6 Tips For Teaching Your First Yoga Class

The first yoga class I ever taught was to a group of my friends on the roof of my building.

Even though it was a group of my close friends and the most supportive group of yogis I could ask for, I was still terrified. I knew I wanted to rip the bandaid off and start to get more comfortable with teaching yoga. Plus I was hosting a yoga event for paying customers a few weeks later.

Teaching your first yoga class can be really freaking scary. Hell, I’ve taught hundreds of yoga classes over the last 3 years and I still get a little nervous before every class I teach.

Here are my top tips for teaching an awesome first yoga class:

Advice For Teaching Your First Yoga Class

Keep it simple.

Your first class (or even first 20 classes) isn’t the time to show off that you know fancy poses. Keep it simple and stick to postures you feel super confident explaining. This will make your job a whole lot easier. There will be plenty of time to get fancy with your sequencing once you feel a bit more comfortable teaching.

 

Create a playlist that you love.

I personally love to play music in all the classes I teach. This was even true as a new teacher. I feel super connected to music in my own yoga practice, so it makes sense that it’s something I’d want to integrate into the classes I teach. If that’s the same for you, make a playlist of songs you love that match the vibe you’re going for. In the beginning, my playlists felt like a security blanket. When I’d hear a favorite song come on in the middle of class it helped calm down my nerves.

 

Cut yourself some slack.

I can just about guarantee that your first class won’t be perfect. Hate to break it to you but you’ll probably say something dumb. There will probably be a moment where you wonder “WTF did I just say?“ Or maybe that just happens to me 😂

Whatever happens during your first yoga class cut yourself some slack. It’s not going to be perfect but don’t beat yourself up for every tiny hiccup in class.

 

Know that EVERY yoga teacher, new or seasoned, makes mistakes.

I secretly love when a yoga teacher or fitness instructor makes a small mistake in class. It’s this joyful reminder that we’re all human. I don’t think I’ve ever taught a class where I don’t mess up at some point. I’m human, it’s just not realistic. Go in knowing that every yoga teacher makes mistakes. You’ll get more polished as time goes on, I promise.

 

SMILE.

When I first started teaching I never smiled. I was SO serious and focused. During a yoga audition I was given the feedback to smile and find more joy in what I was doing. Something changes in your voice when you smile and your students can pick up on that!

Even when I feel like an utter shitshow teaching I do my best to still smile. At the end of the day, it’s just a yoga class — I’m not performing brain surgery!

 

Remember: It gets easier.

Those early classes I taught suuuuuucked. I had many moments where I wondered: Do I even like this? The truth was I didn’t love feeling like a newbie. Uhhh, who does?

As I taught more and more I started to find my own rhythm. I started to gain confidence and started to get a better grasp of my own unique voice as a yoga teacher. I learned which cues I liked. And I learned which cues to never say again because people gave me blank stares.

It gets easier. But you gotta start somewhere!

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