10/09/2023
I’ve always been an avid class planner, spending hours designing classes in what feels like a sculptural process. I start with a principle, intention, idea, theme, or philosophical concept and gradually flesh out the material that is going to serve my objective. Then, if I’m building a course where each class builds on the previous one, I’m constantly circling back to consider the overall balance of the student’s experience in the same way that a sculptor might walk around a 3-dimensional form to check; do all the pieces hold together?
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the challenges that yoga teachers face when they teach in a drop-in model, either because this is their preference, or, because it’s the standard model at the centers where they work. And while it’s no secret that I prefer to teach courses, the drop-in format does have some benefits. It means that people can begin without feeling intimidated by having to make a commitment they’re not quite ready to make. It’s a boon for folks with unpredictable work schedules and for parents who are balancing their careers with raising children. But it’s challenging for teachers because they must adapt classes to work with students with a wide range of experience. But here’s the thing; if you have a template to work from you can be offering intelligently sequenced classes covertly to your drop-in students. You can still walk into the room, with a sense of purpose about the skill, principle, or theme you want to share and teach a series of classes as if you were teaching a course. And because your course structure builds, the next time those casual students come, they are growing in their knowledge even if their attendance is not yet firmly established.
Either way, it means that your students receive thoughtfully prepared classes that are not generic, same old, same old, sequences, but instruction that takes them on a journey. What I love about working in this way is that each piece of a course template is centered around a principle which opens students to apply what they learn in almost infinite applications. Centering each class around a principle also means that you can be evolving your content over time. A single principle might generate three, four or more different classes. And by being prepared you are showing your students that you respect the investment and time they make in studying with you.
If you are interested in building a portfolio of course material to offer to cohorts (or in a drop-in format) I highly recommend the upcoming online program with my colleague Lisa Petersen. The Inspiring Yoga Teacher: A Blueprint for Student-Teacher Transformation begins in just a few days. Find out more in the link below.
