Get Set For Success

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

― Benjamin Franklin

Class Set Up

● Creating and holding space for students to enjoy and feel safe - both in the asana (pose) and in the yoga practice

● Tips and strategies for creating a Safe Place for students of all shapes, sizes and abilities

1.

Create A Class Plan

● Come prepared: Have a plan for your class

● Create a theme: Students may appreciate a message that they can connect with weaved into the narrative of the class

● Example of a theme: “Come as you are, use what have, do what can - coming to know yourself”

2.

Get To Know Your Students

● Smile, shake hands and initiate conversation● Learn the names of each student and learn something

unique about them● Listen to your students● Ask how you can better serve them● Invite the students into the class and reassure them

that they have done the right thing and that you are here to help them

● Introduce new students to a regular student in class; create a connection

3.

Creating a ‘No Judgment’ Zone

● Don’t make assumptions about a student’s abilities or personality

● Lean into your own feelings around judgment and biases and explore how those biases and emotions come up in your teachings

● Communicate to students that you are not judging them and ask that they do not judge themselves

5.

Clarity

● Speak clearly

● Say what you mean and mean what you say

● Move and teach slowly

● Breath

6.

Avoiding Triggers

● Avoiding triggers can be difficult

● You never know what can be a trigger for your students

● Some of the common triggers for people in bigger bodies involve putting focus or emphasis on their size

7.

Teach to who is in the room

Teach to who is in the room

● Come with a plan, but be prepared to toss it● Have your “yoga for all” go-to, back pocket classes

memorized and ready● What is the point of the pose or sequence? Figure out

another way! ● Teaching with the bus stop method● Yogi play time

1

Common problems for students in larger bodies

● Sitting on the floor○ Elevate the hips on blankets or bolsters○ Use a chair○ Find another way - warm-ups on the back or standing

● Transitions● Coming up and down off the floor● Larger bellies, boobs, butt, thighs (stuff runs into stuff!)

○ Mitigate by encouraging them to move stuff out of the way, tuck the belly skin, widen the feet

● Compression within the body (pinching, limiting) ● They may be more flexible than their body will “let” them

2

It’s asana time!

● Warm-ups○ Seated○ Hands & knees○ On the back○ Standing

● Sun salutations that work for different body types○ Classical sun salutation (lots of options)○ Surya namaskar A & B○ Wall○ Chair

● Other considerations during sun salutations

3

Lesson 3: Take action

● Create 3 warm up sequences you can have at the ready.

● Practice the sun salutation variations.

● Practice teaching a new variation on sun salutations or breaking down a pose like down dog or child’s pose in one of your classes.

● What’s next: Creating a Yoga for All Class - Part 2: standing poses, backbends, inversions, and savasana