inspired is crucial to being an inspiring teacher.
About our contributor
Neeti Narula is a yoga and meditation teacher in New York City. Her lessons are inspired by various yoga schools. She is known for teaching alignment-based classes infused with thematic dharma and yoga philosophy. Neeti believes that the way you move and breathe on your mat determines the way you move and breathe in your life. You can practice with her in person at Modo Yoga NYC. To learn more about Neeti, check out her Instagram @neeti.narula.