Have you ever wondered why scheduling an appointment with a yoga instructor is so much easier? Well, in regards to their work, they’re just very FLEXIBLE. This is one of the qualities that a yoga teacher must possess to teach, along with patience and expertise. Aside from these traits, yoga instructors must have in their possession indispensable materials to be able to deliver quality instruction.
Six things every yoga instructor must have in order to teach yoga:
- A Couple of Notecards
- Soothing Music
- Yoga Mat Wipes
- Yoga Props
- Hand Towels and Sanitizers
- A Sequence Plan
Essentially, a yoga instructor requires a location where to gather students and teach them. The studio should be well-equipped, with relaxing hues and a serene atmosphere. Aside from these, there are some things that a yoga instructor must have at all costs in order to teach a yoga class.
How To Teach A Good Yoga Class
A Couple of Notecards
First and foremost, yoga teachers should have a few notecards to support their instructions. This is especially important for rookie teachers or someone who feels anxious in front of a large group. These note cards will assist in remembering certain portions of the lecture. After all, one’s brain is limited in capacity and prone to forgetting some information.
I strongly advise you to keep your note cards to a minimum and inconspicuously hold them. A mountain of note cards might give your students the impression that you are incompetent and lack confidence. You can use one or two note cards to write down the information you’re likely to forget, such as terminologies and Sanskrit words.
Soothing Music
The next thing a yoga class requires is music. I’m not talking about songs like Party in the USA, Shake it Off, or anything like that. It’s about peaceful, meditational music that will help your students focus and practice yoga more smoothly. According to one research, pleasant and calming background music can increase an individual’s attentional performance. This is definitely beneficial for yoga as its activities call for increased attention.
All in all, it is recommendable that a teacher has music to supplement the yoga session. You can use a CD, DVD, or stream through Spotify. Just a reminder, if you use Spotify or any other music streaming platform, make sure you have subscriptions without advertisements as these could disrupt your class.
Yoga Mat Wipes
Given that yogis will be stretching and sweating here and there during practice, I strongly advise teachers to bring yoga mat wipes to clean the sweat off their mats. This is simply to avoid health complications, especially if you lend your studio-exclusive yoga mats to your students.
This is also important since perspiration can leave us with a sticky, unpleasant feeling, making it difficult to concentrate. Piled-up sweat can also damage the yoga mats. That’s why it’s best to carry some mat wipes when holding a class. If you’re on a tight budget, a regular hand wipe will suffice.
Yoga Props
Of course, a yoga instructor needs to have props to successfully teach yoga. These include the basics, such as mats and blocks, as well as the built-in ones. Even if your students have their own, you will need extra ones to properly illustrate how particular postures are performed. Imagine teaching wall rope yoga even though you don’t have any wall rope in your studio. Weird, am I right?
Hand Towels and Sanitizers
Hand towels and hand sanitizers are additional items a yoga instructor should be ready with when in session. Sweat can be transmitted when a teacher assists students to settle into a particular pose. This is where a towel can come in handy. Additionally, you should pack a hand sanitizer since there will be occasions when you can’t help but sneeze or wipe your nose. This conforms with the essence of yoga – to cleanse – and as they say, “cleanliness is next to godliness.”
A Sequence Plan
Most importantly, a teacher needs a carefully thought-out sequence in order to properly lead a yoga session. Without one, the class is probably not going to produce any results and could even get more stressful. Consequently, I strongly advise yoga instructors to develop a sequence for every class they will conduct.
You may develop a sequence plan based on the background of your students’ yoga practice and their health-related goals. If you would rather create something fresh, go ahead and create a unique combination of postures and transitions. Any sequence design is acceptable as long as it is sensible, efficient, and beneficial.
Conclusion
A yoga teacher should have the following things to lead a class successfully: 1) A few note cards to help them remember important information, 2) Calming music that will enhance the yoga experience, 3) Yoga mat wipes or regular hand wipes for sanitary purposes, 4) Yoga props, including the built-in ones, 5) Hand towels and sanitizers to use for cleaning, and 6) A carefully thought-out sequence plan.
Six Things You Need For Your Next Yoga Workshop
Frequently Asked Questions
Yoga instructors are supposed to have gained extensive knowledge of asanas and will pass this knowledge on to their students. A yoga teacher is quite the same in terms of training and expertise. The main difference is that a yoga teacher can customize his teachings to his students’ abilities and limits.
A lesson can cost anything from $35 for a beginner instructor in a small yoga studio to $75 for an expert instructor at a well-known and established institution. However, these figures are subject to change as yoga instructors can negotiate their hourly salary per session.
To learn more about starting your own Yoga Business check out my startup documents here.
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.
Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Yoga Fan
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online yoga business resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a yoga business owner in public at a studio or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Yoga Business Boss: I want to help future yoga business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.