I’m hoping to answer the question: how do you plan your classes. Not the sequence, not the theme – but how to fit what we’re doing into a 60 minute class.
I’ve taken yoga classes when the teacher felt the need to narc on herself and announce, “oh we don’t have time for what I planned”. That’s a skill every teacher should be able to pull off – how to plan a 60 min class. Not to be surprised there isn’t an extra 20 minutes floating around for all the hip openers.
I think the easiest way to approach 60 minutes of content is to plan in 15 minute blocks. That’s pretty equal. If you think of a 15 min warm up, 30 min flow, and 10 min ground cool down and 5 min Savasana. That way you’re also not checking the clock constantly. You know by 10:15 you should be moving into Sun Salutations. Or 6:45 taking it down to the ground.
Rather than marry a plan of 108 Sun Salutations, think more of when you should be where.
Since every studio I have ever worked at required me to arrive 15 minutes before class begins, I’ve always tried to take attendance before class starts. If class starts at 10, I’m sharing announcements or Breathwork. I want students to get the most of their time with me. I don’t lecture about the theme, or unload a personal weekend story. I’m getting to the warm-up because they signed up for a yoga class not a Stef soap box lecture.
I think a Flow Class should have a hearty Flow Section. Don’t label a class flow and then bring me down to do crunches for 25 minutes. I will grab my pitch fork and revolt. Go through your flow a few times adding on modifications, twists, or flying peak poses. It’s why I teach a Ladder Sequence. We can add-on! Sequences should build and become familiar. The third time through students are all on the correct foot and feel confident.
Since you have a hearty flowing challenging bulk to the class, be sure to bring it back down! This is when you can drop in your ground stretches, crunches, dead bugs, or shoulder stands. Students like to play on the floor – give them a block for Supported Bridge or Reclined Butterfly.
Don’t take a flow all the way to 55 minutes and then give 5 minutes to relax. A fun flow can get boring if that’s all that’s happening for 40 minutes and honestly, my knees will hate you. It will take me a few minutes to get comfortable on the mat.
Please for the love of yoga, do not give me a 2 minute Savasana because you’re a poor planner. Being a great teacher isn’t about party tricks. It’s not about a difficult transition. It’s actually a few things – and keeping time is one of them. Get people out rather than constantly running class 15 minutes over because you want to do all the things and have no where to go. Respect your students.
If you’re not sure how long your warm up usually lasts, time it at home. See how many Sun Salutations you can do in 5 minutes. You should know these things. It will also help you when you have 4 extra minutes. You’ll be able to lengthen your cool down, add Breathwork, or cut out your Supine Twists because you lost 3 minutes.
I’ve been on vacation all summer. I haven’t taught a class in what feels like forever. If you asked me to sub for you in an hour I’d be able to pull off an unplanned class because of these Blocks. Definitely not how I normally teach, I love planning a great theme. But I know how much goes into 60 mins, I know where I should be on the mat every 15 minutes, and I get everyone out on time.
Plan Classes in Blocks
Warm Up – 15 minutes. You don’t have to roll shoulders for 15 minutes straight. Think shoulder rolls to low lunges. Full body warm up in the first 15 minute block.
Standing Flow – 30 minutes Sun Sals and Your Sequence to your Peak Pose. I personally add balance to my flow, so by the second time through we’re adding in the peak pose to my flow. Rather than stopping flow to do a Tree, I just add Tree at the end of the flow before stepping back into High Plank. But some teachers want to do them separate. Whichever floats your boat – use the next 2 blocks for the meat of your class.
Ground Stretches 10 minutes – Take it to the ground for the last 15 minute block. Keep an eye here though because it’s only 10 minutes. Saving time for Savasana. These 10 minutes can be stretches, core work, whatever your regulating relaxing slow ending is for your class.
Savasana 5 minutes – start with some relaxing breath and then offer silence. I’m a 5 minute Savasana giver, however some flow classes only get 3 minutes. I don’t think Savasana should ever be shorter!