What is a private?
A private session varies from a group class in many ways and this article will help explain how to prepare to teach one-on-one yoga sessions. A private session gives you the opportunity to personalize the class to meet a client’s individual needs. This type of learning helps to give the client confidence in their capabilities along with showing them their limits and finding ways to work with them instead of against them. Many people seek privates for a variety of reasons. Some come to privates to heal injuries or to get past difficult asanas. Some come for reasons completely separate from the physical asana practice including emotional blocks, past traumas, and seeking a lifestyle change. When it comes to the physical practice, in group sessions, depending on the size of the class, it can be difficult to give modifications to every student to fit their body, so broader modifications, like “knees down in chatturanga”, are generally given to keep the whole classroom safe. In a private, the modifications should be body specific and working towards strengthening the muscles in order to keep the joints safe and in proper alignment. When you work with someone one-on-one, you get to know them and their body and are able to better serve them in a wide range ways. Yoga is not just an exercise regimen, it is a way of life and a belief system, and knowing that this practice will help their entire life will help to guide you to teaching them in a way that best serves them.
Marketing
Private clients can be found in many places including your classes and workshops. You can also begin private sessions with friends or family members that do not feel confident or prepared to begin regular classes. Moving in a way that honors your body, regardless of how it looks, can be tough, and even intimidating. It’s very empowering to be able to find the space to allow yourself to feel what you need, and that is what we should be trying to convey to our clients. Print and hang flyers at local health food stores, colleges, massage therapy offices, or acupuncture offices. Try to team up with someone and offer discounts if they book a class with you and an appointment with them. Or offer their clients a discount. I have even taught group privates to a doctor’s office for the employees. Social media has also been a big asset. Be very safe and meet people in a public place if you have never met them before. Once you begin private sessions, you may even gain more clients through referrals. Every class you teach can be a way to expose yourself to a new client. Always teach from a place of love and you will draw people to you.
Location & Props
When considering beginning to teach privates, you will need to think about where you will have your sessions. You could work out a deal with a local studio, you will have to pay a percentage or possibly a rental fee, but then you get the access to props without having to buy your own. You can host the session at your house, or even the client’s house, but make sure to set up boundaries and rules for yourself. If you go to a clients home and are not comfortable with the surroundings, that would be a good indicator that you should find someone else to host the sessions. Always know where you are in case you have to make a speedy get away. I have never encountered this while teaching a private, but in general I have been to places that did not give me a good feeling and because I did not know where I was or drive my own vehicle, I was stuck and that created a lot of anxiety and stress. A neutral meeting place like a park, beach, or community center may be a nice alternative. While teaching in places other than a studio you will need to provide your own props. Some props to consider investing in are blocks, straps, mats, blankets, and bolsters. Some little extras that make your sessions extra special are eye pillows and essential oils. I like to give head rubs during savasana with essential oils and then place an eye pillow over their eyes. Some extra attention that they may not get in a group class will help to harness a bond that will give value to your sessions. Don’t be afraid to ask them what they want. This is their time and the ambience created can be completely personalized. Find out if they want music, incense, particular lighting, or anything else special that may need to be considered when deciding where to hold your meetings.
Paperwork & Preparing
When setting up your first meeting with a private client, you should have a few forms handy:
- Liability insurance (To ensure that you are covered in case there was an injury)
- Liability waiver
- Medical history
- Personal information (About the clients wants, needs, and anything they would like to learn or practice)
- Pricing sheet (Including and group pricing or package deals you may offer. A good rule in pricing is that your hour-long session should cost about the same as a massage in your area. Charging more for more experience and for traveling.)
Your first meeting with your client should be invested in learning about them. Learning what their goals are and making any notes about medical considerations you will need to keep in mind. Find out about their life. I like to ask if they have a spouse, or partner because their relationships can give deeper insight into what practices they may benefit from. When we are stressed or have trauma we can hold that in the body, and during yoga practice it can be released or be re-experienced. Being able to create a safe environment, so they may be able to express what might be coming up for them, can be one of the most important aspects of your sessions.
You will also need to ensure that all their medical needs are met in all aspects, whereas in-group class’s general modifications are able to be used since, in most cases, you do not know their medical background. Once you learn of a physical ailment or injury from a client, you are responsible for providing modifications. This can be difficult in a large group setting, so it is best to refer them back to their doctor if it is beyond your scope of expertise. With that being said, if a private client has injuries or any medical conditions, it is also a good practice to make sure they clear yoga with their doctor. It is also important to have them speak to their doctor about any motions or activities that are not recommended. Hone your listening skills and listen to all advice the doctor gives. Research as much as you can about any medical conditions or injuries and prepare yourself to modify. Once all precautions have been made clear, it’s time to plan your sessions.
Ground & Breath
Having your notes on medical history and personal info handy, begin by creating an outline. Beginning with breath work, pranayama, or other grounding exercises (like mindfulness meditation), can be very effective in calming any racing thoughts or anxieties before beginning your physical practice. Roughly about 5-15 minutes, depending on the length of your session, should be dedicated to your grounding and/or pranayama.
Warm It Up
The next phase of your session should be a warm up practice. Depending on the specific needs of your client you can warm up many different ways. If moving to the ground is not an option, standing half moon is good for warming the oblique’s, legs, and arms. Half-sun salutes and sun salutes using the wall for chatturanga, upward facing dog, and downward facing dog can be very beneficial in warming the arms, legs, and also building some strength in the arms. If moving to the ground is an option, you can incorporate sun salutes, or go straight to the ground for seated poses, or even poses on the hands and knees like cat/cow. Keep in mind for this portion, that the muscles are not warm yet, so you want to take it slow and easy to build heat in the muscles to encourage length and relaxation. Sun salutations, surya namaskara, are a form of dynamic stretching that helps to loosen the muscles so they become more flexible with each round. This form of stretching can also encourage the muscles to automatically go back to the length they were the last time you did that exercise. Meaning each time you practice you will see a bit of improvement. Every day is different and our body changes constantly, but in general the muscles improve with consistent practice. The warm up asanas are vast and allow for your creativity and personal style while allowing your client to move in a way that is most comfortable to them.
Communication & Adjustments
Communicate with your client about how things feel and offer appropriate modifications for any uncomfortability they may feel. Remind them that yoga is not supposed to hurt and to let you know if anything is not feeling good, no matter how “normal” they may think it is. It’s important for you to know how the asanas feel in their body so you can better serve them and their practice and help them feel the most benefit from their practice. Be generous with hands on assists, if they are okay with adjustments. A well-executed adjustment can make the world of a difference in helping to explain proper engagement and alignment. And besides, they feel wonderful! If you have never done adjustments maybe take a workshop or observe other teachers and then try it yourself. Ask a friend, or fellow yogi, to help you out and let you know if it feels okay. Remember to also ask you client if it feels okay. They may need more or less and by communicating they will be able to let you know what could improve the sensation. If your client begins to talk a lot that can be a sign of emotional uncomfortability and that is something to be investigated. Without pushing, gently bring them back to their breath and allow them to feel what is arising. Energetically supporting their journey, but possibly not making physical contact to allow them their space to process. On a side note here, while working closely with others emotions, it is very important to keep your own practice. If you do not take care of your own needs and emotions, you cannot hold the space for others to deal with theirs without getting emotionally drained or even stirred up by the experience.
Strength & Balance
The next portion of your session should be dedicated to strengthening the muscles using proper alignment. This part of your class is very fluid and may change without any notice, so stay calm and confident in your knowledge of yoga and do your best to assist in any way needed. I like to have a general “game plan”, however if your session starts and something you have planned is painful or is not working for them, be prepared to move them in an intuitive way that will still strengthen and balance them. A general idea I keep in the back of my head is that postures should be placed in a balanced way. Forward folds followed by back bends and vice versa. By planning your sequence in a two-posture way, you ensure that your client is not only working one aspect of their body, but also creating balanced muscles, which will then help to correct the skeletal system. For example, a seated forward fold, Paschimottanasana can be followed with Purvottanasana. Paschimottanasana stretches the hamstrings and the back while engaging the hip flexors and the chest, and Purvottanasana stretches the chest and hips, while engaging the hamstrings and core including the lower back. Looking at what your client would like to work on will help to find what postures they would benefit from. Working from simpler asanas up to more difficult postures to ensure the muscles are ready for the intensity, but also to help build their confidence. Again, remember to modify in any way necessary. Using blocks to help maintain spine support and to encourage proper muscle engagement.
You can also even incorporate postures to help them clear and strengthen chakras that they may have imbalances in. Being grounded, fluid, having drive, feeling love and compassion, speaking their truth, having insight, and the feeling of being connected to the whole, are some of the aspects of our lives that the chakras control. By listening, we can determine what areas of the body we can help find openings in, and what areas may have a little too much opening.
Cool Down, Introspection, & Savasana
After your most vigorous or intense portion of your session, you will need to cool the body back down to prepare for savasana. Forward folds are cooling and calming. Seated postures, or lying down postures can be a nice option. Be creative! During this time, just before savasana, I like to bring the attention inside to any thoughts or feelings that may be arising. Invite them to investigate fill in the blank. You could talk about ways they can serve themselves, others, and their community. Possibly talk about goal setting and investigating challenges and ways to overcome those challenges. Or invite them to simply set an intention for the day, week, or until your next session. A great teacher of mine, Ally Ford, who also heard this from her teacher, says, “What we think about, we bring about, and what we focus on grows.” So invite them to grow what they want!
Savasana should be a time to pamper them and allow them to reap the benefits from all of their effort and dedication. Maybe invite them to give themselves permission to enjoy this time of rest. We often don’t give ourselves permission to do nothing, and reminding them that this is the point can sometimes help them to settle. Bust out your essential oils, calming tunes, bolsters, blankets, and eye pillows to make this the best 10 minutes they could’ve asked for. If you don’t know how to, or don’t feel comfortable giving head rubs, or touching people in savasana, possibly grab a friend to try it out on and see what they think about it. Slowly and gently bring them out and invite them to thank themselves for giving themselves the time and space.
A general outline you could follow may look something like this:
- Pranayama & Grounding (5-15 minutes)
- Warm Up (10-20 minutes)
- Strength & Balance (20-30 minutes)
- Cool Down & Introspection (10-20 minutes)
- Savasana (10-15 minutes)
All clients are different, along with their needs. The more experience you gain the more comfortable you will become with teaching privates and the better you will be as well. If someone needs something beyond your scope of knowledge, be okay with sending him or her to another teacher that may suit him or her better. Be excited to embark on this new chapter in your teaching career! Be prepared to be amazed by how much you will learn so much from your students!