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You've finished your online yoga teacher training program and are ready to begin the rewarding journey that is guiding others deeper into the practice of yoga. But now that it's time to sequence yoga classes regularly, maybe you're feeling a bit stuck or uninspired.

Don't worry! Planning a yoga class can seem like a daunting task—even for veteran yoga teachers. This is especially true if you're trying to craft unique, creative sequences that help you stand out from the sea of sameness—yet still promise safe, powerful, and effective yoga classes for your students.

At Full Circle, we're passionate about helping you plan purposeful yoga classes that, in turn, have a more significant impact on your students. If you're ready to expand your toolkit and bring your yoga students into profound mind-body-soul awareness, here are our top tips for planning compelling yoga classes.

Planning A Yoga Class: 10 Tips For Creative + Effective Sequences
1. Have A Yoga Class Plan

The first step of planning a yoga class is simple: take the time to have a class plan! While many yoga teachers think they can "wing it" on the spot, it's always worth the effort to take a few moments and intentionally write out your yoga class plan. We recommend having a notebook specifically for your yoga sequences and any quotes, teachings, or other themes you would like to bring to your yoga students. Never underestimate the value of showing up for your yoga students with intentionality and purpose.

2. Consider A Theme

Adding a theme to your yoga class is a compelling way to bring your students into deeper awareness and purpose during practice. New to themed yoga classes? In that case, our Theme Your Yoga Classes course is a fantastic way to expand your teaching knowledge, step into becoming a more intuitive teacher, and develop both personally and as a yoga teacher.

In our Theme Your Yoga Classes course, we explore the history of themed yoga classes and cover a wide variety of yoga class topics, including winter and summer solstice, spring and fall equinox, chakras, deities, moon phases, and more. For each yoga theme, you'll receive an entire printable class plan of asanas, a Spotify yoga class playlist, and even a recording of our founder, Jolie, teaching the class!

Using themes when planning your yoga classes is one of the most impactful ways to elevate your students' yoga experience. Whether you're new to themes or merely looking for unique ideas to incorporate into your sequences, check out our Theme Your Yoga Classes course for inspiration.

3. Flow Towards A Peak Pose

Whether you're teaching beginners who might have just finished an online yoga teacher training program or more advanced yoga students, incorporating a peak pose into your yoga sequences is an excellent way to structure your class. When planning a yoga class, your peak pose will typically be the most challenging asana or posture.

To lead your students into the peak pose safely, you'll want to integrate asanas into your flow that prepare your students' minds and bodies. Consider all the components of your peak pose, and then choose postures to warm up the body. For example, if you're working towards Wheel Pose, you'll want to ensure our yoga class sequencing includes back bending, open hip flexors, core work, and external rotation in the upper arms—all essential factors of Wheel Pose.

One of the top benefits of planning a yoga class around a peak pose is that your students will leave confident and empowered—and with a clear idea of the path they need to take to move deeper into the posture you've chosen.

4. Have An Anatomical Focus When Planning A Yoga Class

Like planning a yoga class around a peak pose, having an anatomical focus can enhance your practice by providing a safe, effective way to move deeper into a specific area of the body. From yoga class sequences that target the hamstrings to the core to the lower back to the brain, the ideas for planning an anatomical yoga class are virtually endless. You might also consider leading yoga classes for runners, surfers, or other athletes, targeting muscle groups that you know could use the extra love!

5. Practice Your Flow

Have you ever been in a yoga class when, even if you couldn't put your finger on it, something about the sequencing just felt a bit off? It's critical to remember that we never want to sacrifice the effectiveness of our students' yoga practice for the sake of creativity. One easy way to avoid this is to practice your yoga flow before you teach it. Notice if any transitions feel uncomfortable or awkward, and take the time to adjust them.

This is why we include a live recording of Jolie teaching each theme of our Theme Your Yoga Classes online course. We want you to feel the movements and experience the class the way your students will so that you can, in turn, better lead them through their unique practice.

Tip: No matter your students' levels, it's always okay to return to the basics! All yoga students can benefit from moving deeper into the postures, no matter where they are on their journey. Don't be afraid to slow down and return to the basics with your students.

6. Assess Your Students

While we advocate planning your yoga classes, it's vital to remain present and fluid with your students so you can best meet their needs during the class. While it's a luxury not afforded to many yoga teachers, knowing your students' abilities, ages, injuries, and goals in advance can help you better curate a yoga class sequence that meets their needs.

7. Adjust To All Levels

Now that you've assessed your yoga students, you can adjust to their levels throughout the class. This could include:

-Offering less complicated variations of postures for beginners

-Leading experienced students into more advanced versions of the postures

-Guiding your students on the use of props like blankets, bolsters, blocks, and straps

-Scrapping a peak posture or anatomical focus if it's clear it's not going to work for your students!

8. Keep it Linear and Balanced

While you're planning your yoga class sequence, keep in mind that the flow should be linear and balanced. Typically, it's best to avoid working extensively on the left side before practicing the same posture on the right side. Many yoga class flows also follow the basic structure of grounding postures, sun salutations, standing and balancing postures, seated postures, and then savasana. This is something that we cover extensively in our yoga teacher training programs so that you can feel confident in crafting a yoga sequence that is safe and effective for your students.

9. Get Inspiration From Other Yoga Teachers

Anyone who is an expert at their craft will tell you the same advice: learn from others who have gone before you! While we don't advocate copying other teachers' sequences pose for pose, we encourage you to go deeper in your yoga practice. Absorb knowledge from other yoga teachers, and you'll learn postures, transitions, and themes that will inspire and mold your unique modality of yoga teaching.

10. Ask For Feedback

Don't be afraid to ask for feedback from mentors and students! Just because you are a yoga teacher doesn't mean anyone expects you to be a perfect human being. Constructive criticism can inspire you to plan safer, more effective yoga classes. Ongoing yoga teacher trainings and retreats are an excellent way to receive such feedback from respected yoga educators and support you on your ongoing yoga journey.

Want to start planning better yoga classes? We're now offering planned-for-you themed yoga classes!

What other tips do you have for planning yoga classes that are both creative and effective for your students?
 

Hello Moonbeams!!!

January 28…Get ready cause its time to kick start this year with a bang as the Full Moon rises in Leo. For thousands of years the January moon has also been referred to as the Wolf Moon. The wolf is seen as a symbol of loyalty and fierce protection in many cultures. The symbolism here is a reminder for one to reach out and strengthen bonds with loved ones…to work together with passion through the challenges that will most assuredly come up. Leo’s zodiac archetype, the Lion, is a perfect fit as Leos are known to be outgoing, strong and creative as well as dramatic and fiery.

Our mystical moon mother is a symbol of the divine feminine while the fire sign of Leo is governed by the sun. On their opposing sides, the sun represents the physical, while the moon represents the shadow and emotional worlds. Directly opposing each other…the essence of courageous Leo integrated with the moon mother’s innate intuition. The dark and the light. The January union in the sky between moon goddess and sun god brings us to a place where healing and new life begins.

Last month we received the sign we had been waiting for when Saturn and Jupiter shifted into the sign of Aquarius. Aquarians fly their freak flags strong and proud, so this is the time to be hopelessly and unapologetically yourself. To break free and be unconventional and unpredictable. Keep in mind that Mercury is in its pre-retrograde shadow on the 28th. The actual retrograde begins on January 30th in…you got it…Aquarius. The same usual rules apply- read contracts closely, including the fine print. Watch for issues in communication, with vehicles, and possibly electronics.

As we stand at the brink of 2021, the stars and planets are there to guide us in creating the changes we wish to see in this world. And, if there’s one thing I know, if you thought 2020 was wild, 2021 is going to absolutely blow your mind.

2 Simple Full Moon Rituals

A time for casting out and removing problems and barriers. Ideal for psychic protection. With the white silvery light of the Moon, white magick abounds so you can ask your requests of the universe guided by that powerful white light.

Take a moon bath. The full moon's light can rejuvenate our psyches. Connect with lunar energy by submerging yourself in water. Draw a healing bath around the time of the full moon, and gather your favorite salts, crystals, and candles.

You can say your full moon intentions aloud while you're relaxing in the tub as you imagine the full moon restoring every cell of your body. Or, take a dip in a lake, ocean, or pool if weather and circumstances permit!

Smudging ceremony. To start, light a white candle and set an intention. Light your sage or Palo Santo. With both hands, move the smoke towards your heart, over your head and down the front and back of your body to cleanse yourself. Then walk the smoke around your house to all corners, including cupboards, closets and bottom and top corners of rooms moving through your space in a clockwise motion.

Maybe wear white while you do this…if you feel like it! I'm not a kundalini practitioner, but what Yogi Bhajan says about wearing white does makes sense. Wearing white can expand our aura while filtering negativity. Humans have a 9-foot aura and wearing white can expand it by at least an additional foot, providing an edge or margin between your energy and the energy of other things or people. It's something to think about. Yogi Bhajan says, "We ask you to wear white so that you will reflect what is outside and go within yourself—that’s what white clothes can do for you."
 

Ingredients:

You will fall in love with this fragrant and delicious herbal tea blend packed with antioxidants and natural healing properties. It will fill you with an abundance of love while relieving you of all of your stress.

Ingredients:

¼ cup rose petals

2 teas cinnamon powder

1 cup dried hibiscus flowers

¼ cup jasmine

2 drops orange essential oil

1 clear quartz

1 rose quartz

Directions:

Put 4 cups water and the 2 crystals and all herbs in pot, bring to a boil…turn down heat and let simmer for 15 minutes allowing herbs and crystals to meld their properties. Strain and pour into jar to sip throughout day.

Hello Moonbeams!!!

Well, here we are… New moons mean new beginnings, and this one is set to be extra powerful, given that it's the first New Moon of this most important year. 2021's premiere new moon peaks on the night of January 12 (or just after midnight on January 13, if you're on the east coast) and it’s the right time to conjure up a bit of magick. New Moon magick is dedicated to new ideas, new projects, feeling your personal strength and acting on your instincts…the time to cast off that which is no longer working and bringing in new beliefs and behaviors.

Those studying the cosmos saw the turbulence…some off balance, volatile energies near this New Moon. In the realm of the Goddess this energy was triggered by Eris, a dwarf planet but also the goddess of conflict and disharmony. It almost seemed inevitable that something like the events of January 6th played out all but guaranteeing that this year will be a year like no other. Collectively, we are waking up to the fact that if we are to survive there needs to be change. Abuse of the planet, division, violence and greed are no longer acceptable. Last month, the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter signified social change that will affect future generations and the peace that spirituals have waited eons for.

The sign of Capricorn gives a new moon a grounding influence-the time to reconnect

with our roots. Make no mistake, there will be change; the determined Capricorn sea goat will assure that with its sense of drive, determination, and discipline. That stubborn and steady goat offers no instant gratification here…just a patient, steady path to the new world. We will get there, speed bumps and all, but all in all this first new moon gives us hope that things will fall into place. Besides the opportunity to rebuild, the Capricorn moon ushers us into a revolution of consciousness. When we plant those metaphorical seeds, we honor the moon of the Maiden Goddess, whose magick is dedicated to the New Moon. By working with the moon’s phases in your life and magick, you’re invoking her lunar energy…Diana, Selene, Hecate and especially Lilith. Whichever goddess you are most in tune with, harness that power, channel your inner goddess, and focus your energy on capitalizing on the powerful force that is the New Moon.

May you be well. May you be safe. May you be the person that you choose to be.

Blessed Be