Beyond the Mat Living A Yoga Lifestyle   By striving to live a yogic lifestyle, we can offer a more meaningful and rich class experience to our students Some aspects of living a yogic lifestyle: o Developing balance and harmony in our lives o Learning to let go of things that no longer serve us o Approaching our health holistically o Learning to reconnect more deeply with our bodies o Learning to clear the mind so that we can achieve more inner peace o Being kind to ourselves o Cultivating an attitude of gratitude o Being open minded o Not hurting ourselves or others o Being authentic and living with clarity o Connecting compassionately with ourselves and others more deeply o Having better focus o Living more simply o Understanding our greater purpose in the world The Five Points of Yoga 1) Proper Exercise – Asana a. Regular exercise also improves our mood and leads to a more positive outlook on life 2) Proper Breathing – Pranayama a. Deep breathing gives us vitality, energy, and promotes the flow of prana throughout our bodies 3) Proper Relaxation – Savasana a. Making sure we get enough rest each day gives us the energy to fulfill our goals and passions in life b. Three types of relaxation, according to Swami Sivananda i. Physical relaxation: consciously relaxing different parts of the body ii. Mental relaxation: pranayama practice that helps the mind become more calm iii. Spiritual relaxation: meditation where we attain a level of inner stillness 4) Proper Diet – Healthy Food a. When choosing foods in your diet, consider the affects it has on your mind and body physically and energetically 5) Positive Thinking and Meditation a. Positive thinking is a choice that we make daily and can be cultivated through meditation, self-reflection, and the practice of gratitude b. When we control our thoughts through meditation, we can give less energy to negative thoughts and more energy to positive thoughts in our lives Discovering Your Yogic Teaching Style  Your yoga teaching style is uniquely yours so there is no wrong or right way to teach yoga Self-Inquiry Practice  Excellent practice to develop when trying to find answers for questions in our lives o What do you love most about yoga? o What are you most passionate about in your yoga practice? o Do you have any other passions you could combine with yoga? o What yoga poses, themes, or philosophies resonate with you the most? o Why did you decide to enroll in yoga teacher training? o What goals do you have for yourself once you complete the training? o What is your teaching philosophy? o What is your ideal class size? o What different types of yoga practice are you drawn to? o Who is your ideal yoga students? o Who are some of your favorite yoga teachers? o What do you hope your students will experience in your classes? Things to Consider 1) Focus on What You Love a. When we do things with love and passion, the energy around those things become magnetic and contagious 2) Be Authentic 3) Trust Your Intuition 4) Find a Niche 5) Come Up with a Mission Statement a. Can include inspiring goals, explain why you want to do something, and define who you want to help 6) Learn From Other Teachers Qualities of a Great Yoga Teacher 1) Create a Great Class Experience a. Be mindful of the props you offer, take time to develop your playlists and offer your own unique touches to your classes such as aromatherapy or interesting class themes 2) Good Class Sequence and Flow a. Take time to develop your class sequences in advance and follow a sequence that flows well for each 3) Be Prepared a. A great teacher is always prepared for class by creating lesson plans far in advance and rehearsing teaching cues before class 4) Create a Safe and Supportive Space a. Be a good listener when students come to you for questions and always be willing to help however you can 5) Clear and Concise Teaching Cues a. Stick to about 2-3 cues per pose to prevent over cueing 6) Good Communication a. Voice can have a great impact on emotion and enhance the delivery of your message 7) Use Props a. Always offer props for your students and let them know at the beginning of each class what props they might need for different poses 8) Be Present and Aware a. Always be prepared to modify and change your class plans to fit your student’s needs at a moment’s notice 9) Connect with Your Students a. Take time to get to know your students and learn their names 10) Personality a. Be personable, warm, open, and inviting 11) Teach From Your Heart a. Your students will be able to sense your passion and love for yoga and in turn that energy will become contagious, and they will enjoy their practice with you even more 12) Be Authentic a. Don’t strive for perfection but allow yourself to just be who you are 13) Continue to Grow and Evolve a. Stay committed to always learning whether it’s reading yoga books, attending classes with other teachers, attending seminars, workshops, or continuing yoga education course 14) No Ego a. Be open minded about learning a new idea or new way of doing something 15) Keep Up Your Own Personal Yoga Practice a. By being in touch with, and aware of your own practice, you will be a better teacher Developing Confidence and Overcoming Your Fears Tips to Develop Confidence  Focus on Your Purpose  Reflect on What You Do Right in Your Classes  Break Down Your Fears  Understand Failure is a Part of Success  Take Deep Breaths  Recognize and Accept When You are Not Feeling Confident  Get Grounded Before You Teach  Remember Everyone is There to Support You How to Craft a Yoga Teacher Resume  Important to create a resume that’s clean, organized, includes a mission statement, clearly states your experience and skills, and any related certifications Elements of a Good Resume 1) Clean and Organized a. Be bullet pointed and in a format that is easy to read 2) Keep it to One Page a. Keeping your resume concise in this way will force you to put information that’s only relevant to the position 3) Include Any Relevant Experience a. Write out where you’ve taught yoga classes in the past and be sure to put the duration of the time you taught 4) Include Your Education a. Where you received your yoga teacher certification from and any yoga workshops or continuing education course you’ve completed 5) Create a Good Mission Statement a. Great mission statement will explain what your yoga teacher goals are and how you wish to serve your potential students 6) Include Other Unrelated Positions or Certifications a. Show that you’re a good employee, dependable, and professional 7) Include a Cover Letter a. Way to help potential employers understand why you are a good fit for the position and highlights your specific skills 8) Include References 9) Include a Photo (Optional) a.