Generally, people think of yoga as a group activity: you go to yoga classes, or go on a yoga retreat and there’s other people around us and we’re all following the teacher’s instructions that are quite generalised, even within a specifically titled class such as “beginners” or “improvers” (which is an idea for a future blog post).
We all know that yoga is a great way to improve your physical and mental health; helping to reduce stress, improve flexibility, and build strength. Yoga classes are wonderful for many reasons, and we should definitely find teachers & classes that work for us. But if you’re looking to get the most out of your yoga practice, one-to-one lessons are definitely something to consider.
Here are just a few of the benefits of one-to-one yoga lessons:
- Personalised attention: in a group class, your teacher may not be able to give you the individual attention you need to understand or modify āsana for your specific needs. With one-to-one lessons, you get the undivided attention & support of your teacher, who can help you to get the most out of your practice
- Flexibility: one-to-one lessons can be scheduled at your convenience so you can fit them into your busy day. You can choose the time of day and location that works best for you
- Focused instruction: your teacher can focus on your specific goals and needs, and help you to tailor your practice to your individual level of experience and fitness. You may regularly enjoy a strong practice, but if life is overwhelming you one week, your teacher should be able to provide a more appropriate practice for you, whether that’s simply slowing down or switching things up with a yin, restorative, or nidrā practice.
- Safety: your teacher can help you to understand & explore the alignment for each āsana in your body, and more relevant modifications for each āsana
- Motivation: having a personal instructor can help you to stay motivated and accountable to your practice.
If you’re serious about getting the most out of your yoga practice, one-to-one lessons are the way to go. They offer a personalised, flexible, and focused approach that can help you to achieve your goals.
Here are some additional things to consider when choosing a yoga teacher for one-to-one lessons:
- Experience: make sure the teacher has the correct qualifications and is insured to teach yoga
- Style: choose a teacher whose style of yoga is a good fit for you
- Personality: make sure you feel comfortable with the teacher and that you can relate to them.
Once you’ve found a qualified and experienced yoga teacher, who teaches the style(s) of yoga you’re interested in you’re ready to start your one-to-one yoga journey. Be sure to set some goals for yourself and work with your teacher to create a practice that is right for you.
I hope this blog post has helped you to understand the benefits of one-to-one yoga lessons. If you’re interested in learning more about one-to-one yoga lessons, you can contact me or find a local studio or teacher.