Becca is the author of Teaching Yoga: Creative Cueing for Safer Mixed Level Classes. A long-time studio owner and teacher trainer, she now teaches online, blogs, and creates resources for other yoga teachers.

When I first starting teaching yoga years ago, I only knew how to teach a few classes. Building up sequences and general class plans in my head took time. It is common for yoga teachers to feel like their classes are too similar. This is especially true when beginners frequently attend. If you resonate with this, then never fear, as there are so many ideas, and I am here to share!

As I share some general ideas, think about which ones might work for you, and note those you’re less drawn to. Successful teachers create their own teaching style, which students connect with and expect. We aim for variety in our classes, without making the practice so different week to week that it lacks continuity. Students want to feel like they are learning and improving on their skills. They also will develop expectations about what to expect from the class each week. If they expect relaxation and then suddenly get a flow yoga class, this won’t go over well. For classes to build, each week we must provide a similar level of physical challenge, a consistent cadence, and a message that is authentic to our own experience.

Creating Yoga Lesson Plans for Beginners

Beginners benefit from repetition in order to learn the basic poses. At the same time if we teach the exact same thing, it’s not so great for the body, and they might get bored before they connect with the practice.

At first, smaller changes work well. Create just enough variety to keep them interested and building basic yoga skills. Here are some strategies for creating variety in beginning classes, while still teaching many of the same poses.

• Change the warm-up and cool-down, but keep the middle part of the class very similar.  Begin standing or lying down instead of seated. Vary the end of class between seated and reclined work.

• Keep the standing sequences similar, but add or remove a few of the poses, or slightly change the pose order.

• Use the same standing sequences from the previous week, but change the position of the arms in some poses. For example, incorporate eagle arms in Warrior 2, extend the top arm in Triangle over the head (as in Side Angle), or use Cactus arms in Warrior 1 or Tree. Clasping hands behind the back also works in many standing poses.

• Most beginners will only listen to about three cues, so each week, focus on different body areas while cueing the poses. Common focus points for beginning yoga include foot and knee alignment, quad and glute strengthening, hamstring stretching, core engagement, hip stretching, shoulder strengthening, and spinal elongation. Although classes are similarly structured, varied cueing can make each class feel unique. For beginners, it may seem like an entirely different class.

• Organize your yoga lesson plans by asana type. Create a class where you teach similar poses but you focus a little more on one pose type such as one-legged balancing, backbends (chest opening), hip openers, shoulder weight bearing, standing flows, or twists. (I’m leaving forward bends out here, as most beginners need the opposite movement.)

• Design some classes with a peak pose, where students work towards a pose that is challenging but still accessible. Some examples are a Modified Dancer, the basic Pigeon, and one-legged balance challenges.

• Use a particular prop throughout the class. For example, use a strap to stretch the shoulders in Warrior 1, then use it again in Goddess. Get creative with blocks, dowels, and foam rollers. Even minor variations with a prop can change the class experience.

Can I Repeat the Same Yoga Lesson Plan Sometimes?

Absolutely! Especially if you have beginners in your classes. The repetition helps them learn the poses. Repeating a class occasionally is also beneficial for more experienced students. It allows them to gauge their improvement since last attending the class. Remember, repetition isn't just about doing the same thing; it's a powerful tool for deepening understanding and observing personal growth.

In Summary

Crafting a yoga lesson plan that resonates with both the beginning and experienced students is a challenge. We have to find a balance between variety and consistency. Give some of the above ideas a try and watch to see how your students react. You may be surprised with how minor differences in sequencing, cueing, and props use can change the class experience. ♢

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