September 2019
There is no end of group yoga classes to choose from – from Ashtanga to Bikram to Restorative for all levels. If you can’t find a class that suits you, even more choices exist on-line. With all these options, why, might you ask, would someone want a private yoga class? After all, it’s also more economical to attend a group class! For sure, group classes have many benefits. If you want to be somewhat anonymous, you’re seeking community or you just want to come and go without any commitment, group classes are great.
On the other hand, if you want to address your individual needs, accelerate your learning, and have one-on-one time with a teacher who is interested in and can help you work towards your personal goals, private classes are recommended. I was not convinced of the benefits of private classes until I started teaching myself and was able to compare what I can do in a group versus what I can do with one of those students in a private session.
I’d like to use an example from my practice teaching yoga for pelvic wellness. A woman “Tina” (not her actual name) came to see me with a diagnosis of Interstitial Cystitis (painful bladder syndrome). This condition is like having a chronic urinary tract infection (UTI). (Anyone who’s had a UTI is thinking, “That sounds awful!” and it is!) The symptoms can affect every area of a person’s life, and can result in depression and social isolation. In our first session, I found out what Tina’s goals were and took her through a range of yoga poses and breathing exercises that I had selected for her condition. She listened to her body and gave me feedback about how she was feeling. My biggest reward in that session was Tina’s smile when she discovered that she could move into yoga positions without having pain! I gave her some suggestions for ways to practice to reduce pain, lifestyle modifications I had learned about in my Yoga for Pelvic Health training and resources for self-help. After our class, I emailed her an outline and description of the yoga class, which included her goals, specifics of the poses and breathwork and links to information specific to her needs. (Since then, I have added the option to take photos of the student doing the poses to accompany the written description). As you can see, a private class is customized to the person. One class can go a long way to setting up a personal home practice, and additional classes can expand on the range of options for practice, deepening the experience, working more on specific goals and setting new goals.
I invite you to contact me for a no charge, no obligation, 15-minute consultation to discuss your needs and how yoga might help. If you decide to book a private class, daytime, evening and weekends are available. Please visit my website for services and fees information.
