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Teaching a class to beginners can be uneasy. Hatha yoga classes include meditation, breathing, and moving your body in ways that you may not be used to. As the instructor you want to connect with your students so that they feel comfortable in their atmosphere. The more comfortable your students are, the more they will benefit from your teachings of connecting your mind, body, and soul.
The Mood In Your Hatha Yoga Class
Create a serene setting allowing your students to feel at peace and ready to open up. Try to incorporate natural lighting in the room as well as play soft music before class begins. Greet students as they enter and pay special attention to new faces making sure to introduce yourself and make them feel welcomed. If there are several new students you can have them introduce themselves to the class and give a brief synopsis as to why they have joined the hatha yoga course. This allows for everyone to get to know one another and break the ice before class starts. It promotes positive energy within the class.
Start With A Basic Relaxation Pose
Starting with a pose to help them relax such as savasana will help calm them down. Challenge them to become centered so that they are leaving their thoughts, worries, or concerns behind. Choose a mantra to share during the relaxation pose that gives off a soft, soothing, and healing feeling. Since this is a beginner’s class, allow the students to alternate going in and out of the pose for about 7-10 minutes. Ask your students to roll on their side and get into a fetal position with their knees to their chest. This will allow their entire body to connect and begin the process of healing.
Go Over Hatha Yoga Poses
Give out a worksheet with pictures of different hatha yoga postures to practice. Go over each pose with them spending about three to four minutes repeating the same steps. Watch around the class to see which students need help with their postures or poses. Always remember to ask permission to touch the student before helping them with a pose. Split the sun salutation into four parts and work on it over and over until all students are comfortable with it. As time goes on gradually introduce new hatha yoga postures and poses.
Encourage Your Students
One important rule to remember as a hatha yoga instructor is that no student is the same. Everyone will learn on their own level at their own pace. Keep giving words of encouragement and affirmation to make your students feel good about the experience. Encourage students to come to the front of the class and do different poses. A great challenge would be for them to attempt to do a posture that at one point was to complex for them to perform. In doing this you let students see that no one is perfect, and that with time and dedication they will overcome their obstacle. Allow your students to ask questions about many different things from postures in class to thoughts about life. Build a bond between you and your students for the ultimate learning experience.
Ending Your Hatha Yoga Class
You’ll want to leave a good impression on your hatha yoga students. Have a period in which the students are winding down. Use soft music in the background or have them chant. When you’re finished have them sit in a meditation position and hand out more information on hatha yoga such as a paper with postures to practice at home. If you feel comfortable give out your number so that students can call you with any questions or concerns. Close with the benefits of hatha yoga and thank them for coming out. Express how excited you are in teaching them to find themselves for the next few weeks.
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