Five Ways To Start A Yoga Class

Five Ways To Start A Yoga Class

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Do you ever fear that you’re not really that good at yoga, or that you’re a total POSER at times? It might be due to how you begin your yoga classes. “First impressions last,” they say and the only thing I can suggest is to try different things for your class openings. Here are some examples.

Five ways to start a yoga session: 

  1. Get Rid of the Distractions
  2. Have a Brief Dharma Talk or Other Inspirational Reading 
  3. Start with Greetings
  4. Open a Free Space for Questions
  5. Begin with a Prayer, Mantra, or Other Invocation 

Yoga classes have always opened with prayers. However, others forgo these and instead focus on the postures, which are normally done via stillness. Going conventional with your openings can make your yoga session monotonous. To make your openings more interesting, you’ll need to extend not only your body but your thoughts as well.

Get Rid of the Distractions

Five Ways To Start A Yoga Class

To begin, prioritize eliminating any possible distractions. This is appropriate for a yoga class since, at its core, yoga is all about finding profound serenity. It’s really simple to do and you may enlist the help of your students. For example, you can instruct your students to turn their phones to silent mode so that they do not disrupt the class. You may also request them to neatly keep their belongings.

Other methods of clearing out distractions include cleansing the noise in your studio by striking a gong or a singing bell. To eliminate odors that can disrupt meditation, you can use a sage smudge stick or light those scented candles.

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Have a Brief Dharma Talk or Other Inspirational Reading 

To de-stress your studio, begin your session with a basic and quick dharma lecture. This is essentially a form of public conversation, comparable to a homily or sermon. The main distinction is that a dharma discourse is much shorter and highly influenced by Buddhist ideas.

You can also set aside a portion of your opening time for you or any of your students to share inspiring readings. Eastern Body, Western Mind by Anodea Judith, and Happiness by Matthieu Ricard, which is essentially a non-yoga book but excellent to share with your class, are two digestible works I strongly recommend you share with your students.

Start with Greetings

You can also simply begin your classes with greetings. This helps the class feel more comfortable, especially if there are a lot of novice yogis. You could begin with a “namaste” and then introduce yourself. If there’s enough time, you might have your students introduce themselves, or you could have one student do this in each session.

If you don’t have time for self-introductions, you could just stand at the door and welcome everyone who walks into your yoga class. It’ll be OK as long as you can welcome your students and convey the sense that you’re approachable and happy to see them.

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Open a Free Space for Questions

Five Ways To Start A Yoga Class

Allowing time for questions at the start of your lesson or before you begin the postures can substantially improve your session. Answering all of your students’ questions will put them at ease and allow them to deeply meditate and practice more effectively.

You might also use this section of your lesson to learn more about your students. For example, you may inquire about their practice background as well as their health concerns. This will likely make your students feel like they belong and that you genuinely care about them.

Begin with a Prayer, Mantra, or Other Invocation 

Of course, you can’t just leave the prayers out of your class intro. This is because prayer is done to express gratitude for the centuries-old yoga practice. Not only that but reciting prayers may help your yoga students relax and feel comfort. It, like the art of breathing, is one of the most fundamental aspects of yogic practices.

You could begin your yoga session with Padmasana, often known as the Lotus Pose. While doing so, start chanting the Om mantra, a sacred syllable thought to be the primal sound from which all other sounds and things emanate. According to studies, repeating this mantra causes physiological attentiveness and heightened sensitivity to sensory transmission.

Conclusion 
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All in all, the five ways to officially start a yoga class are as follows: 1) Getting rid of the distractions which can be done with the help of your students, 2) Having a brief dharma talk or other inspirational discussions, 3) Starting with the greetings such as self-introduction, 4) Setting a free space to ask and answer questions, and 5) Chanting prayers, mantras, and other invocations.  

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Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the typical yoga class sequencing?

The usual order of poses in a yoga session is as follows: Grounding (10 minutes), Warm-Up (15 minutes), Sun/Moon Salutations (15 minutes), Balancing Postures (20 minutes), Seated Postures (10-15 minutes), and Savasana (10+ minutes).

How can you effectively manage a yoga class?

The following guidelines might help you effectively lead your yoga class: 1) Set an example, 2) Be ready for everything, 3) Maintain a versatile Plan, 4) Create space for breathing, 5) Recognize your students’ levels, 6) Teach consciously, and 7) Achieve balance.

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Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.