How to Teach a Yogilates Class
Yogilates is one of the latest trends in fitness and exercise classes. It combines the calm relaxation, meditation and restorative aspects of yoga with the toning, conditioning and strengthening principles of Pilates to provide a total body workout from the inside out. Teaching Yogilates requires extensive training in both yoga and Pilates.
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Things You'll Need
- studio space
- yoga training
- Pilates training
- body in good shape
- relaxing but upbeat music
Instructions
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Train extensively in both yoga and Pilates. Take classes in a variety of styles and from several different teachers. Take note of the teachers you enjoyed most and why. What was it about their class that was more beneficial or more entertaining than the others? Also try to memorize sequences of poses and Pilates work that you enjoy and think work well.
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Contact local gyms and fitness clubs to see if they would be interested in offering a Yogilates class. Offer to teach a class for free to show off your style and what the class has to offer its students. Hopefully you'll receive good feedback and be offered a job to teach there.
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Start off the first class by introducing yourself and telling your students a little bit about the class. Turn on some relaxing music and begin crossed legged on the floor. Lead your students through a meditative breathing exercise to relax their minds and bodies. Then go into some simple floor stretching exercises such as toe touches, hip lifts and side bends.
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Continue into the sun salutation sequence to warm up the bodies and further the stretching process. Then lie on the ground and go into ab work. Do the Pilates hundred exercises followed by curls and abdominal lifts. Then move straight into Pilates leg lifts and side or trunk lifts with holds to tone and tighten the sides and abs more.
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Finish up with floor work and move into standing poses. Hold each designated pose as you normally would in yoga but after the regular interval of time make your students do squats or plies and/or lifts in each pose to work their muscles and strengthen their core. This integrates the two disciplines in a way that is familiar and challenging. End the class with some more deep breathing and meditation exercises on the floor to cool down the body and relax the mind.
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Tips & Warnings
Have fun with the workouts and encourage your students to have fun
Teach the vocabulary of yoga and Pilates as you go through the class
Don't move too quickly the first few classes; assess your students first
