UPDATE: Yoga Berry's First Month

Hello everyone!

So now that I have been running my Yoga Berry classes for just over a month, I decided it was time to share an update with you all. So I'll talk you through everything I've done, right from the beginning.

The first stage was visiting friends and teaching them yoga, just to get in a bit more practice before I started to teach classes to clients. Pictured below is the first class I taught to friends. It was so different teaching students in real life compared to on my course. I enjoyed the experience so much, and it motivated me to really put my all into Yoga Berry and making it a success.

Next, I set up my yoga studio. This room used to have sofas in which no one ever used, so we moved those out. The piano is still in the room, but there is plenty of space for my group classes of 3-7 students. I filled the room with pillows, lamps, candles, fairy lights, and statues, in order to create a tranquil, pleasant atmosphere. I've had lots of compliments about the studio, so I guess it worked!

And so the classes begun!

At first I began teaching private clients. I had originally designed a timetable for group classes, but all the requests I was getting were for private sessions. After a while, I realised that for the first couple of weeks, whilst I continued to do marketing, I would teach upon request, and begin group classes which people could drop in and out of when I had enough interest.

Pictured above is my first privately organised group class. This is a group which now come every Tuesday morning. I've taught them every week for the past 4 weeks now and it's so great to see them progressing!

I decided to start teaching some of my classes outside as we've had some really hot sunny days these past few weeks, so teaching outside has been amazing. Our garden is the perfect atmosphere for the classes with all the birds tweeting around you, butterflies flying around and all of the trees and flowers.

I continued teaching private group classes to another group too. I've been teaching them for 4 weeks now and even though they were all beginners to yoga, they can now do some of the more advanced postures like tripod headstand and crow:

Throughout this time I was learning so much about what and how to teach. I experimented a lot with the postures and sequences I taught. I always ensured that I kept it interesting. Varying between strength and flexibility work, and throwing in some partner stretches as well.

As well as these group classes, I acquired a few private clients (usually teaching 1 or 2 students at a time), but unfortunately I don't have any pictures of me teaching them. I really enjoy teaching my private sessions as I can personalise the class to the students needs and really focus on them even more so than I can in a group setting.

Once I was really happy with how these privately organised classes were going, I decided to add in some group classes to my schedule. These are:

Thursday evening 7-8.30pm and Saturday morning 10-11.30am

I have run three of these so far and so far they have been a success. I have acquired some more regular clients and have really enjoyed the experience of introducing more people to yoga. It was also great to get some men along to the classes as there is a horrible misconception in the Western world that yoga is just for women. In fact, yoga was invented by men for men! Of course, it should be for both genders, as there are so many benefits to be gained from a regular yoga practice for ANYONE, no matter their gender (or age).

Overall, teaching so far has been amazing experience. I still get that post-teaching high and enjoy it as much as when I first started. I'm still learning, and have so much to learn, but I'm really enjoying the journey so far :)

Namaste x