Rock Your Yoga Classes : Session 3 Cueing Template 2- Effective Cueing for Yoga Teachers

Introduction

In this section, the speaker introduces herself and the topic of effective queuing for yoga teachers. She explains her motivation for creating this series and what she hopes to achieve.

Key Points

• Kara Bradley introduces herself and the topic of effective queuing for yoga teachers.

• The goal is to help yoga teachers improve their cueing skills so that they can create a better experience for their students.

• The speaker believes that if all yoga teachers step up their game, it will make the world a better place.

Review of Sessions 1 and 2

In this section, the speaker provides a brief review of sessions 1 and 2. She discusses common mistakes made by yoga teachers and effective strategies to use when cueing.

Key Points

• It's important to know common mistakes made by yoga teachers, such as using too many words or giving complicated instructions.

• Effective strategies include announcing the pose first, using active verbs, speaking directly to body parts, leading with breath, and waiting before talking.

• Passive cues should be avoided because they don't describe movements effectively.

• Teachers should identify their repeat words or phrases in order to avoid them in future classes.

Classist: Say Less, Inspire More

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the importance of saying less as a way to inspire more in students. She also discusses how cueing like a master can help keep classes full.

Key Points

• Saying less gives students more space to have their own experience during class.

• Cueing like a master involves being an effective communicator who inspires students while also providing clear instructions.

• By mastering cueing skills, teachers can keep classes full and support more people in gaining benefits from their practice.

Cueing Template Part 2

In this section, the speaker discusses the cueing template and how it can be used to create a basic framework for moving bodies.

Key Points

• The cueing template is a basic framework for moving bodies that can be used by yoga teachers.

• It helps brand-new teachers understand how to cue effectively.

• The speaker uses the Virg yoga teacher training program as an example of how the cueing template is used.

Common Mistakes Made by Yoga Teachers

In this section, the speaker discusses common mistakes made by yoga teachers when cueing.

Key Points

• Common mistakes include using too many words, giving complicated instructions, using passive cues, and not giving enough space for integration.

• Teachers should repeat these common mistakes to themselves in order to identify them during class and improve their teaching skills.

Effective Strategies for Cueing

In this section, the speaker discusses effective strategies for cueing that can help improve students' experiences during class.

Key Points

• Effective strategies include announcing the pose first, using active verbs, speaking directly to body parts, leading with breath, and waiting before talking.

• These strategies help students relax more and have a better experience during class.

• Teachers should use these strategies consistently in order to become better communicators and inspire their students.

Support Cues in Yoga

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of cues in yoga and how they can support students during their practice. The focus is on support cues, which are used during the pose itself to enrich the student's experience.

Types of Support Cues

• There are five types of support cues: silence, easy mental support, breath, physical support, and personal experience.

• Silence is important because it allows students to feel their bodies and experience the pose without distraction from constant talking.

• Breath is another simple but effective cue that can help remind students to breathe deeply and relax into the pose.

Importance of Transitional Cues

• Transitional cues are important for moving students from one pose to another. Teachers should be mindful not to spend too much time on transitions at the expense of time spent in poses themselves.

• Over-cueing between poses can complicate classes unnecessarily. Announcing a pose cuts through a lot of unnecessary talk.

Exit Cues

• Exit cues are important for completing a pose and giving students encouragement to go deeper or challenge themselves more fully.

• Without an exit cue, students may feel like they're just hanging at the end of a pose.

Conclusion

Support cues play an essential role in helping yoga practitioners deepen their practice. By using different types of support cues such as silence, breath, physical support etc., teachers can help guide their students towards a more fulfilling yoga experience.

Cueing Breath and Mental Support

In this section, the speaker discusses different ways to cue breath and mental support during yoga practice.

Cueing Breath

• The speaker's favorite way of cueing breath is by singing inhale exhale.

• Other ways to cue breath include breathe in breathe out, full breath in full breath out, or take a deep breath in.

• Students don't need to be cued to breathe throughout the entire pose. One or two cues are enough.

Mental Support

• Mental support involves mindfulness training and reminding students to pay attention to certain things.

• Some mental support cues include focused on your breath, stay with the rhythm of your breath, set your gaze, come back to this moment, get curious about what's happening right now or notice sensation.

Physical Support and Personal Experience

In this section, the speaker discusses physical support and personal experience during yoga practice.

Physical Support

• Physical support involves alignment cues that tell students about the benefits of poses.

• Variations and modifications are also forms of physical support.

• Teachers should avoid using too many cues during poses as it can overwhelm beginners.

Personal Experience

• Personal experience should be used sparingly during class.

• It is important not to make the class about the teacher but to guide students and contain them.

Yoga Pose Cueing

In this section, the instructor provides guidance on how to cue yoga poses effectively.

Cueing for Yoga Poses

• Start by positioning yourself for the pose, with your eyes closed or open.

• Take two deep breaths before starting the pose and focus on your breath.

• Provide support cues such as "pull your navel to your spine" and "bring your forehead to your knee."

• Transition smoothly between poses by reaching your arms forward and pressing your palms together.

Assignments for Module Three

• Record a class and listen to your support cues. Identify areas of strength and improvement.

• Write out a sequence of five poses, including support cues and transitional cues. This will help you improve communication skills.

Additional Resources

• Contact the instructor for personalized feedback on cueing techniques.

• Check out the instructor's book, Wake Up, Show Up, and Shine, available on Amazon Barnes & Noble Audible.

• Download the instructor's free mobile app from iTunes or Google Play for video practices and mindfulness activities.

• Listen to the instructor's podcast for short discussions on topics related to feeling alive in this lifetime.

• Visit the instructor's website for more information about her center Verge Body Mind Calm.