For many new teachers and interns, designing a Yoga class presents some fun and challenges. It allows the teacher to embrace his or her own creativity, instead of copying the techniques used in a template. Designing a lesson plan creates a teacher who discovers why and how to substitute a technique, modify for conditions, and make students comfortable. Let us look at some ways to group techniques, within a Yoga class, and keep them interesting for each session. Please keep in mind that there are thousands of ways to design lesson plans. The only time a lesson plan is wrong is if it can potentially hurt a student.
Some teachers guide students through pranayama at the beginning, middle, or end of the class – as a separate segment. Personally, I see nothing wrong with this. In my classes, pranayama is usually taught as integration throughout the lesson plan. For example – you could open, or close, a class with Udgeeth pranayama while teaching other Yogic breathing techniques throughout the class.
Here is a contemporary template for grouping asanas in a typical Hatha class:
Standing Poses
Balancing Poses
Seated Poses
Kneeling Poses
Table Poses
Prone Poses
Supine Poses
This is just a sample guideline. There are many ways to approach asana sequencing. If this were a private session, for a student with a neurological disorder, the entire lesson plan would have to be customized to meet the needs of that student.
The above-mentioned lesson plan did not take into account teachers who organize Vinyasa Yoga classes, which continuously flow through all of these groups of asanas, within their flow sequences.
With all that said – relaxation-through-visualization existed in Yantra Yoga for centuries before some of the popular methods of this time. If you want to research Yantra Yoga, it would be wise to seek out a competent Guru, who is familiar with the many methods of that discipline.
© Copyright – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
To see our selection of Yoga teacher training and continuing education courses, please visit the following link.
https://aurawellnesscenter.com/store/
YOGA Anatomy Second Edition
by Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews
The YOGA MIND:
52 Essential Principles of Yoga Philosophy to Deepen your Practice
by Rina Jakubowicz.
RESTORATIVE YOGA FOR LIFE:
A Relaxing Way to De-stress, Re-energize, and Find Balance
by: Gail Boorstein Grossman.
YOGA: THE PATH TO HOLISTIC HEALTH
by B.K.S. Iyengar
TEACHING YOGA: Essential Foundations and Techniques
By Mark Stephens