The Benefits of Teaching Using a Yoga Class Script PDF
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If you’re a new yoga teacher, a yoga script can give you the confidence you need while you are building your skills.
In this blog post, we’re going to cover what exactly a yoga class script pdf is and why it’s helpful to use one if you’re a recent graduate of a yoga teacher training.
Let me tell you a little story about my early days of teaching…
Over a decade ago, I was fresh outta teacher training. I had put in my 200 hours, learned a ton, and made incredible connections in my yoga community. I was given the opportunity to teach a community class and I was soooo excited… but also so nervous that every week felt like a struggle.
I knew deep down I’d figure it out eventually, but I often wondered, when is this going to feel easier?
I’d run to the bathroom before every class: nervous, excited, overwhelmed, trying to calm down my breath so I could speak. Delivering cues felt like an uphill battle. I was worried about logistics— what if I forget how to sign people in? What if the music is too loud? Should I play all my songs or let it be silent for a while? Can people in the back of the room hear me loud enough or do I need to wear the mic?
Yikes.
Not to mention, I would sometimes mix up the sequence of poses or get lost in remembering if I was supposed to cue an inhale or an exhale. Wait, which one is it? I thought, frantic, palms sweating.
I fumbled through.
And then… about a month into teaching the class, I started doing something on my off days to practice. As I was driving in my car, I would recite the cues for a sun salutation out loud. I’d be waiting at a stoplight, coaching myself through it:
“Inhale, reach up.”
“Exhale, fold forward.”
Saying them out loud in a rhythmic, repetitive way was helping me!
So much so that I got home and started writing the cues down, too. I would list them out in my notebook and read them over and over again.
Pretty soon, I had a full script for my class!
It wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t complicated— but it worked.
I kept working on that class, teaching it again and again, until I knew it like the back of my hand. I kept practicing it, teaching it, refining it… until eventually, I didn’t feel so nervous. I knew where I was going. I knew what I was going to say. I was starting to build my confidence!
Once I had that class under my belt, I felt ready to play around with the sequencing more, to mix it up, to get more creative with my cues. And to sprinkle in more emotional messaging and tell more stories while I taught.
But I couldn’t get to those deeper layers— the moments of teaching life lessons in class— until I had truly mastered the basics of teaching a flow class.
I needed to have the cues memorized before I could elaborate on anything else.
This is how the yoga script was born.
The yoga teaching scripts you’ll find here on Alive in the Fire were created out of my nervousness, my self-doubt, my questioning whether I was cut out to be a yoga teacher.
They came partially, I’ll admit, from my own impatience, my desire to move faster toward my goal, my true longing to make a difference in my community.
The yoga scripts were partially a way to overcome my fear of public speaking and my tendency to hide instead of be at the center of attention, and they were also a handy, convenient way for me to prepare for class.
The yoga scripts were born out of my natural intuition to build a tool for myself to help with memorization of cues. It was like my secret guidebook, a basic building block for my own confidence.
Here’s why I’m so passionate about sharing these yoga scripts for teachers.
They offer a way to gain unwavering confidence.
You can equip yourself with an all-inclusive guide that leads you seamlessly through each yoga session. Instead of trying to puzzle piece together all the tidbits of information you learned in teacher training, you’ll get a definitive plan for how to teach the class— exactly what to say, what order to go in, and how to start and end class confidently. Instead of fumbling for weeks and months like I did, you'll step into your teaching role with a rock-solid foundation.
They give you a class planning tool that will give you more time to enjoy life and less time worrying about teaching.
Save precious time by accessing a pre-structured class plan. This means you can focus on refining your teaching skills and connecting with your students rather than worrying about sequence design.
They’ll help you ‘find your voice’ — that ever elusive thing we’re supposed to do after teacher training, but that most of us struggle with for years before we can actually master the basics.
Master the art of clear communication. The yoga script e-books provide precise verb and cue suggestions, ensuring that your instructions are concise and easily understood by students, leading to a smoother and more enriching class experience.
Reduce pre-class jitters and experience stress-free teaching— in less time.
With a meticulously planned class at your fingertips, you'll walk into your sessions with poise and calmness. No more last-minute panics – instead, you’ll be able to breathe, relax and enjoy teaching.
You’ll also be able to ignite student engagement and interest and keep them coming back to your classes.
To feel comfortable and truly experience the power of yoga, students need to be able to follow what you’re saying and where you’re going in a class. If they’re constantly confused, they’re less likely to return to your class.
Guide your students through logical transitions from one pose to the next and help them remain fully engaged and inspired, enhancing their overall learning experience. Eliminate awkward pauses or uncertain moments during your classes. Studying a yoga script allows you to lead your students through a truly immersive and cohesive practice.
Fast-track teaching mastery by leveraging a proven blueprint. Get the basics down, then start to get more creative.
As you implement the insights from a yoga teaching script, you'll witness your teaching skills reaching new heights, accelerating your journey to becoming an exceptional yoga teacher.
Discover your signature style without going in circles for years.
While a yoga script provides a solid foundation, it also encourages you to infuse your personal touch. This means you'll develop a distinctive teaching identity, setting you apart and attracting a dedicated following of students who resonate with your approach. You’ll walk into any teaching interview or audition ready to answer the questions, “Why do you teach?” and “What’s unique about your classes?” rather than wondering.
You might be wondering… wait, so is using a yoga script actually ‘cheating’ or a form of short-cutting my growth process as a teacher?
I’m sure you can find different opinions out there but my belief is that a yoga script is a helpful tool for any teacher who struggles with public speaking or is so nervous before teaching that they aren’t delivering an effective class. Without the script, you may actually run the risk of teaching in a way that isn’t going to serve your students.
Is the yoga script meant as an ‘end-all-be-all’ and the only way you should teach a class? No.
Is the yoga script meant to make you a robot who has memorized exactly what to say and left all creativity out of the equation? Again, no.
This is meant to be a temporary tool to get you from your early nervous days of teaching to being more confident and true to yourself. It’s simply a tool to guide you into more clarity.
So, where can I get a yoga script?
Glad you asked :) I have a whole page on the Alive in the Fire site for them:
Discover how a yoga script can improve your teaching
If you have questions, feel free to reach out in the comments below or send me an email.
Calling all new yoga teachers! Are you ready to teach a badass power yoga class?! This script can help you improve your cues, build your confidence, and discover the sequencing and pacing that will define your unique style as a teacher. A great tool for transitioning from your yoga teacher training into any environment where you are leading classes, whether that’s a studio, gym, corporate setting, or private classes.
If you are struggling to remember what to say when you teach, or you’re having trouble guiding students from pose to pose, this script can help. The Power Yoga Script breaks down exactly what verbs and cue details to use as you teach. Are there fears or insecurities holding you back? Are you comparing yourself to other yoga teachers instead of letting your voice be heard? Explore the big questions behind how and why you teach using this helpful guide.
The sequencing follows the Baptiste methodology including the following sections: Integration, Awakening, Vitality, Equanimity, Grounding, Igniting, Stability, Opening, Release, Rejuvenation and Deep Rest.
This 48-page script includes:
Introductions
Warm ups
Sun salutations
Warrior poses
Balancing poses
Triangle series
Backbending
Abs and core work
Hips
Forward bending
Inversions
Cool down and shavasana
There’s also space for you to plan out a class and write out all the cues you’ll use to guide students safely through the poses, plus a list of questions to help you discover where you’re feeling stuck.
Precise cues, smart sequencing, and ideas for how to start and end the class in an engaging and authentic way. Walk into class feeling empowered and prepared to deliver a kick-ass yoga experience to your students.
Take your teaching from basic to badass with this power yoga script.
Here’s what yoga teachers are saying about the POWER YOGA SCRIPT:
“This definitely helped me improve my flow with teaching asana after my teacher training.” -Donita, Vinyasa yoga teacher
”I love how you laid this script out. I felt confused and scattered as I was working on my classes and this helped me save time in the process. Thank you!” -Keyla, yin yoga teacher
“I’ll be honest: when I got done with my 200-hour training, I felt totally lost. I mean, my trainers went over all the poses but as soon as I’d get in front of the room, the words just weren’t there. I felt so stuck. This book helped me build my confidence and doing some memorization so I wasn’t always so terrified to teach.” -Beth, power vinyasa teacher
