I’ve had the privilege of teaching a few private yoga classes recently and I’m amazed how different it is teaching group and individual yoga sessions. A private yoga session is all about that student and their unique needs, which means I shape my teaching style much more to their preferences.
At first, I had a strong desire to fill the space with words and interact with the solo student all the time… but then it hit me that teaching that way is not going to work for everyone on every day. In fact, I wouldn’t respond well to constant attention from a teacher – I’d start to feel anxious and worried that my every move was being watched and possibly judged. I also sometimes want a really calm, chilled out practice and other times want something more energetic and invigorating.
So I thought about the questions I’d want a yoga teacher to ask me in a one-on-one session:
- What kind of practice are you looking for?
- Do you want to do more poses with shorter holds? Or fewer poses with longer holds?
- Is the purpose to energize you? Or relax you? Or both!
- Are there any particular areas you want to focus on? Or postures that really resonate with you?
- Any areas that are particularly sensitive or need a different kind of attention?
- What level of hands-on are you comfortable with?
- Can I gently adjust you and apply a bit of pressure to settle you in poses? Or is verbal guidance better?
- Are there any joints or areas you’re nurturing that shouldn’t be adjusted?
- How much or how little instruction/guidance do you want?
- Should I be quiet as much as possible? Or do you prefer reminders about breathing, relaxing, etc. and suggestions for deepening the pose or lessening the intensity?
- Do you prefer a guided relaxation or quiet savasana at the end of the practice?
Now I ask private students for input on how they want to be taught. That’s one of the most amazing parts of solo yoga sessions – students can get precisely what they want and need!
If you’re lucky enough to get one-on-one yoga instruction, think about what you want to get out of that practice beforehand and odds are good that the teacher will be able to deliver.
In the immortal words of the Spice Girls, “Tell me what you want; what you really, really, want!”