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We do not permit managers, employees, teachers, independent contractors, students, or others in the workplace to harass any other person because of age, gender (including pregnancy), race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, genetic information, or any other basis proscribed by law.

Consider all the emotions you have ever felt. They are designed to shift the chemical components of the way your body responds to something in order to get your attention. Your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, temperature, ability to focus, and more, are all linked to your state of being and how your emotions are making their journey through your body.

Emotions affect our state of being. In fact, we are biologically hardwired to "feel" emotions before we can even think rationally and question where they came from and if they're serving us or not.

We have all had our emotions run our behavior and lose our ability to think logically and rationally in the ocean of reactivity. Because feelings are a necessary part of our human experience, the only antidote to feeling them is actually doing just that. The more familiar we are with the variety of what's inside us, the more supportive we can be as a leader.

Remember as you stay curious about your feelings and give yourself permission to explore the deeper core meaning of them, you give yourself options for your healing and equip yourself with powerful tools to do so in a healthy way.

Effective leaders share a commitment to personal responsibility. The idea of taking accountability for your actions, choices, thoughts, beliefs, words, and feelings is what allows us to move to the next step in our evolution every. single. time. When someone takes responsibility for their part in front of the collective, it sets an example of leadership for each individual to also take responsibility for their parts, while uplifting the organization or relationship as a whole.

This concept is rooted in humility and a willingness to see where we have contributed to or deterred from our own successes and failures. Like holding space, it requires for us to step out of our ego and take ownership of every part of ourselves.

Personal Responsibility can often feel confronting as it puts us face to face with our shadow. Although difficult, this can be a path to building confidence in who we are.

The most honorable thing we can do as leaders is owning our mistakes, saying we're sorry, or admitting we are wrong and that we don't know everything.

This practice allows us to understand ourselves deeply, step into our growth, and be even more authentic in our power and leadership.

Originating in India between 3,000 and 5,000 years ago, Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. Translated as the “science of life,” it views health as a dynamic balance between mind, body, and spirit—maintained through diet, herbal remedies, yoga, and intentional lifestyle practices.

This “knowledge of life” encompasses the full scope of human experience—health and disease, happiness and sorrow, pain and pleasure—addressing both its physical and metaphysical dimensions.

At its core, Ayurveda works across the mental, emotional, and physical layers of a person as a whole, cultivating healing, harmony, and balance both in the world around us and within our own bodies. Central to this approach are three fundamental energies called doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—whose unique balance defines each person’s constitution.

Because Ayurveda recognizes that every individual is different, it tailors its approach to suit the distinct makeup of each person rather than applying a one-size-fits-all solution. This stands in contrast to Western medicine, which tends to focus on acute conditions and treat symptoms as they arise. While that approach is effective for urgent health issues, it can sometimes overlook how each person responds uniquely to life’s stresses and conditions.

Yoga is no walk in the park. Nor is life. The ability to consistently carve out time for yourself to practice facing challenges in a safe environment is precious in forming a more resilient attitude and way of being through the ebbs and flows of life. Sometimes you’re in a challenging pose and it asks you to engage more, to show up more, to give more. Sometimes you’re in a more restorative pose and your mind instead challenges you to even stay present. Your ability to show up to all of these parts can help make you a better human, if you let it.

Anyone who has a developed and committed practice is often surprised at how many different areas of our lives our practice affects. These resulting effects are personal to each individual but no less impactful. It’s a perfect laboratory to observe deeper and see what comes up for you.

Spending time on our mats gives us patience, discipline, confidence, strength, and much more. It’s as if stepping on our mat provides us with a magnifying glass that allows us to see a clear picture of our soul and spirit, and with this information we can infuse our lives with more passion and meaning.

The word “chakra” in Sanskrit translates to “wheel” or “disk.” The chakras are a system in which concepts and ideas related to how we experience life intersect with our physical bodies. They are considered energetic spinning wheels that live in different locations of our being and correlate with our interaction in the world around us.

The chakra system originated in India between 1500–500 BC in the oldest text called the Vedas. There are seven total, the first being located from the base of our tailbone (sacrum), moving up our spine to the last being at the crown of our head.

Because each of these chakras relates to a different section of how we experience the world, they act as a guidance system to let us know how to rebalance ourselves through observing our emotions, thoughts, behaviors, actions, and words.

The seven chakras form a map of consciousness—from our most primal survival instincts at the root to our highest connection to the divine at the crown.

Each chakra governs specific physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our experience. When energy flows freely through all seven centers, we experience wholeness and alignment.

The central channel (Sushumna) runs along the spine, connecting all seven energy centers. This is the pathway through which kundalini energy rises during awakening.

Your Energy

Creating a sense of safety begins with your very first interaction with students. Approach them with warmth and intention, expressing who you are through your body language, presence, and openness. Use students’ names when engaging with them, and make gentle eye contact to establish a connection.

As a teacher, you are constantly setting the tone for the experience through the way you interact with your students physically, energetically, emotionally, and mentally. Even though unspoken, it’s important to pay attention to your own physiology, especially if you aren’t familiar being in front of people.

Your body language determines a lot about your internal experience, and the way you carry yourself will also direct the energy of your ability to command a room. You are also learning a new skill: teaching directionally. When facing your students from a side view, you’ll need to cue rights and lefts correctly to avoid confusion.

Distractions

Avoid distractions, such as your phone or side conversations, and remain fully present in the moment. If you’re dealing with something in your personal life, be aware of how it might affect your ability to hold space, and don’t hesitate to be honest with yourself about it.

Room Management

During your class, you own the room and the experience. It’s your obligation and responsibility to ensure the space is being directed, contained, and organized—whether it’s managing student etiquette, setting expectations, ensuring everyone can hear you, or properly giving modifications to keep everyone safe.

Adaptability

You won’t always know what you’re walking into as an instructor. Adaptability is one of your greatest tools—read the space, adjust in real time, and be willing to modify your sequence, playlist, or even throw the plan out altogether and simply hold space. Be ready for anything.

Creating community while instructing is an easy way to help people feel connected. Use names as you coach your students and encourage them to interact with each other whether it’s introducing themselves to someone they don’t know or commenting in the chat on Zoom. You can also do this by asking your students questions, reaching out to them directly to check in, and making eye contact as much as you can. Teach them that there are resources among their peers and that connection and relationship within community is one of their biggest teachers.

Give your students recognition when you see them pushing themselves or achieving personal goals. Make sure your students feel seen at their level, individually, not at the benchmark of the rest of the class. Put effort to also see when a modification is helping them get further in their body and encourage them to find safety in their choices.

The variables of an environment can tremendously affect the way a space is managed and contained. Understanding the environment you are utilizing is an important factor to consider in advance. Today, holding space as a healer can take place in many different settings—whether indoors in a private studio, outside for a more “event-style” practice, online through Zoom, in a classroom, or even in someone’s living room.

It’s crucial to ask as many questions as possible from the start and get a clear sense of the space, especially when working with new clients or studios. The conditions of your environment should support your goals as a teacher. For example, it’s generally easier to project your voice and control the energy of the space in an indoor setting, as opposed to outdoors.

Key elements that affect the environment include lighting, sound, temperature, cleanliness, available props, and the number of students. Being mindful of these factors will help you create an atmosphere that enhances your ability to lead and supports your students’ experience.

You also have a new skill you are learning: teaching directionally. When facing your students (from a side view), you’ll need to cue rights and lefts correctly to avoid confusion. Oftentimes, you can use direction cues such as “face front” or geographical landmarks to help you offer more clear, concise class management.

Your understanding of where anatomy, subtle energy, theming, and yogic philosophy meet is key to creating safe and intelligent sequences. When we look at progressions and regressions of postures (or modifications/variations), it gives us insight as to how to best prepare our bodies for the trajectory of where we are going.

Consider your goal when teaching practice and what foundational blocks you’ll need to get there based on the level and experience of your students.

Using modifications in your sequence to create a more accessible plan for everyone in the room allows students to find more agency in how they treat their body and meeting themselves where they are at.

Sequencing is a powerful tool you can use to adjust duration, tempo, and intensity of practice based on the time allotted and the students you are serving. It’s a tool to develop time management and ensure you are crafting a well-rounded experience every time.

Everything in life has a cadence or a flow. Slow, fast, steady, irregular. Everything in between. We live in a cyclical world. There is a perfect tempo and pace for every experience we have and it’s important for you as a leader and instructor to set pace. Whether it’s physical movement and postures, breathwork, or coaching, you hold the pacemaker for the tempo you’d like to guide people.

The pace of your class should reflect the intention behind it. A restorative or yin-style class naturally calls for slower, more deliberate pacing—longer holds, softer cues, and generous pauses. A power or vinyasa flow demands quicker transitions, sharper cues, and a rhythm that keeps students moving with their breath. Matching your tempo to the style of class you’re teaching creates coherence and trust.

Allow yourself to be hyperaware if the pace you’re setting for how you command the space is resonating with the students in the room. Read the energy—if students look rushed or confused, slow down. If they seem disengaged or restless, consider picking up the tempo or adding more dynamic transitions.

Your voice is one of your most powerful pacing tools. The speed, tone, and rhythm of your verbal cues directly influence how students experience each posture and transition. Practice varying your cadence—use a slower, grounding tone for holds and stillness, and a more energized rhythm for flows and movement. Silence is also a tool; strategic pauses give students space to internalize what you’ve offered.

Music is one of the most ancient medicines that exists and can offer a profound enhancement to any experience. Using frequency and vibration, it can set the tone or can take away from the experience you are creating for yourself and your students.

This sensory-based tool allows for us to connect deeper into our practice and customize the depth of the experience our students are having. It can help guide the depth of your class and be a support system to the way you hold space.

Music can also be a great tool for you to keep time in your class. Paying attention to the songs you’ve used allows you to know what section of your created sequence you are in and what postures you’ll move through to stay on time.

Be intentional about volume—music should support the experience, not overpower your voice or compete with your cues. Consider building playlists that arc with the energy of your class: softer and slower during grounding and opening, building through the peak of your sequence, and tapering for cool-down and savasana. Always preview your playlist to ensure lyrics and energy are appropriate for the space you’re holding.

Choosing an intention for your class is one way to guide the journey and create more powerful, deep, and specific experiences. It gives a path to more fullness and exploration on one particular subject or idea. This supports taking your students further into themselves and allowing a process of application to their real life—emphasizing in on a topic that unlocks more healing and understanding in a direction or concentrated area.

An intention can be woven throughout the class—introduced during opening, reinforced through cues and transitions, and revisited during savasana or closing. Themes might draw from yogic philosophy, personal growth, seasonal shifts, or the human experience. The more specific and authentic your theme, the more it will resonate. Allow your own life experience and practice to inform the themes you choose—students connect with what feels genuine.

This is probably the most important one. Your students have quite a bit to think about in general when practicing, so when instructing, it can be the most simple of offerings that will make the biggest difference. It’s not your job to teach the student everything you know about yoga, but rather to hold space for them to find their journey and practice on their own.

Resist the urge to over-cue or fill every moment with instruction. Give students time to feel and explore the postures on their own. A clear, concise cue will always land more effectively than a long, complex explanation. When in doubt, offer less—your presence and the quality of your guidance will speak louder than the quantity of your words. Trust the practice to do the work.

This skill is valuable in any setting but especially as you create an experience for someone else. Starting and ending class on time builds trust and respect between you and your student. Moving through your sequence with articulate time management creates an environment for you to ensure you are properly teaching safely, giving ample time to the important protocols for class.

Practice running through your sequence with a timer to build awareness of how long each section takes. Build in buffer time for transitions, modifications, and unexpected moments. Prioritize your savasana—it’s one of the most important parts of class, and it’s often the first thing that gets cut short when time runs thin. A well-managed class leaves students feeling complete, not rushed.

Your voice expression has a powerful influence. While guiding a space, your voice is the main command center from which you are directing your class. The music, environment, physical demoing—all are a supportive choir to your voice.

As we learned in the communication section, 38% of our communication comes through tone and 7% through content of words. Use your tone to create alignment with where your students are and resonance in where you are taking them.

The volume of your voice may become higher and tone sharper as you direct more intense energy into a specific part of your sequence, whereas you'll want to soften and quiet during a surrender series.

In any practice that you lead, it's imperative that you develop your ability to teach with a supported, clear, commanding voice so your students can not only hear you, but also feel the energy of all that is you.

Music is a powerful modality recognized by every culture, every age, and every demographic. Rhythm and cycle is something that exists everywhere in conscious life—whether it's the beat of our hearts, the feminine cycle, or the exhale that comes after the inhale. It's no wonder it feels incredible to move our bodies to the rhythmic beat of music.

While music isn't the main focus or element of your class, it can help build the container and environment you are trying to create as you hold space for your students.

The music you select has an exponential impact on the experience of your class. It sets the tone and vibe, creates a safe space for students to explore themselves in mind, body, and spirit. Music carries weight, memories, and emotions—it can be one of the most powerful tools you have available.

Looking deeper into music will give you great skills as a yoga instructor: confidence, timing, intentionality, and leadership. Together, we'll explore how music relates to movement and how to use it for safety, motivation, theming, healing, and timing.