Yoga Teacher Confidential: Secrets of Becoming a Great Yoga Teacher
Yoga Teacher Confidential is your backstage pass to the unspoken truths of being a yoga teacher. Sage Rountree, PhD, E-RYT500, dives into the real challenges and rewards of teaching yoga, offering expert advice and secrets to help you build confidence, connect with your students, and teach with authenticity. Sage draws on her two decades of experience teaching yoga, running a studio, and training teachers to share practical insights you can use right away. You'll also hear advice from her books, including Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses, The Art of Yoga Sequencing, and The Professional Yoga Teacher's Handbook. Whether you’re navigating imposter syndrome, mastering classroom presence, or refining your skills to teach specialized niches like athletes, this podcast empowers you to lead your classes with clarity, grace, and ease.
Yoga Teacher Confidential: Secrets of Becoming a Great Yoga Teacher
35. How to Prepare for a Private Yoga Lesson (Even If You’re Nervous)
If you feel overwhelmed or intimidated by the idea of teaching a private yoga lesson, you’re not alone. In this episode, I walk you through the exact steps to prepare for a private session that’s safe, professional, and deeply personalized—whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth.
We cover how to create an effective intake process, use the 6-4-2 sequencing framework to build a tailored plan, and how to add meaningful value before and after the session. I also share strategies for choosing the right teaching environment, managing your nerves, and delivering a student-centered experience from start to finish.
This is your complete roadmap to feeling confident, capable, and prepared to serve your private clients with clarity and intention.
Links mentioned in this episode:
– Google Forms: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/
– Download templates for intake, lesson planning, and follow-up emails, learn the 6-4-2 sequencing framework, and join our free teacher community at comfortzoneyoga.com.
Want to become (almost) everyone's favorite yoga teacher? Get in the Zone at Comfort Zone Yoga, my virtual studio focused on teacher development. I have a ton of Sage advice in there for you—let's chat there!
For more insights, subscribe to Yoga Teacher Confidential, check out my YouTube channel, and follow me on socials:
And come explore my mentorship program, continuing education workshops and 300/500-hour teacher training programs. It's all at sagerountree.com.
Can I tell you something? I find teaching private lessons terrifying, and that's after a decade teaching twice weekly private lessons to very high profile clients. If you are intimidated by private yoga lessons, you're in good company. Many yoga teachers avoid offering private lessons, not because they wouldn't be great at it, but because they don't feel confident in their preparation. Maybe you're worried about pricing, unsure about how to structure a lesson or afraid you won't deliver what your student needs. But with thoughtful preparation and the right tools, you can create a transformative experience for your private students and finally feel confident in your one-on-one teaching. I'm Sage Rountree, and this is Yoga Teacher Confidential: Secrets of Becoming a Great Yoga Teacher. Today we are diving into how to prepare for your first or next private yoga lesson. We'll cover creating an effective intake form, designing a personalized lesson plan, adding value beyond the session itself, setting up your teaching space and managing your own nerves. Let's start with the foundation, the intake process. Before your student arrives for their first session, you need to gather information that will help you tailor the experience to their specific needs, goals, and history. Your intake form is more than just paperwork. It's your roadmap for creating a personalized experience. Think of it as the difference between a generic restaurant menu and a chef preparing a meal specifically for your tastes and your dietary needs. Here's what a comprehensive intake form should include. I. First, collect the basics, name, contact information, emergency contact, and whether they've practiced yoga before. But don't stop there. Now, you may be tempted to ask about injuries, but I advise against that unless you have a background in physical therapy or nursing or related field. Therapeutic care is outside your scope of practice as a yoga teacher. And once you've received information about injuries, you're legally liable for working with that information in a session. It's a lot to carry. Instead, ask your student about their goals. Why are they seeking private instruction? Are they looking to supplement their group classes or troubleshoot a pose or prepare for an athletic event or reduce stress? Understanding their why helps you design a practice that addresses what matters most to them. Also ask about their experience level. Have they taken group classes before? And what styles do they have a home practice? This helps you calibrate your language and know how much explanation different techniques will require. I find that often students seek a private lesson or a series of them as a runway before they go to group classes, and so that they can show up at their group classes with confidence that they know what to do. Don't forget to ask about time constraints and schedule preferences. How long can your private lesson student practice between sessions? What time of day works best for them? This information helps you design realistic homework. That homework adds big value to your student and roots. Their practice firmly, meaning they receive yoga's benefits sooner than later. Finally include a section for additional information they want to share. Often students will mention things here that they didn't feel fit elsewhere, but are crucial to understanding their needs. You can deliver your intake form via email before your first session, or use an online form builder like Google Forms or Tally. So I've linked to some options in the show notes. The key is getting this information before you meet so you have time to thoughtfully design the private yoga lesson. Now let's talk about how to translate that intake information into a personalized lesson plan. The 6 4 2 sequencing framework, I explain in my book The Art of Yoga Sequencing and that we've discussed in previous episodes works beautifully for private lessons. Remember that six moves of the spine, four lines of the legs, and two core actions. This framework ensures a balanced practice while giving you flexibility to customize. Once you have reviewed your student's intake form, identify the primary areas to focus on based on their goals and physical considerations. For example, if they're an office worker with neck and shoulder tension, who wants to reduce stress? You might emphasize gentle back bends, shoulder openers, and longer held restorative poses. If they're a runner wanting to improve performance, you might focus on hip mobility, hamstring lengthening, and stability work. Draft a lesson plan with these focal points in mind and remember to keep it flexible. Private lessons often take unexpected turns as you observe your student in real time and discover areas that need attention. You couldn't anticipate from the form alone. I recommend planning more content than you think you'll need, maybe about 25% more. This gives you options if certain poses don't work for your student or if y'all move through material more quickly and than expected. Your lesson plan should include a centering practice to begin a warmup sequence targeting the areas you'll work on more intensively your main sequence addressing their primary goals. A personalized exploration of at least one featured skill or practice or takeaway that your student can repeat on their own as homework, some kind of cooling sequence, and a final relaxation for each segment. Note modifications and props you might need. Consider having alternative poses ready if your original choices don't work for them. Unlike group classes, private lessons give you the luxury of truly personalizing the pace. Plan to spend more time on verbal explanation, demonstration, and feedback. Your student is paying for your undivided attention. Make sure they receive it. One of the most valuable ways to enhance a private lesson is to provide resources that extend the experience beyond your time. Together, this added value makes private lessons worth the premium price and helps your student progress faster. Consider creating a take home practice for your student based on what you cover in your session. This could be a simple written sequence with key alignment cues noted, or if you're tech savvy, a short video recording of the sequence, you're recommending that they practice. You could even record a portion of your session together, especially if you're working on a particular skill or sequence they want to practice at home. Most students really appreciate having a visual reference for their home practice. Create a resource list tailored to your students' interests and goals. This could include book recommendations, online classes that compliment your work together, or even other wellness practitioners in your network who could support their journey. Prepare a follow-up email template beforehand, and then you can quickly personalize it after your session with specific observations and suggestions. This small touch demonstrates your commitment to their progress, and it saves you time later. Let's talk about logistics. Where will you meet your student? This decision affects both the practical elements of your teaching and the overall experience. If you teach at a yoga studio, ask about their policies for private lessons. Many studios offer reduced rental rates for teachers to use their space for private clients, or they may take a percentage of your fee. Teaching at a studio gives you access to props and a space designed for yoga, which can be ideal, especially when you're starting out. Some teachers prefer to travel to their students' homes. This eliminates the space rental issue and can be more convenient for your clients. However, be sure to factor travel time and transportation costs into your fee. Also, ask in advance about the space and available props so you can bring anything necessary and never go anywhere you don't feel a hundred percent safe. Outdoor settings can be lovely for private lessons. Weather permitting, parks, beaches, or even a quiet backyard can provide a beautiful backdrop for practice. Just be mindful of privacy, ground conditions, and potential distractions. If you're teaching your private lesson online, test your setup thoroughly before your first session. Ensure your lighting camera, angle, and sound quality. Allow your student to see and hear you clearly. Consider how you'll observe their practice and provide feedback in a virtual environment regardless of location. Arrive early to set up the space, arrange your props, adjust the lighting and temperature if you can, and create an environment conducive to focused practice. Your preparedness sets the tone for a professional experience. Now let's address what might be your biggest concern, managing your own nerves. Remember, nerves mean you care, and that's a good thing. First, recognize that your student is coming to you because they believe in your ability to help them. They're choosing a private lesson precisely because they want your personalized guidance. Trust that your training and experience have prepared you for this opportunity. Prepare thoroughly, but release attachment to your plan. The best private teachers are responsive to what emerges in the moment. Your willingness to adapt is more valuable than perfectly executing a predetermined sequence. Remember that you don't need to know everything. If your student asks a question you can't answer, it's completely professional to say. That's a great question. I'm going to research that more thoroughly and get back to you. Then make notes and follow up as promised. Practice deep listening. Private lessons are conversations, not performances. Your ability to truly hear your students' needs, both spoken and unspoken is your greatest asset. I. Finally focus on service rather than performance. When we shift our attention to how we can best serve our student, our self-consciousness naturally diminishes. You're not there to impress them. With your perfect execution of advanced poses, you're there to meet them where they are and guide them toward their goals. To summarize, prepare thoughtfully with a comprehensive intake form. Design a personalized lesson plan using the 6 4 2 framework. Create value added resources. Carefully consider your teaching location and manage your nerves by focusing on service. Here's an affirmation to help you remember. I am prepared to guide one person toward their goals. I am prepared to guide one person toward their goals. In our next episode, we'll explore what happens during the private lesson itself, how to create connection, how to offer effective feedback, and how to navigate the common challenges that can arise in one-on-one teaching. If you have stories about teaching private lessons or questions that you'd like addressed about them, please share them at comfortzoneyoga.com in our free community for teachers called The Zone, there's a link for you in the show notes. And when you arrive in the Zone, you'll also find templates to help you. As you teach private lessons, you'll find a intake form, you'll find a lesson planning form, and you'll find a template for that follow up email. Thank you for listening to Yoga Teacher Confidential. I'm Sage Rountree, and I'll see you next time.
