As a yoga teacher, you passionately give so much of yourself to others. It’s easy to overlook the importance of taking time to relax, re-charge, and replenish your own energy. Your own practice may even suffer since most of your time on the mat is spent with others in mind prepping for the classes you […]
Teaching the Niyamas Naturally
As I had hoped, teaching the Niyamas (self-discipline or observances) came much more naturally to me than when I started to teach the Yamas. Once I opened my heart to what these meaningful gems meant to me, it felt completely effortless to share them with others. I’m confident it will be the same for you. […]
Teaching the Yamas in Today’s World
I must admit, when I decided to teach the Yamas (restraints) and the Niyamas (observances) – the first two limbs of yoga in Patanjali’s eight-limbed path, there was a bit of uncertainty on my part. I recalled my 200 hour YTT (yoga teacher training) and first being introduced to the eight limbs. How foreign and […]
How to Beautify Your Yoga Class with Jewels
There are so many tools available to us as yoga teachers to help facilitate bringing our students into a relaxed and present state. In a recent post, we discussed Pranayama (breath control) and the reasons we incorporate the 4th limb of yoga into our physical practice. Other useful tools for centering and grounding students include […]
To Peak or Not to Peak? That is the Question!
Sequencing Tips for New Yoga Teachers Should you build your yoga sequence to a “peak” pose? At some point in your yoga teaching journey, the time will come to build your own sequences. In your yoga teacher training, you may have been taught to always peak to a chosen pose. Or, you may have been […]
How to Teach Pranayama
How comfortable are you teaching Pranayama (breath control)? As a new teacher, my comfort level was somewhere around a two on a scale of one to ten. Not comfortable at all. But like anything else, with practice it became much more comfortable, as it will for you too. Here are a few tips on teaching […]
Should New Teachers Register with the Yoga Alliance?
This is a common quandary most newly certified yoga teachers experience. Therefore, you may also wonder: what is the value in registering with the Yoga Alliance (YA)? After all, it is somewhat pricey, at an initial total registration fee of $115.00 (2021 rate of a $50 application fee and $65 annual dues) it is nothing […]
More Secrets of Successful Cueing
For new yoga teachers, having the confidence to properly cue students into postures is one of the most challenging obstacles in their new career. If you are reading this post, it is probably because you too are a little uneasy in this area. There is no doubt that all teachers started right where you are […]
7 Strategies to Becoming an Authentic Yoga Teacher
“Yoga uses the body to discipline the mind and reach the soul.” – B.K.S. Iyengar Have you heard the term “imposter syndrome?” I’m sure you have and you know it’s a real thing. When you are starting out as a yoga teacher – and even well beyond the initial teaching phase – feelings of being […]
What Students Want You to Teach Them Online
Students taking your online yoga class want something more than they could get just by searching for any free class on YouTube. So what exactly are they hoping to get from your online class? CONNECTION We all have been lacking and longing for connection since the first time we heard the early 2020 word of […]