NURTURING NEW YOGIS: TIPS FOR TEACHING BEGINNER STUDENTS
Teaching yoga to beginners can be a challenging yet incredibly rewarding experience for you as a new teacher and incredibly helpful for helping you to learn to build your languaging and cueing.
As a yoga teacher mentor, yoga teacher trainer and first and foremost a yoga teacher myself the thing I see very often is hen you first come out of your YTT the people you are teaching are beginners. You are teaching your partner, mother, brother or co-workers and alot of these people will have never stepped foot on a yoga mat. This is both an amazing opportunity and will be one of your biggest challenges as you step out to teach.
While seasoned yogis and most probably the people you have been teaching inside your YTT are familiar with the practice, the pose names and maybe even the Sanskrit words, beginners often step onto the mat with no prior experience.
Some of the most common hurdles you may come up against are…
That they are disconnected with their body so won’t know their elbow from their foot so you will need to slow your teaching down.
They may not be used to listening for such a long amount of time so alot of what you say will go in one ear and out the other so you may need to demonstrate.
They most probably won’t be able to do a crow pose, so you will need to modify your sequence if this is in it or figure out a way to teach them that is building their confidence and body strength in a safe and nurturing way.
They might be tight in their body or hyper flexible, so you will need to offer modifications.
They will hold their breath through the whole session so you will need to teach and articulate around why the breath is important, when they should be breathing and how to breathe.
And will defiantly be wondering what the heck is ‘ADHO MUKHA SVANSANA’ or even ‘what the heck is a downward facing dog?’ so you will need to learn how to clearly describe the pose and teach with demonstration.
All of this presents a unique opportunity for you to hone your teaching skills and refine your ability to do all of the above one student at a time.
Today we will explore three essential teaching tips to help you to build confidence in guiding your beginner students in their first yoga classes that will have them coming back for more.
1. Keep Cues Simple and Demonstrate
When teaching beginners, simplicity is key. Assume that your students have no prior knowledge of yoga postures or terminology. Rather than using Sanskrit names like "Trikonasana," provide clear, straightforward cues on how to enter and hold a pose. For example, instead of saying "Trikonasana," say "Triangle Pose" and break down the steps concisely.
Combine verbal cues with physical demonstrations to help beginners visualise the pose. Showing them the posture while explaining it verbally provides a multi-sensory learning experience that makes it easier for them to grasp. As they become more familiar with the poses, you can gradually introduce the Sanskrit names, enhancing their yoga vocabulary over time.
2. Emphasise the Importance of Breath
Breath awareness is a fundamental aspect of yoga, and it may be entirely new to beginners. They might instinctively hold their breath when learning something unfamiliar or when working with their bodies. To counteract this, start the practice by placing a strong emphasis on the breath.
Instruct your students to focus on their breath from the very beginning. Guide them in gentle movements synchronised with their breath, emphasising the connection between movement and breath. This breath-centred approach not only helps beginners relax but also lays the foundation for a deeper and more mindful yoga practice.
3. Prioritise Targeted Alignment Tips
As beginners embark on their yoga journey, they might need alignment guidance to ensure they practice safely and effectively. However, bombarding them with numerous alignment cues can be overwhelming. Instead, focus on one or two alignment tips at a time, ideally tailored to each side of the pose.
For instance, if your students are practicing a standing posture, you could concentrate on two points of alignment for the right side of the body and two different points for the left side. This selective approach simplifies the learning process, allowing beginners to concentrate on specific aspects of their practice without feeling inundated.
Elevate Your Teaching Skills
Teaching yoga to beginners offers a really great opportunity to refine your teaching skills and foster a supportive and inclusive environment. If you're looking to take your teaching to the next level, we open the doors to the Evolve Together Mentoring Programme very soon and the waitlist is open. This program provides valuable insights, practical experience, and expert guidance to help you become a confident and effective yoga teacher and space holder.
The Evolve Together Mentoring Programme equips you with the tools and knowledge to excel in teaching yoga to beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. If you're ready to jump into this transformative journey and elevate your teaching skills, the waitlist is open. So to be the first to have the opportunity to join us and to get a £350 discount head over and sign up.
Teaching yoga to beginners is super fulfilling, and with these teaching tips and the support of the Evolve Together Mentoring Programme, you can help your students build a strong foundation for their yoga practice.