Yoga Class Planning
If only our students knew how much work we put into planning classes, they’d understand the value they are getting when they come to class! The amount of time spent planning a yoga class varies from person to person, depending on the style of yoga they teach, their personality, and how long they’ve been teaching yoga. Whatever your style of planning, here are some resources to help you rock it.
Anatomy of a Yoga Class Plan
A yoga class plan might be as simple as an outline of a few poses or a complex multi-page document detailing every possible aspect of the class. The follow is a list of components that a yoga teacher might include in their plan
Yoga Class Themes
Yoga class themes are like a thread that creates form and structure for the class. This article lays out some of the most common approaches to using themes to make your yoga classes stand out.
Yoga Class Sequences
Looking at other people’s yoga class sequences is a great way to get inspiration for creating your own. If you’re looking for ideas, please peruse these yoga class sequences.
Inspiration For Yoga Class Themes
A yoga class theme can be anything that helps narrow the focus for your yoga class and enriches the experience of your students. It could be a teaching point, alignment cue, poem or song, positive emotion, or a lesson from yoga philosophy. A theme will be most potent if it is something that YOU are excited about. Instead of choosing an abstract theme, something concrete that includes something for your students to practice during class will make your theme relevant.
When you’re feeling less inspired, look at the class plans of others to widen your perspective and boost your creativity. Part of my vision for this website is that it be a place to come to for inspiration, ideas, and information. Yoga Teacher Resource has compiled a list of 100 yoga class themes that we give to all new subscribers to our newsletter. If you’d like a copy, please fill out the form below.
Yoga Class Planning Articles
All Articles on Yoga Class Planning by Date
Substitute Yoga Teaching: Tips to cover a class with confidence
A little over two years ago I started teaching group classes as a 'cover' teacher. My teacher needed a sub and I was there, so I had the opportunity to get some teaching under my belt. It was one of the scariest and most exhilarating experiences I had ever had. Fast...
Savasana – Exiting Well
Skipping Savasana is almost akin to not doing a practice at all. Yoga will still help without it, but your time in Savasana helps imprint the new way in your body, exponentially adding to the benefits of being on the mat. What does hopping out of Savasana do to our students?
Pranayama: Introduction to Yoga Breathwork
Pranayama is one of the basic practices of yoga, though it is often neglected in exercise based yoga classes as taught in gyms and fitness centers. Prana means energy, life force or breath. Yama is translated as restraint, or control. When we work with our breath, we gain access to our life force energy.
Online Yoga Classes
Video classes will never replace the experience of a live class, but for days when you need a quick practice or inspiration or if you live far from other teachers, these websites are an amazing resource.
3 Key Elements for Planning Yoga Classes (and how to use them skillfully)
What is your message? If you don’t know, your class won’t be as powerful. With that in mind, here are three elements to a great yoga class to contemplate & plan out before you teach.
Kleshas into Lakshmis Week 3: Overwhelm into Creativity
This is the third in a set of three classes that could be taught in consecutive weeks, building on the same theme of “kleshas into lakshmis”, each week turning a different klesha (scar) into a lakshmi (mark of distinction).
Kleshas into Lakshmis Week 1: anger into passion
This is the first in a set of three classes that could be taught in consecutive weeks, building on the same theme of “kleshas into lakshmis”, each week turning a different klesha (scar) into a lakshmi (mark of distinction).
Kleshas into Lakshmis Week 2: fear into curiosity
This is the second in a set of three classes that could be taught in consecutive weeks, building on the same theme of “kleshas into lakshmis”, each week turning a different klesha (scar) into a lakshmi (mark of distinction)
Ease into splits
This class is designed to help beginners ease into the intensity of Hanumanasana (splits). 60 minutes would be plenty for this sequence, or you could repeat the standing poses (side angle & triangle and add legs up the wall at the end and stretch it out to 90...
Beginner Arm Balances
This class offers an accessible approach to the most basic arm balances. While designed for a mixed level group, it would also work for a class of strong beginners.