"Although Guru's of the past would insult and belittle practitioners studies have shown this method does not encourage practitioners in any positive way. Unless of course in jest."
Words have to be spoken efficiently and effectively in order to properly guide a class. This means when speaking you must observe the class response. Continually monitor your class response and modify your words accordingly. A teacher that has truly spent time in mastering good choices of words has truly mastered the power to guide a class.Properly guiding practitioners though various yoga poses is quite and art and can always be improved.
Commands that are spoken should be accurate in reflection to the motion and actions being performed. This can be quite tricky in the early stages so let us reveal some of the main elements in properly guiding individuals through poses with tremendous ease and accuracy.
Mastering the art of verbal instruction involves years of continually monitoring and modifying your verbal commands and their effects on the class. Accuracy in the verbal instruction improves over time. Instructor may have the knowledge to move people in just a handful of words once they have excelled in the art of verbal instruction.There is a saying in yoga, "20 insults will make a compliment go a lot further". It may not be in your best interest to insult people this much but a few insults about a bad posture, when people should know better, go along way.
Take time to make personal connections with practitioners during class while continuing to guide the whole class. These personal connections with practitioners can sometimes be the thing that encourages them to return. It can certainly be the deciding factor that motivates them through that exercise.
In this course you will learn how to move people with simple terms. This is an essential course for improving teaching skills. Words are power and it is here the=at the simplicity of that power is revealed.
Physical Exam
In the physical exam you are asked to demonstrate moving someone verbally while blindfolded .
Written Exam
The written exam consists of multiple choice related talking in a yoga class.
REQUIRED FOR 200 HOUR CERTIFICATION
Techniques, Training and Practice: 100 hours
Minimum contact hours: 75 hours
Minimum contact hours w/ Lead Trainer(s): 50 hours
COURSE HOURS
Level 1 course: 5 hours contact plus 5 hours required non contact
Level 2 course: 10 hours contact plus 10 hours required non contact
The type and amount of information a practitioner can understand depends on two things:
1. Their current stage of progress. 2. Your ability to give simple instructions.Techniques to use when verbally cueing a yoga class
Simple words to describe a movement and action
Explain the exact actions of a motion into a yoga posture. Make sure you reference the most relevant joint motions in order beginning with the most important.
Proper volume and tone when speaking
If the tone is not loud enough practitioners will struggle to follow. If it is too loud it may be annoying. It is also a good idea to use tone as a motivator in a class. Using a strong sense of encouragement with the commands or using a soothing tone to induce a state of relaxation.
Using emotional encouragement behind verbal instruction has been proven to be far more effective in inspiring practitioners to be highly motivated. Speaking in reflection to practitioner behavior
Yoga instructors should continually observe classes and responses to instructions.
This way they can teach in reflection to the classes needs and modify accordingly.
Speaking good meditation and relaxation
Classes that include meditation and relaxation endings are always encouraged. Yoga instructors should learn how to carefully guide practitioners into states of meditation, visualization and relaxation.
