10 Questions on Every Yoga Teachers Mind
We learn so much from each other when we come together as a community; one of the most satisfying aspects of the yoga practice is co-creating the space we share when we come together.
As yoga teachers, our role is to guide students through an experience and create a space where all feel safe, seen, and supported. Since the pandemic, the teacher-student relationship has shifted to the digital realm as studios and public spaces have been unavailable. The presentation, communication, and sequencing are a few of the elements of a yoga class that teachers have had to mindfully adjust as classes have existed primarily online.
So how do you create memorable experiences for students and maintain your business as a yoga teacher? This article offers resolutions to some of the questions posed by yoga teachers who’ve shifted to a digital yoga studio.
The Top 10 Questions on EVERY Virtual Teachers’ Mind:
How do I connect to new students and build a community?
Create a digital space to talk to students in an informal setting like you would before or after the yoga class. The Practice with Clara Community Facebook Group connects students and Clara, where all are encouraged to ask questions, make requests, and chat about all things related to yoga.Having a digital space for students to ‘hang out’ outside of the class will also help you create content that resonates as you’ll get to see the types of content students share and what they’re discussing. Practice with Clara hosts quarterly 30-Day Yoga Challenges to motivate and challenge practitioners. The FB Group is where we post the class of the day, support each other, and offer modifications, inspiration, and suggestions for students.
What is the best way to deliver my content?
Establish a system and consistent workflow to host and manage your classes. Digital platforms such as Zoom, Vimeo, Uscreen, YouTube, and Thinkific are services that provide a way for teachers to host live yoga classes and share on-demand content for students to engage and participate. Before you select a service, decide how and when you want to teach, as there are significant differences and unique benefits to each platform.For example, Zoom is great for hosting classes if you want to watch your students practice and provide feedback; however, Zoom does not provide a way to host on-demand content. YouTube is great for hosting on-demand content for students to watch classes at their leisure and connect with your teaching style and offering. Uscreen is the service we use for Practice with Clara as it allows on-demand and live yoga classes; however, the only method to directly engage with students is the live chat box during the class. If you want to watch your students practice and provide feedback on alignment, Zoom is the best option and what we’re using to manage the Art of Sequencing Teacher Training on July 16th-19th.
How do I teach and manage the technology during class?
Hire someone to do tech support while you teach. This will allow you to focus on how and what you’re teaching, so you don’t have to split your attention between two things. There are often minor issues during the live classes, mostly regarding how the students set up the technology. Students tend to have questions or feedback before, during, and after the class, and it’s helpful to have someone supporting the communication so details don’t get missed.If you don’t have the bandwidth to hire someone to do tech support, you might explore exchanging services or asking a friend. Be sure to communicate expectations, and have some consistency in the setup and flow to not cause disruption to the students and convey the same messaging each time!
What equipment should I invest in?
A microphone, camera/phone, laptop computer, tripod, extension cord(s), AirPods iPad, and access to good lighting.In the Art of Sequencing Training, Clara breaks down the details and covers the equipment we’ve used that works and the equipment that didn’t work out as well. The training provides videos of Clara sharing her process and best practices to set up and teach a live yoga class and set up and teach an on-demand yoga class.
What software should I invest in?
A branded website, a platform to host your classes, a transcription service (if you want your classes written out for students to see the sequence), a service like Open Broadcaster Software for recording and live streaming events, social media,In the Art of Sequencing Training, Clara breaks down the details and covers the software we’ve used that works for our processes. The training provides videos of Clara sharing her process and best practices to set up and teach a live yoga class and set up and teach an on-demand yoga class.
How much time do I need to set up for a virtual class?
Leave more time than you think you need to troubleshoot and test your equipment and double-check that you have everything you need if you’re shooting in a new location. Giving yourself a little extra time also creates space to charge equipment should you run out of battery.Clara leaves 30-minutes to set up for a live yoga class. If you’re new to teaching virtual yoga classes, give yourself more than 30-minutes. It’s essential to start and end virtual yoga classes on time to respect people’s schedules and establish consistency with your students.
Is there a way to streamline the process to save time?
Organize workflows that you can repeat over and over. This process establishes two things; you get more efficient at preparing and managing your time, and the repetition will help you remember each task so you don’t forget something.Do I need people to help me, or can I do this on my own?
It’s possible to host a virtual yoga class and create content on your own; however, it’s nice to have someone assist with live class tech support to assist students. For on-demand classes, it’s helpful to have someone take the class before you post it for your students to listen to the cueing and assess the sequence. It’s not uncommon for yoga teachers to cue the wrong side or miss a cue, and having a person who reviews the class and watches for minor mishaps will help you refine the class before sharing it with your community.How do I interact with students?
One option is to offer a live Q&A after the live yoga class. Clara sets aside 30 minutes after each live class for students to ask questions about the sequence, give feedback, and make requests.If your content is only ever on-demand with pre-recorded videos, give your students multiple ways to get in touch, such as messages in a private FB Group or Instagram, contact forms, and email.
Where and how do I market my online classes and events?
Social media, community referrals, a newsletter, events and partnerships with complementary brands, free resources, and eBooks—you have to be creative and collaborate with others to spread your message—much like you would in a yoga studio.
The Art of Sequencing prepares yoga teachers with the insight and expectations to establish a virtual studio.
The Art of Sequencing Yoga Teacher Training offers a complete and holistic approach to yoga through the exploration of asana, philosophy, subtle body practices, theming, and how to host digital classes and events.
All participants in the training receive a 3-month subscription to the Practice with Clara Apps to experience how Clara creates on-demand and live classes for practitioners worldwide.
Clara has been teaching globally for nearly two decades and studied with 20 unique vinyasa yoga teachers that contributed to the creation of Lila Flow Yoga. Clara launched the Practice with Clara Apps in 2019 to connect with communities worldwide and has refined her process of producing quality content that resonates with students no matter where or how they make it to their yoga mat.
So Why Do I Care About Yoga Teacher Training?
Let’s address why you should care about the Art of Sequencing and take a yoga teacher training if you’re not already a yoga teacher or certified and don’t think you need another teaching credential.
The Lila School of Vinyasa Yoga teacher training is never just about yoga; Clara believes that yoga should be lived every day, regardless of how you make it to your yoga mat. This approach means that every training hosted by the Lila School of Vinyasa Yoga is a well-rounded event accessible to students of every level with the option to register as a teacher with Yoga Alliance and receive certification or teaching credits.
The greatest teacher is the teacher of experience. A yoga teacher training gives you the space to move, breathe, reflect, and listen to what your body has to say. It’s an opportunity to press pause on the busyness of your day-to-day and sharpen your skills and self-discipline with rituals that enhance your quality of life.
5 Compelling Reasons to Join the Art of Sequencing
Engage in philosophy, Ayurveda, subtle body practices, and peak poses.
The Art of Sequencing explores the intricacies of yoga asana and how to build peak yoga poses. It also explores yogic philosophy, Ayurveda, and subtle body practices. This yoga teacher training focuses heavily on theming for yoga classes to create cohesive and memorable student experiences. You’ll learn about subtle body practices, including the chakras, visualization, yoga nidra and body scan, pranayamas and mantras, and meditation.
You’ll be invited to express yourself and develop your voice as a teacher. One of the biggest takeaways from this training is weaving elements and ideas you’re passionate about into your yoga classes. Philosophy, poetry, wellness tips, anatomy, and the things that bring you joy can be shared with students when interwoven with the class theme.
Clara introduces various aspects of dance, martial arts, and philosophy in her yoga classes, which makes Lila Flow Yoga unique. In this training, you’ll learn how to artfully introduce your passion to your students and build a community doing what you love.
Make new friends and connect to a global community.
Connect with fellow yoga practitioners who share your passion for all things related to the practice. One of the benefits of online training is its availability to individuals worldwide. You never know who you’ll meet or where your connections may take you.
The Art of Sequencing features LIVE breakout rooms and LIVE Q&A discussions each day of the 4-day training, so you’ll get to meet and interact with your peers. You’ll work in groups to create sequences that include a peak pose, Bhav (mood), and theme, and share your class plans with the group.
We also invite all training members to join our private Lila Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training FB Group to discuss and give feedback during the event.
Unearth aspects of yourself to transform your lifestyle.
Perhaps a lesser-known benefit of yoga teacher training is the transformative aspect of our personality, behaviors, and lifestyle patterns. When we commit ourselves to something bigger than ourselves, such as yoga training, we open ourselves to receive new information, tools, and ways of being in the world. We open ourselves to the unknown.
The Art of Sequencing will prompt you to dig deep and examine who you are and how you want to appear to your students, communities, and loved ones. This training helps teachers develop a voice and vision for their yoga classes by asking thoughtful questions and providing prompts to examine what gets them out of bed each day.
Self-reflection is an important tool for refining our practices and patterns. Whether you teach yoga or not, this training in meditation and mindfulness practices will ask you to explore the deeper, subconscious aspects of yourself, aiding in personal and professional transformation.
Establish holistic rituals and routines for longevity in wellness.
A yoga teacher training will help establish rituals in cultivating a daily yoga practice and healthy lifestyle. You’ll be tasked with practicing every day and engaging in subtle body practices that stimulate the pranic (energy) body. The Art of Sequencing features a 2-hour Lila Flow Yoga class each day, including meditation, pranayamas, mantras, asanas with peak yoga poses, bandhas, and other subtle bodywork to capture the Lila Flow experience.
It’s easier and more motivating to initiate a new routine when we do it with a community to seek inspiration and support! Yoga teacher training provides the foundation for committing to a daily yoga ritual—however it appears in your -day-to-day.
Learn digital production, operations, and marketing skills.
For the first time, the Art of Sequencing is a 4-day virtual event open to practitioners worldwide.
We’ve included 4+ hours of BONUS content on building and sustaining a digital yoga platform. You’ll learn how to create on-demand content, host live yoga classes on a streaming platform, and market and manage your business as an entrepreneur.
Clara covers the necessary software and hardware, the timing for live events, the behind-the-scenes setup with lighting and equipment, hiring and trade skills, and adjusting class cues and sequencing for virtual yoga classes.
This level of instruction and knowledge benefits anyone in the digital industry who wants to build a virtual business and connect to communities online.
The Art of Sequencing is for everyone who wants to learn advanced yoga asanas and develop a home practice.
As a yoga teacher, here’s what you’ll gain from the Art of Sequencing Training:
History of vinyasa yoga to better understand the six families of poses and how to use them in your classes.
Wave Theory formula to create sequences that balance targeted muscle groups and build to a peak pose.
How to direct students with your voice, tone, and cues.
Languaging for online classes and how this differs from in-person studio classes.
How to invoke a theme that guides students through a cohesive narrative.
Peer feedback and group sessions to create class sequences based on Lila Flow Yoga.
LIVE Q&A sessions with Clara to ask questions.
As a vinyasa yoga practitioner, here’s what you’ll gain from the Art of Sequencing Training:
Deepen your home practice with a daily ritual of yoga and mindfulness.
Experience a variety of movement and subtle body practices.
Engage with yogis worldwide who share the same passion and curiosity for yoga as an embodied art.
Commit to your transformation by asking the bigger questions related to why you show up to your mat each day.
Embark on a journey that may lead you to an unexpected location; you never know where you may use the skills from this training!
Still Uncertain About Joining Us?
Here’s a breakdown of what you receive in this virtual training:
✅ 8+ Hours of Exclusive Yoga, Meditation, and Mantra Classes
Take a 2-hour class with Clara every day of the training, Friday-Monday.
Classes are pre-recorded for you to do anytime before the live session.
The classes include movement, mantra, meditation, and themes that correlate with the lecture.
✅ 10+ Hours to Learn the Technicalities of Creative Sequencing:
How to sequence classes based on Shiva Rea’s Wave Theory.
Sequencing for peak poses and advanced vinyasa flows.
Creating a Bhav (feeling, mood) using music, themes, literature, and philosophy.
✅ 20+ Hours to Interact with Yoga Teachers & Students Worldwide:
Connect with students and teachers from all over the world.
Daily breakout rooms to engage, create and get feedback from your peers.
Access to the Lila Vinyasa private Facebook Group, where you can ask questions and interact with Clara and members of the training.
✅ BONUS:: 4+ Hours of Content Unique to this Online Training
30-minute workshop by Clara on how to run a live class online, what equipment to use and the details on teaching an online class or workshop (Equipment, Apps, etc)
30-minute workshop by Clara on the process of creating Voice Over yoga classes for your channel - outline of equipment needed - The differences and benefits in hosting live versus on-demand yoga classes and ways to make your classes more engaging for participants. Details of sound, style, and video presentation.
30-minute workshop with Alejandro Arce on the behind-the-scenes in digital marketing and operations to grow your business!
30-minute workshop on managing a subscription channel and creating memorable experiences for virtual communities.
& more to come!
Notes from students of Lila School of Vinyasa Yoga:
“As a Manual Osteopath I’m very passionate about injury prevention and support and Clara educated us on the newest research regarding incorrect movements and common injures we’re seeing in the industry today. She taught us what we can do as teachers to support our students through proper alignment, cueing and how to careful craft a proper sequence that prepares the body and supports the intention. We learned how to find inspiration, flesh out theming that feels authentic to us and create impactful bhav.”
“Taking Clara’s Vinyasa training was the most transformative experience in my practice and teaching since completing a 200-hour. She taught us with precision and creativity to design sequences that make sense and feel beautiful. We explored the art of teaching advanced postures with skill and the safety of students in mind. We learned to teach through kramas, stages of the process, to meet students where they are at. I highly recommend this program to anyone with an interest in vinyasa, or who is intending to teach this style to others.”
“Working with Clara has greatly enhanced my ability to execute sequenced classes more professionally. These are the “how to’s” or the “teaching” that I took away including, use of clear and concise language, appropriate vocal tone for the bhavna and time of the class, allowing for space and silence, pausing for breath, timing of the sequence within the sequence, use of suitable rhythms or music, and much more! Personally, I am striving to teach and live from a place of authenticity. (Also, learned from Clara). The knowledge I gained in this training aligns with my aspirations as a teacher and human being.”
