10 Reasons to Sign up for One to One Yoga
As a yoga teacher I’ve always enjoyed the wider reach of teaching public classes, and I am a firm believer that we learn from each other. However, as I am being increasingly booked for one to one sessions it seems a good time to explore the advantages of one to one yoga sessions.
My Own Experiences
I’ll begin by saying that since I undertook a new yoga teacher training course a few years ago that I have personally enjoyed the benefits of one to one lessons. I have tried out a few teachers both in group classes and one to one scenarios.
I had to partake in and also observe several lessons as part of my qualification and what initially struck me was the appalling quality of some of the public classes I attended including one that was being subsidised by the local council, oh dear. In the UK yoga is an unregulated industry, which was partly why I’ve sourced most of my training from the USA!
At one class I attended the teacher was so bad that some of what she was telling people to do was in my opinion unsafe. I fared better for the class observations, largely because the class attendances were covert and the observations were overt. Meaning that I contacted the teachers and chatted to them before being welcomed to sit and observe one of their classes. I consequently returned to two of those teachers for some one to one teaching myself.
I recently returned to my Iyengar teacher in New Jersey (via Zoom) for a much welcome one to one after a few months and I realised how much I’d missed the benefits of those sessions. So, at the time of writing we plan a call to get our diaries together to plan a scheme of one to ones over the coming months. I also enjoy a monthly yoga as therapy group class.
So why would I recommend that you choose a one to one class?
Well, firstly based on my own experience and observation my advice to you is to choose your teacher carefully, not least if you are setting out, are older or have limitations. You want a teacher who understands that we are all different and that many of us have limitations of various degrees and types. You want a teacher who will work with and around your individual body, who will work on how to create the much needed mind-body-heart connection to get the most out of your yoga practice.
Here are 10 of the reasons to book a scheme of one to one yoga lessons:
1. Individual Attention
You are the sole beneficiary of your one to one class, there is no fear of feeling silly about asking questions, about asking to do something again to do better or to say this doesn’t feel right for my body today.
What it means is you have a yoga teacher to help only you, so you get real value from your 45 minute or 1 hour lesson *.
2. Personalised
When you book a scheme of one to one classes your teacher will personalise these classes to you and your personal needs whether you realise it or not! A main benefit of one to one is that the planning is done with you in mind and only you.
3. Learning Styles
Many teachers will have an understanding of the different learning styles and identify and work with your learning requirements.
4. Customised
Whatever your chosen teacher’s specialism or usual style, a well-qualified teacher will adapt the yoga to meet your requirements. From feedback in your early classes a customised yoga journey can be created to encompass your goals, body type and aims.
5. The mind-body-heart connection
I frequently deliberately switch these three connections around, however you reach it isn’t what matters it’s that you do. So, heart-body-mind connection or body-heart-mind connection and so on the goal and aim is the same, different people, especially when given the space to do so may come to that eureka moment of realising what it means in different ways and through different movements and activities.
This also means mind-body-soul or mind-body-heart-soul. I use the term heart where one of my old teachers used “soul”. I do think that when you really get it, get the connection and how much good it is doing you then you move up to the fullness of heart that encompasses the very soul. This is something much more easily attained in the privacy of a one to one session regardless of if it is through face to face or zoom classes.
6. Improve mental health encourage confidence
For many people the thought of putting on Lycra and joining a public class is terrifying, especially so at fitness centre classes where you might be joining an established class where you try to follow when you body isn’t willing and you struggle to catch up.
The one to one situation ensures that you work at your own pace, there is no worry about body shape or image and no fear of asking questions or taking a rest when you need to.
7. Flexibility
A one to one class can always be booked for a time that suits you within the constraints of what also suits your teacher! This gives a high level of convenience and is especially useful when you work in shift patterns.
8. Home practice
One to one zoom practice means that you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home. This is something that is especially beneficial for those who suffer from agoraphobia, social anxiety or any form of confidence busting issues.
Within home practice is also the idea of getting into a routine of regular practice. You have your mat, you probably also have blankets and cushions handy, maybe you also have some blocks, weights and a small ball. Because you know that you have the place to attend your zoom class, this space can also become your daily practice space. There is huge benefit from stretching every day. If you can’t make every day, then every other day or on certain days of the week. Ask your teacher to suggest some things you can do as home practice.
You can also take some of the stretches and the ethos of the class away with you when you attend a one to one class in person to practice at home ahead of your next class.
9. Confidence as a beginner
You might decide to sign up for a scheme of beginner’s lessons on a one to one basis with the plan of joining a public class once you have a better understanding of yoga and the basic movements (known as asanas). There are many advantages of doing that, you will learn the asanas in a safe, controlled environment ahead of trying to keep up with a public class.
10. Building as a more experienced student
One to one classes offer your opportunity to grow and deepen your practice. The time is built around your fitness level, your limitations, your experience, your body, heart and mind. For the more experienced attendee who doesn’t feel they’ve been getting enough attention in public class then one to one offers a terrific way to grow your practice.
I have touched on 10 of the reasons to book a one to one class or scheme of classes. I increasingly see the benefits of one to one in the people I teach and from my own experience. I would say to anyone not sure about joining a public class or who thinks they’d benefit from a one to one situation for any reason to book in.
I offer one to one meditation only, hatha yoga, hatha-vinyasa yoga, yogalates, pregnancy yoga and fitness-life coaching.
If you’ve a friend who’s also considering one to one, then I am happy to offer two to one sessions giving the benefits of the advantages above but offering a shared journey with a friend.
Buddying up for two to one is especially useful for pregnancy yoga.
*I don’t recommend longer than an hour for one to one lessons, longer than an hour is too much for many people. I actually recommend 30-45 minutes of movement and 8-15 minutes of meditation and Q&A at the end of the lesson.