Developing Your Yoga Teaching Script

7/28/2019 Developing Your Yoga Teaching Script

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Teaching Yoga 101: A Handbook for New Yoga TeachersDeveloping Your Yoga Teaching Script

2011 Amy Patee www.amypatee.com Page 1 of 31

Developing Your Yoga Teaching Script

Learn how to guide your students into and out of

any yoga pose easily and effectively.

By Amy Patee


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Table of Contents

Introduction, Pages 3-4

Chapter 1, Page 5-6

The 4 Tiered Process

Chapter 2, Pages 7-8

Tier 1Primary Actions: Building the Foundation

Chapter 3, Page 9-10

Tier 2Secondary Actions: Executing the Pose


Tier 3Going Deeper: Fine-tuning Alignment


Tier 4Coming out of the Pose

Chapter 6, Page 16-17

Practice Writing Your Script

Chapter 7, Pages 18-22Adding Imagery


Adding Descriptive Words


Verbal Pacing

Chapter 10, Pages 27-30Voice Projection

Chapter 11, Page 31

Putting it all Together


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Introduction

When I first started teaching yoga, I wrote my own scripts out on note

cards on how to guide students into each posture. Whenever I had a spare

moment, I would pick a pose to review, rehearsing the script in my head. As

time went on, I read every yoga book I could get my hands on. When I came

across a new instruction that seemed effective, I would try it out in my own

practice. It if worked for me, I would jot it down on the appropriate note card

and then add it to my repertoire of instructions.

As the white space slowly disappeared on the note cards, my

dependence on them also lessened. Although I had memorized most of the

scripts Id written, I no longer recited them verbatim. I started to guide my

students based on what I perceived they needed in the moment. I became

more spontaneous, assured, and trusting of the words flowing out of my mouth. I

developed a level of confidence in my own inner understanding of how to

execute and be in the postures.

Several years later, I began teaching and mentoring others on how to

teach yoga. I was reminded of the challenges I once faced in finding the right

words to instruct my students effectively. Even people who have practiced

yoga for years frequently encounter difficulties in effective communication afterassuming the role of teacher. If you are currently struggling with similar

challenges, know you are not alone! I have developed a simple, effective, four-

tiered process for creating your own yoga pose teaching scripts. In addition, Ill


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explain how to make your teaching scripts more engaging and dynamic

through using imagery, descriptive words, verbal pacing, and voice projection.

Ultimately, you will feel more confident instructing any yoga pose and

be able to do it with a high degree of effectiveness.


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Chapter 1

The Four-Tiered Process

My four-tiered process for developing yoga pose teaching scripts was

formulated while mentoring yoga teachers-in-training. I understood what it was

like to stand in front of a group of students and feel confused and inarticulate.

As I coached them in the art of teaching, the process began to reveal itself to

me. I realized that each pose could be perceived as an individual journey. The

four-tiered process began to evolve from the realization that each pose has a

beginning, middle, and an end.

Tier 1 Primary Actions: Building the Foundation

Tier 2 Secondary Actions: Executing the Pose

Tier 3 Going Deeper: Fine-tuning alignment

Tier 4 Coming Out of the Pose

As you learn the four-tiered process, you will be able to easily instruct

anyone in any pose. This process is especially useful when you are instructing

new students that have no previous knowledge of the postures.

As you prepare to dive into this process and begin refining your teaching

script, always apply these two essential ingredients:


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1. Breath Let the breath be the guiding force for all of your instructions.

2. Simplicity Keep your instructions short and to the point. Minimal talking

allows more time for your students to connect with their personal

experience in the pose. Limit yourself to three instructions for each tier.


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Chapter 2

Tier One Primary Actions: Building the Foundation

Primary Actions instructions describe how to establish a poses foundation,

or that which is in contact with the floor. This is the feet in standing poses; the

hands in arm balances; the pelvis and legs in seated postures; the head,

forearms, hands, and shoulders in inversions; the shin bones in kneeling postures;

and the whole front or back torso in supine and prone postures.

The foundation of every pose needs to be aligned, strong, and stable.

This enables the rest of the body to relax into that foundational support and feel

at ease. In turn, this impacts the ability to achieve healthy alignment

throughout the rest of the body. When the joints are aligned properly, the

muscles work efficiently and energy flows unimpeded. Good alignment

minimizes a students risk of injury, promotes the bodys longevity, and invokes a

balanced state of mind. Additionally, when a student focuses on a poses

foundation, they become grounded both physically and energetically. Being

grounded in the body anchors the students mind in the present moment,

awakens their inherent connection to the earth, and allows for a more profound

sense of being supported.

Tip: Build every pose from the ground up.


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Examples of Tier One Instructions

Mountain Pose/Tadasana

1. "Stand with your feet approximately hip distance apart."

2. "From there, walk your feet slightly in or out to find a position that allows

you to feel stable."

3. "Fan your toes out wide and relax them."

Staff Pose/Dandasana

1. Come to sit upright upon your sits bones.

2. Stretch both legs straight forward.

3. If you are not able to sit upright upon your sits bones with your legs

stretched forward with ease, sit on a folded blanket.

Once the foundation of the pose is stable, you can then guide your

students through the actions they must take in order to execute the pose.


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Chapter 3

Tier Two Secondary Actions: Executing the Pose

Tier Two instructions explain what students must to do to attain the full

variation of the pose, including placement of the arms, legs, spine, and head.

Dont worry about whether or not your students are able to accomplish every

instruction perfectly. Range of motion, body awareness, and other personal

factors may limit their capability to follow through completely. Help them

achieve the general shape and call it a success. This is especially the case

when working with beginning students. Tier Three allows you to facilitate deeper

alignment where needed.

Tip: When possible, precede every

instruction with a inhalation or exhalation.


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Examples of Tier Two Instructions

Mountain with Hands over Head/Urdhva Hastasana

1. "Inhale and extend your arms out to the side and up over your head."

2. "Press your palms together if you can, or align the hands shoulder-width

apart."

3. "Lift your gaze up to see your hands."

Seated Forward Fold/Paschimottanasana

1. Inhale, lengthen your spine, lift your chest, and sit tall upon your sits

bones.

2. Exhale, tip your torso forward from your hip creases.

3. Inhale, lengthen your spine, gaze forward, and clasp your shins, ankles, or

toes with your hands.

Once the student has attained the pose, you can help them refine their

alignment and go deeper.


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Chapter 4

Tier Three Go Deeper: Refining Alignment

After instructing Tiers One and Two, you may look out at the class and

wonder why students poses dont look how you intended them. This can be a

result of poor articulation, but often it is simply that you are working with students

who have limited range of motion and lack body awareness. This is typically the

case in beginning classes. Tier Three gives you the opportunity to address the

students so that they can feel greater alignment. In more advanced classes,

Tier Three allows you to facilitate the subtle alignment that requires greater inner

awareness. Tier Three may also be where you invite students to modify the pose,

add the use of a prop if needed, try a more intense variation, relax certain body

parts, and of course, to breathe completely.

Tip: Rather than reciting memorized instructions, bring

your students deeper into a pose by speaking directlyto what you are seeing in their bodies in the moment.


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Examples of Tier Three Instructions

Mountain with Hands over Head/Urdhva Hastasana

1. "Exhale, draw your navel in and up towards your ribs."

2. "Press the tailbone down towards the floor.

3. "Exhale, relax your shoulders away from your ears."

Seated Forward Fold/Paschimottanasana

1. Exhale, roll your shins bones inward towards one another.

2. Inhale, lengthen the crown of your head towards your toes.

3. Exhale, fan the back of your hamstrings and calf muscles wide.

When you are giving Tier Three instructions, students are usually in the

holding phase of their posture journey. This means they may be rubbing up

against their resistance points. Resistance can reveal itself as tight muscles,

judgmental thoughts, and negative emotions. These things can cause a student

to check out as a way of avoiding uncomfortable experiences. Tier Three

instructions work to keep your students focused once they arrive in a pose and

encourages them to engage in the process of being with what is happening in

the present moment.

After several breaths, it is time to help your students transition out of the

pose.


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Chapter 5

Tier Four Coming Out of the Pose

Tier Four instructions bring a student back to their starting position. At

times, Ive observed, in myself as well as in my students, a level of

unconsciousness inherent in transitions between yoga poses. People work

diligently to stay present while in the pose, but then become disconnected as

they exit the position. Surprisingly, this is often when injuries occur. This

momentary lapse in presence creates a body-mind disconnect or gap. In this

state, the body moves without a guide and the result may manifest as a strained

muscle, tweaked joint, or excessive effort.

Use your Tier Four instructions to help your students stay present as they

come out of a pose and return to their beginning position. You can revisit Tier

Two instructions and simply reverse the order. Again, link the breath to each

instruction in order to continue reinforcing the body-mind-breath connection.

Tip: Every posture is a journey in and of itself.

Encourage your students to remain equally present

throughout the beginning, middle, and end of their

ractice.


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Examples of Tier Four Instructions

Mountain with Hands over Head (Urdhva Hastasana) into Mountain (Tadasana)

1. "Exhale, release your arms back alongside the body."

2. "Relax your shoulders and gaze forward."

3. "Stand tall in Mountain pose and breathe deeply."

If you want your students to transition into another pose rather than exit

and return to the starting position, then simply make the current position the

starting pose and apply Tier One, Two, and Three instructions again.

Examples of Tier Four Transitioning Instructions

Mountain with Hands over Head (Urdhva Hastasana) into Forward Fold

(Uttanasana)

1. (Tier One) Building the foundation isnt needed; the foundation is already

in place.

2. (Tier Two) "Exhale, bend forward from the hips."

3. (Tier Two) Sweep the arms out to the side and down bringing the hands

to the floor.

4. (Tier Two)Release the back of the neck and spine into forward fold."

5. Continue from here into Tier Three and Four.


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Tier Four instructions for transitioning can be applied when you are

teaching vinyasa-style yoga in which you are not asking your students to hold

poses. In this case, notice if your students stay tuned in, moving in an integrated

way with their breath or begin to check out and become sloppy. This

frequently occurs in yoga practice, especially when a movement, such as the

sun salutation, is extremely familiar. Students can turn on auto-pilot, thus setting

themselves up for greater risk of injury. If you witness this happening, its time to

slow them down and add Tier Three instructions to help them reconnect to their

bodys alignment and the integrity of the pose. This will ensure students remain

safe and free from injury.


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Chapter 6

Practice Writing Your Script

This template will help you review the Four-Tiered process for developing

your yoga script. Make copies of it and write instructions for all of the

foundational yoga poses that you will be sharing with your students. Write

instructions geared towards beginners and then more advanced students.

Always remember to apply the two essential ingredients to superior yoga

instruction: Breath and Simplicity.


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Instructions


1.

2.

3.


1.

2.

3.


1.

2.

3.

Tier Four Coming Out of the Pose / Transitioning

1.

2.

3.

Pose/Asana:


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Chapter 7

Adding Imagery

Once you can easily create basic scripting, you can advance your

teachings by adding more flavor to your instructions with the use of imagery.

Imagery inspires imagination and visualization as tools to invoke transformation in

the body. Sometimes imagery can inform peoples bodys better than hands-on

adjustments. An additional advantage is that even if you are not there guiding

or touching the students, for example, when they are practicing on their own at

home, they can call upon the image to invoke the effect they desire.

Imagery can be added to Tiers One through Four, although you may find

yourself using it most after the students have established the form of the pose

and you are guiding them to go deeper in Tier Three. Think about how you want

your students to move or feel and then consider an appropriate image.

Tip: When you are coming up with imagery, use

these phrases to help: Imagine, As if,

Like, Visualize.


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Examples of Imagery

Mountain Pose with Hands over Head/Urdhva Hastasana

Standard Tier Three Go Deeper

1. "Exhale, draw your navel in and up towards your ribs."

+Imagery: Imagine you are holding a marble in your navel and draw it

inward and upward securely, as to not drop it.

2. "Press the tailbone down towards the floor."

+Imagery: Let your tailbone reach towards the floor like a long lizard tail

3. "Relax your shoulders away from your ears."

+Imagery: "Let the shoulders fall away from the ears as if you are carrying

20 pound weights in your hands."


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Practice Adding Imagery to Your Yoga Script


1.

+Imagery:

2.

+Imagery:

3.

+Imagery:


1.

+Imagery:

2.

+Imagery:

3.

+Imagery:

Pose/Asana:


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1.

+Imagery:

2.

+Imagery:

3.

+Imagery:

Tier Four Coming Out of the Pose / Transitioning

1.

+Imagery:

2.

+Imagery:

3.

+Imagery:


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Next time you teach, test out the use of imagery and notice the impact

on your students. Do their bodies transform before your eyes? Also, observe the

shape of the poses; do they resemble an animal or earth structure that you can

reference with the use of imagery?

As a student, Ive noticed that when a teacher employs the use of

imagery I experience greater alignment and a sense of overall integration within

my body. I also have more fun because imagery engages the creative aspect

of my mind and reveals what a powerful influence it is upon the body.

In addition to imagery, you can keep your instructions engaging by using

a variety of descriptive words instead of repeating the same word over and

over again.


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Chapter 8

Adding Descriptive Words

During any given yoga class, you usually have several words or phrases

that you repeat over and over again. It can be an asset to have several words

on hand that mean the same thing in order to make class more interesting and

to keep your scripts fresh. Different words can invoke very unique responses in

people even though they may mean the same thing.

Here is a list of some of the most commonly used words in yoga classes.

See if you can come up with another descriptive word for each. A thesaurus

can come in handy for this activity.

Common Yoga

Words

Instead Try Come up with your own

Inhale Inspire

Exhale Expire

Stretch Lengthen

Go deeper Go inward

Relax Let go

Engage Contract

Soften Melt

Focus Concentrate

Feel Be aware


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As you begin to explore the use of descriptive words, notice how your

students respond. Does it impact their practice? Let their responses help youdevelop a library of great scripting. When you are attending other teachers

classes, make a mental note of how they use descriptive words, how they work

for you, and then perhaps add them to your own library. Periodically invigorate

your teaching by reading through your list. Your underlying instruction for a pose

may stay the same, but changing one word might impact your students in a

completely new way. Keep things fresh and let your language continually

evolve.

Using imagery and descriptive words can dramatically increase the

effectiveness of your yoga teaching script. However, if the instructions are

offered to rapidly without enough time to assimilate and integrate, the potency

of your guidance can become lessened. Learning how to appropriately pace

your instructions will ensure the importance of what you are saying is not lost.


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Chapter 9

Verbal Pacing

Once your words begin to flow more easily, it is important to establish a

pace and rhythm to your speech that supports students in their practice. Apply

these guidelines to help you find the ideal verbal pacing for teaching your

classes.

1. Take a complete breath after every instructionThis will not only create a reasonable pace of instructions, it will keep you

relaxed and present.

2. Watch to see that your students actually receive the instructionWhen an instruction is given, observe if and how your students bodies

change. Movement in a pose is a great indicator that your students are

present, listening, and integrating your instructions. When too manyinstructions are given or if they are spoken too quickly, your students will not

have the time necessary to do what it is you are asking of them.

3. Leave a few moments of silence in every pose for students to just beIf your voice is filling up the entire time a student practices a pose, it will be

impossible for them to attune to their own inner experience of sensations and

feelings. Gaps of silence foster self-reflection. Always offer a few moments ofsilence in every pose.


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4. Know how much time you want your students to hold a pose and develop asystem for gauging this length of time

Beginning students generally have less stamina. They are just learning the

postures and may find them quite demanding. Have them hold more

vigorous poses for a maximum of 3-5 breaths. More advanced students can

explore demanding postures for up to 10 breaths.

When you develop your cueing, understand what you can actually fit into

the short window of time available. Create a speaking gauge so your students

experience postures for a balanced amount of time. In some instances, it may

be useful to demonstrate the pose first and offer more detailed instruction on

technique while your students watch. That way, when they execute the pose

you will have less pertinent information that you need to share with them and

your instruction can remain simple and short.

I have found that when I articulate clearly and at a relaxed pace,

students are able to fully integrate the instructions, achieve deeper alignment,

and find greater body awareness. Even though there is always more to say,

sometimes one or two simple instructions can impact the whole pose in a

positive way. Understand that there is a definite learning curve to the practice

of yoga. It can take years for students to develop the body awareness and

heightened sensitivity to really be in the positions. Be patient and give them

time to build the pose with integrity from the ground up.

Now, it is time to apply everything youve learned with a live audience.

This requires you to be able to project your voice so your students can hear what

you are saying.


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Chapter 10

Exploring Voice Projection

Now that you have a yoga script full of amazing words, you must share it

with others through the medium of a strong and confident voice. The voice is a

powerful tool with the capacity to penetrate the bodies of your students and

induce immediate physiological and energetic effects.

As a teacher, the first thing to establish for yourself is the ability to speakand be heard. This means you must project your voice loud enough for the

whole class to hear. This also means that you are confident in yourself and

believe that what you have to say matters. When you take center stage as a

yoga teacher, you are committing to guide your students on a journey inward

towards their true selves. Owning this responsibility can shift away any self-

consciousness that you may feel around speaking in front of groups and help

you step into your role more completely.

As you begin teaching, an essential first step is to make sure your whole

class can clearly hear you speak. Some people will have no problem doing this,

while others will find it quite difficult.


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You can establish adequate voice projection by doing the following:

Ask for student feedback about your voice level. For example: Can you

hear me in the back of the room?

Watch for confused looks or random glances from your students that

might indicate that they did not hear your instructions.

Make an audio recording of your class to gain more objectivity about

your use of voice.

Once you are confidently projecting your voice for all to hear, you can

expand your vocal repertoire to induce more profound effects upon your

students such as softening your voice to help your students relax or intensifying

your voice to energize and awaken your students.

Here are four types of vocal projections to explore:

1. Personal ProjectionThis projection is your natural speaking voice and it underlies all other

variations well explore. It is conversational and utilized when you are

greeting your students, telling a personal story, or when you are perhaps

laughing and just being yourself.

Just be yourself: Hi, my name is _________. Hows

everybody doing today?


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2. Neutral ProjectionThis projection is used when you do not want to draw any attention to

yourself. Your voice maintains a background quality that allows students to

go deeper within as they receive your instruction. To achieve this effect your

voice must maintain a balanced tone and pitch without a lot of fluctuation.

You may find this level of speaking useful when students are attempting to do

a standing balance pose or seated forward folds.

3. Enthusiastic ProjectionThis projection can be used when you want to invoke more energy,

enthusiasm, and excitement in your students. This comes in handy when

students are moving through a strong series of standing poses, attempting

arm balances, and/or while moving through an inspirational set of sun

salutations. Your voice may become louder and/or deeper.

Be a fly on the wall: Let your eyes focus on a pointas you balance on one foot

Be a cheerleader: Two more breathsyou

can do it!


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4. Soothing ProjectionThis projection is relaxing and can be used anytime you want to support your

students in feeling peaceful and at ease. Your voice will be soft and you

may utilize longer pauses between your words. This projection is great for

guiding savasana.

Have you ever taken class from someone and felt annoyed by the sound

of their voice? Was it actually their voice or maybe how they were projecting it?

Would you consider going back to that class? We cant necessarily change our

natural voice but we can influence how we choose to project it. Be clear about

where youd like to guide your students and then let your voice carry them

there. For example, a loudly guided savasana/relaxation can keep students in

hyper-alert mode and unable to relax, whereas a soothing, relaxed voice can

lull them into deep peace.

At this point, youve now written the script, developed a good speaking

pace and rhythm, and established a range of vocal projection. What do you

get when you put these things all together? A transformational yoga teacher!

Tell a bedtime story: Feel your whole body letting

go as you completely relax your muscles.


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Chapter 11

Putting it all Together

Just as the outer alignment of a yoga posture acts as a guide to help us

deepen our body awareness and connect us with our own inner teacher, all of

the guidelines Ive offered in this eBook are intended to help you grow and

deepen as a teacher.

Use the Four-tiered process as a template for guiding your students into

the postures safely and easily

Write your own yoga imagery handbook or dictionary of descriptive

words

Play with your magnificent voice to touch your students deeply

Be the best teacher that you can be and know that you are offering a much

needed service to the world! Gaining new skills and refining your teaching

techniques are a gift not only to yourself, but also to the students who ultimatelybenefit from your personal commitment to growth and learning.

Thank you for investing in your teaching career with me! May you continue to

thrive as a yoga teacher and successfully share your gifts with the world.

Namaste,

Amy Patee

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Developing Your Yoga Teaching Script