The 5 L's for a Great Yoga Class

I've been to a lot of yoga classes in my time. Some have stuck with me for years and continued to inspire me. Others were alright, not necessarily memorable; and a few were downright questionable.

So what is it that makes a good yoga class?

Simply put, it all comes down to the teacher. A great teacher could spend an hour teaching downward facing dog and it would still be enjoyable.

Here's a few things that I like to bring to my classes that I think make a big difference.

The 5 L's for a GREAT Yoga Class

LEAD. 

I used to begin my classes by asking what my students wanted to do. Seems like a good idea, right? Surprisingly, only sometimes...

Truth is, most of us can't even make up our minds about what to eat for lunch. Our days are usually filled with choices, with too much thinking.

Many students come to yoga straight from an 8 hour work day and are looking forward to not thinking for a while. So, I find that it helps to lead with a plan, step by step, through every movement.

I still ask my students for input before class, but I have noticed a much happier turnout when I come prepared to lead instead of attempting to jumble a bunch of pain relievers into a thoughtful class.

LOOK.

Yogis are not coming to your class to see you in an awesome pose. They want to feel good, which means they need someone to make sure they're doing it right. Otherwise they could have easily popped in a yoga DVD and had the same experience.

Make your way around the room during longer holds or repetitive movements to make sure students are aligned properly.

Observe the class to look for frowns (this doesn't feel good), gazing around the room (I'm lost), confusion (am I doing this right?), or holding of breath (how long is she keeping us here?!). Sometimes something as simple as resting a hand on an unsure shoulder can bring ease.

LISTEN.

Before beginning every class, I tell my students to please alert me if something does not feel good.

Some students are great at this. Others will suffer silently and carry pain home with them.

I often encourage my class to exhale in the form of a sigh to make sure that we are all still breathing (and still happy!) As you make your way around the room, listen for breath. If you are practicing Ujayi, you should be able to hear students breathe, especially during challenging positions. 

LAUGH. 

Not everyone will love every class, but if you can make them smile they will remember that.

Make jokes, encourage silly sounds, and if we fall we laugh--that way we always win. Laughter is yoga for the soul.

LOVE. 

If you do not love what you do, it comes through in your teaching. When you are unsure of yourself, others pick up on that energy and will reflect it.

Be confident, be sure of yourself--LOVE yourself and what you do and that love will radiate to all of your students.

What character traits do your favorite teachers bring to class?