The Benefits of Private Yoga

Yoga could be a great option for you as it can help with anxiety, depression, sleep, chronic pain, flexibility… the list goes on. But joining a yoga class can be intimidating, especially if you are new to yoga.  You may not have thought about doing a private yoga class (just you and your instructor), or you may have thought about it and decided that it’s not worth the money.  I would like to take a minute to discuss how amazing one-on-one yoga can be.

Private space to discuss your health history:
In a group class, it can be difficult to catch your instructor alone to discuss any injuries, surgeries or illnesses you may have. Even if you can tell the instructor before class, he or she may not be able to take class time to help you with specific modifications. In a private session, you can discuss this and he or she can help you modify poses or offer alternatives until you can do them on your own.  Yoga can be good for anybody -and any body-, but it can be a much more rewarding practice when your instructor understands your specific needs.

Get exactly what you want and nothing you don’t:
Just like a fitness coach, when you pay for private instruction you get the undivided attention of a trained professional who will get to know your body and your needs and create a routine specifically for you. That might mean working specifically on deep stretching poses for increased hip flexibility, or the right pose adjustments for your knees, or a focus on breath work to help with anxiety.  Those needs may even change session to session, and your instructor will communicate with you on what you need that day.

Feel confident in group classes:
Not only can it feel overwhelming to go to a big yoga class, it can be risky if you are a novice. A big class will likely have students of all experience levels, and it can be hard to always keep an eye on the instructor for guidance on poses. Following others in the class could lead you to doing a pose incorrectly. This could leave you open to injury.  Having a few private lessons will help you learn the proper way to get in and out of every pose safely. It will also be a more enjoyable class if you are less focused on form, and more focused on being present and enjoying your yoga practice.