Yoga teachers can use these tips to really ramp up their classroom success!

Regardless of your particular brand of yoga, there are certain characteristics of a successful yoga teacher that will ensure maximum benefit for you and your yoga students.

Take the time to really let your students become familiar with your class and the format. Let them introduce themselves and describe their level of expertise and reason for being there. Introduce yourself. Help them get familiar with what make you a great yoga teacher. Make sure the students know have a good idea of how things will work in each class and what they will gain by being there.

Make a point to go over the specific yoga asanas (poses or postures) and how breathing will be incorporated. By letting yoga students know ahead of time how and why these activities will benefit them, you facilitate their motivation and concentration.

Yoga teachers must be concise when communicating. Keep the message uncluttered and focused. While a relaxed and friendly atmosphere during class is best, keep in mind that students need clear instruction to get the most from the experience. Keep each student engaged by making eye contact periodically during the entire session. This also keeps you sharp and on your best game as well.

This is a biggie! Please don’t start teaching until you have truly mastered the material. Yoga teachers who aren’t fully qualified do a great disservice to their students. Best case scenario: you won’t be providing full value or guidance to your students. Worst case scenario: you may actually endanger them. Instead, be sure to have a full understanding of all asanas, breathing exercises and the reasoning behind them. Understand the risks of each and be aware of alternative poses for beginner students who are still building strength or flexibility.

As a yoga teacher, it will your job to challenge students fully, while not pushing them beyond safe limits. Show each pose in a methodical fashion, making sure to illustrate each step. Give your students a verbal description, but also physically show them how it’s done. Not only that, but be sure to show them the mirror image so students can mimic your movements effectively. So, if you want your class to bend to the right, make sure to verbally tell them, but you need to bend to the left as you face them so they can present in the same orientation.

Yoga teachers can best help their students by repeating the asanas more than once. Often, students get lost in just watching the first time through on a new pose, then the second time through they may still be hesitant if the movements are particularly challenging or unfamiliar. By giving students a few opportunities to learn, you help them build confidence in the movements and they’ll naturally feel more comfortable.

Also, make a point of moving throughout the class occasionally. You’ll be amazed at how much more effective your feedback can be when you have a view from every perspective. This also keeps your students more conscious of every part of their body. They will naturally focus on your journey around the floor and this will help them become more fully involved and aware.

While it may seem silly to say it, be sure to remind your yoga students to breathe. Since the act of breathing is so key to unifying mind, body and spirit during workouts, yoga teachers must be mindful of students’ tendency to hold their breath at times. This especially happens during more physically challenging asanas or when concentrating on mastering new poses. Be clear about when to breathe in and when to breathe out. Explain the benefits of cleansing breathing and how it all ties together for full enlightenment.

Finally, make sure to use positive feedback often and repeatedly. Help students understand when they’re making progress. Give them praise for correct effort and improvement. Keep the overall atmosphere as relaxed and comfortable as possible so each student will be most open to learning and pushing themselves to greater unification of mind, body and inner energy.

Good yoga teachers are an essential part of a powerful, positive yoga journey.