Embarking on the journey of teaching yoga is not merely about leading a class or crafting an experience. Rather, the responsibility of the yoga teacher also lies within the facet of equipping others to understand how to practice. It’s about teaching students how to be students. - Sandy Raper
Embarking on the journey of teaching yoga is not merely about leading a class or crafting an experience. Rather, the responsibility of the yoga teacher also lies within the facet of equipping others to understand how to practice. It’s about teaching students how to be students.
With that, students learn how to arrive prepared for practice, how to delve into the postures while following intuitive guidance, and, ultimately, how to translate the experiences they cultivate within the yoga class setting into their interactions with others, both on and off their mat.
As yoga teachers, our preparation is the canvas upon which we paint our classes, shaping every breath, movement, and moment of connection. In this post, we will explore the ultimate technique for preparing the canvas of a yoga class. It all begins with the intention, attitude, and mindset of the artist—the yoga teacher. Let's now explore the five top preparation tips for teaching yoga.
1. Be a Student
Be a Student
To lead others effectively, you must first understand where you are leading them. As a yoga teacher, this begins with a commitment to continuous learning. Before delving into the logistics or technical aspects of class preparation, take a moment to reflect on your relationship with yoga as a student. Consider the purpose of your teaching practice and the values you wish to convey to your students. Interestingly, this intentional inspiration will naturally emerge from your dedication to studying the practice as a student.
What you choose to emphasize has the power to be perceived as the most important aspect of the practice experience for the students. - Sandy Raper
When you step into the classroom to lead a class practice, carry this inspirational intention with you. Understand that you have the choice of what to teach—or not to teach. You decide what to impart and emphasize during the practice. Your choices have the power to be perceived as the most important aspect of the practice experience for the students.
During your practice and self-study time, align with your authentic intentions and infuse these key elements within your preparation process with clarity, passion, and purpose. Be mindful that your intention and passion for teaching are not based on achieving a desired outcome or projecting your interpretive experience with yoga onto students. Instead, invite the class practice to become a created experience that allows others to explore and decide for themselves what the practice of yoga means and its relevance to their daily lives.
Cultivate Creativity
Teaching yoga is an art form; like any art, it thrives on creativity and innovation.
Break free from routine and explore new ways to sequence poses with thoughtful intelligence, guiding students mindfully and weaving in yoga philosophy. Explore creativity during your personal practice time and see where it leads you so that you can better understand the experience for yourself first.
Through this exploration, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the embodied experience and embrace experimentation and evolution as a student. Drawing from this experiential knowledge, you'll be better prepared to lead and teach with a creative approach, offering students a fresh encounter in their practice that also trickles into their perspective on life.
Seek to balance creativity with the simplicity of spaced repetition to enhance learning and accentuate optimal brain function. Maintain simplicity in your approach to sequencing to ensure that overly complex and creative sequences do not hinder or detract from the learning environment.
Craft Authentic Connections
At the heart of teaching yoga lies the ability to connect authentically with your students. - Sandy Raper
Take the time to get to know your students individually, understanding their unique needs, challenges, and aspirations. Remain within the scope and limits of your level of training and expertise. Pursue the development of the student-teacher relationship with integrity.
Yoga is a practice that embraces humanity. Seek to develop the relational aspect of teaching as much as you devote time to refining your technical skills. Aim to balance and refine all facets of your role and responsibility as a yoga teacher. Meet students where they are in their yoga journey. Let your words emanate from a place that fosters a supportive and inclusive environment where students feel seen, heard, and empowered to explore their practice.
Equip, empower, and support students in fostering independence in accessing their needs and desires for practice. This includes cultivating consistency towards evolving and deepening their practice over time, rather than aiming for a specific endpoint or seeking to replicate another's experience, including that of their teachers.
In the yoga class setting, students and teachers have the wonderful opportunity to contribute to the creation of a supportive and inclusive experience. Community is established within classes where students feel welcomed, valued, and supported in their practice by both the teacher and fellow students. Fostering connections among students and encouraging them to learn from each other's experiences and perspectives is a powerful message to share and express.
Embarking on the journey of teaching yoga is not merely about leading a class or crafting an experience. Rather, the responsibility of the yoga teacher also lies within the facet of equipping others to understand how to practice. It’s about teaching students how to be students
Refine Your Skills
As yoga teachers and students, our learning journey is never-ending.
Dedicate time consistently to deepen your knowledge and refine your learning and teaching skills through continued education, workshops, training, application, and self-study. Invest in areas that pique your passion and interest for learning. Consider expanding your anatomy literacy, skillful sequencing, and specialized training to enhance your effectiveness as a teacher even further. The more you invest in understanding the intricacies of the movement patterns of the human body, the better you will be able to support students in connecting the dots and examining the experience they create as they practice asana and meditation.
Take time to evaluate each teaching experience you have. Make mental markers of refinement to support the next time you teach. You will learn exponentially through the act of teaching.
Choose to challenge yourself by teaching in locations or settings that are not accustomed to yoga, and explore ways you can share and teach the practice with as many individuals as possible. Look to see where yoga is being offered in your community, and seek opportunities to fill the gap by offering classes to introduce yoga to new populations of students.
Embrace Adaptability
Expect the unexpected. Wihtin the ever-changing landscape of life and teaching yoga, adaptability is key to success.
Be prepared to pivot and adjust your sequence plans skillfully based on the energy of the class, the feedback you receive from students as you evaluate how your cues and language are being received, and any unforeseen circumstances that arise during the real-time class experience.
Cultivate a spirit of flexibility and resilience that allows you to respond appropriately and spontaneously to meet the needs of those you're leading right in front of you. Choose to see the people rather than a collection of poses floating around in your mind for recall. Dedicate yourself with discipline to understanding the art and intelligence of skillful sequencing that enables you to lead a class experience within the therapeutic interpretation of the human body and sets students up for the greatest success in their asana practice.
Preparing to teach yoga is a multifaceted journey that necessitates dedication, creativity, and authenticity. Ultimately, the preparation to teach springs from a deep well of application, experience, and understanding that can only arise from the commitment a yoga teacher makes to remain a dedicated student of the practice. May we strive to uphold this noble endeavor of leading and guiding others to explore the same.
Teaching yoga is a profound opportunity not only to guide students through physical postures but also to cultivate a deeper, connected relationship with the practice itself. By teaching students how to embody the practice, we empower them to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, mindfulness, and lifelong learning.
About the Author
Sandy Raper is an E-RYT 500, RYS, YACEP, Yoga Medicine® Therapeutic Specialist, author, and host of her globally recognized Beyond Yoga Teacher Training Podcast.
She has been a respected yoga teacher and mentor for over twenty years dedicating to the ongoing pursuit of educating others on movement literacy within the yoga practice. Sandy seeks to equip yoga teachers with the resources they need to be successful and highly effective in teaching yoga.
Within the Beyond Yoga Teacher Training Programs, Sandy offers a variety of resources to support the ongoing growth and development of yoga teachers through foundational teacher training, online courses, and mentorship. Sandy's much anticipated first book, Teaching from the Heart: Lessons on Developing Character, Confidence, and Leadership as a Yoga Teacher releases on April 23, 2024.
Find all of these resources and more: www.sandyraper.com