Tips To Survive Teaching Your First Yoga Class
You have dreamt of training upcoming yogis for a long time and you finally have the opportunity. If you are feeling a bit nervous, you should not worry as everyone feels a little trepidation when they are embarking on something new. If you have completed your yoga teacher-training course and you feel that you are ready to start teaching, you need to know that just because you are teaching does not mean that you should not enjoy yourself. The following tips will help you get through the first day.
Breathe, relax and enjoy
When you decide to teach, you need to realize that students can smell fear and if they sense that you are nervous, it will affect their ability to take instructions or relax. Do not let feelings of nervousness overcome you. Remember that you have the relevant skills and when you practice how to breathe, you can learn how to get rid of tension. Remember that just like the students, you also need to practice.
Stop apologizing
Even the most experienced yogis slip up on occasion, but you should not apologize when this happens. The idea is to let the students relax in the knowledge that you know what you are doing. Chances are that they will not notice if something does not go perfectly. Learn to take this in your stride and move on as if everything is normal. If you are constantly apologizing, the students will lose confidence in you.
Keep it simple
Your first class is not the time to try to be creative by introducing complex moves. Keep everything simple and you will avoid making mistakes. By keeping it simple, you will avoid pushing your students too hard. When constructing the first class, you need to remind yourself that you are new and simplicity will make the class more enjoyable for all.
Create a plan
There is nothing wrong with going to class with a plan. Yoga has many different sequences and it helps to formulate a plan so that you know the best way to conduct the class. Putting thought into the structure of the class will make it more successful and having a small notebook next to your mat that you can refer to can be very handy.
To be an effective instructor, you need to teach what you practice. Remember that everyone has their limitations and you should not attempt to teach something that you cannot do yourself.
Breathe, relax and enjoy
When you decide to teach, you need to realize that students can smell fear and if they sense that you are nervous, it will affect their ability to take instructions or relax. Do not let feelings of nervousness overcome you. Remember that you have the relevant skills and when you practice how to breathe, you can learn how to get rid of tension. Remember that just like the students, you also need to practice.
Stop apologizing
Even the most experienced yogis slip up on occasion, but you should not apologize when this happens. The idea is to let the students relax in the knowledge that you know what you are doing. Chances are that they will not notice if something does not go perfectly. Learn to take this in your stride and move on as if everything is normal. If you are constantly apologizing, the students will lose confidence in you.
Keep it simple
Your first class is not the time to try to be creative by introducing complex moves. Keep everything simple and you will avoid making mistakes. By keeping it simple, you will avoid pushing your students too hard. When constructing the first class, you need to remind yourself that you are new and simplicity will make the class more enjoyable for all.
Create a plan
There is nothing wrong with going to class with a plan. Yoga has many different sequences and it helps to formulate a plan so that you know the best way to conduct the class. Putting thought into the structure of the class will make it more successful and having a small notebook next to your mat that you can refer to can be very handy.
To be an effective instructor, you need to teach what you practice. Remember that everyone has their limitations and you should not attempt to teach something that you cannot do yourself.
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