How to Theme Your Yoga Classes Like a Pro
I have a confession to make. When I first started teaching Yoga I felt a lot of pressure to have a life-altering theme for every class. Have you been there?
The truth is theming is an amazing tool to use as a Yoga instructor. But… you don’t have to do it.
One of my favorite things a mentor said to me before I started teaching was, “Yoga is magic all by itself.” If you just cued the poses, the breath, and some stillness and meditation, your students would 100% leave feeling better than they did before class.
If you are a newer teacher, theming doesn’t need to be your first priority. Know that it can come after you’ve gotten comfortable with everything else. But if you want to grow as an instructor, you should be adding themes to your class.
Let’s talk about why:
- Themes, stories, and lessons take Yoga off the mat for your students
- When you share more, you connect more deeply to your community
- Staying inspired with personal growth keeps you growing as a person and a teacher
- Sharing real-life, applicable lessons demystifies spiritual practices for your students
- Doing this also keeps your newer students engaged and focused during meditations and Savasana
If you’re ready to dip your toes into the theming waters, come along with me as I share my full-proof method to Theme Like a Dream. This method will seamlessly connect the mental and physical for your students to keep them fully engaged throughout class.
Until I find a better name, we will call it the 7 M Method. Let’s dive right in:
The 7 M Method of Theming
The 7 M Method is a list of different physical and spiritual elements you can weave together to create a beautifully themed class. You can pick one or two of these elements to focus on each week. Using this keeps me inspired as I continue to create newly themed classes week in and week out.
1. Motif
Here, you’ll choose your theme for the class. This theme could be inspired by an overarching feeling, a poem, an idea, a spiritual practice, the list goes on and on…
2. Movement
Movement includes postures as well as breath. This is your sequence for the class as well as any specific breath work or breath cueing you’d like to add in.
3. Meditation
Meditation is how you guide your students through their own thought process. It can also include any other meditation practices you have learned and want to share.
4. Mantra
For our purposes, mantra has two meanings:
The words you use during class to weave in the theme as you cue the postures
And specific mantras you give to your students to repeat as they meditate or use off the mat
5. Mudra
Mudras are hand gestures that enhance your student’s energetic practice.
Note: If this is an area you haven’t been able to dive into yet, google ‘mudras for ____’ or get yourself a solid Mudra book like Mudras: Yoga in Your Hands by Gertrud Hirschi.
6. Music
The music you choose to use (or not to use) throughout class.
Note: Again, if this isn’t your forte, go to Spotify and search things like ‘root chakra music’ or ‘grounding yoga music.’ This is a great way to get ideas and inspiration.
7. Mood
Setting the tone in the room by using lighting, different voice tones, props, essential oils, again the list goes on.
This is a big list but don’t be overwhelmed. Let’s look at this in action 👇
So say you want to lead a grounding class for your students. This is how you’d apply the 7 M’s to a class with the intention of grounding:
- Motif: Grounding
- Movement: Poses that feel grounding like child’s pose, sturdy standing poses like your warrior 1 + 2, poses on your belly
- Meditation: Do a body scan during Savasana to really allow your students to drop in
- Mantras: During class, use words like ‘root,’ ‘grounding,’ ‘ground down,’ ‘heavy,’ ‘settle,’ ‘rest,’ ‘supported.’ An example of doing this is getting your students to come to mountain pose and saying, ‘root down into your feet.’ Or cueing ‘get heavy,’ ‘feel supported,’ and ‘allow yourself to rest here’ in Savasana
- Mudra: Gyana Mudra
- Music: Songs with lower, deeper tones, drum beats, and not too many lyrics
- Mood: Keep your voice slow and low. The lighting could be a little darker to encourage a sense of groundedness. Use earthy essential oils that are grounding like sandalwood
Now, I don’t recommend focusing on all 7 of these aspects at once. Remember that you can mix and match with these. Pick 2–4 things to focus on each class and use them so that your students can connect to your idea physically AND mentally.
This has become such a wonderful way for me to get inspired for my classes each week. If you use this method in your planning, you’ll be theming like a pro in no time.
Now that you have this framework, let’s talk about some of my tips to take your theming to the next level.
- Stay Inspired: Constantly connect to resources to get insight. I like personal growth books, podcasts, shows, movies, and learning from teachers/mentors.
Tips for inspiration: Keep a journal or note in your phone with quotes and ideas that inspire you. Whenever your inspiration wanes, revisit this list to keep your spark alive. - Keep it Personal: Make sure you always bring your theme back to the students.
Tips for Personalization: After sharing a quote, idea, or story ask your students, “How does this relate to you right now?” Remember open ended questions are a nice way to keep things personal without adding too much of your opinion. - Weave it in Throughout Class: Commit confidently to your theme by offering it at regular intervals throughout the class time.
Tips for Masterful Weaving: I like to mention themes at the beginning of class as the students get centered, at the middle of class during a break in movement, and at the end for a guided meditation. - Share from Your Scars: Not your open wounds.
Tips for Sharing: It’s better to share a lesson after you’ve learned it, not while you are in the thick of it. You want to make sure your themes don’t elicit too much of an emotional response so you can remain calm as you present it. - Be Willing to Let it Go: Be able to read the energy in the room and let your theme go if it won’t relate at that specific time.
Tips for Letting Go of Your Theme: This is one that comes with practice but always be ready to toss your theme out the window depending on the mood, skill level, and energy of the class. If you’re dead set on your theme, try saying something like, “If what I am saying resonates with you, great. If not, don’t worry about it.” Make sure your students are in the drivers seat and don’t feel pressure to take their mind somewhere they don’t want to go.
That’s all folks! Good luck stepping into the theming world and using this framework. I would love to hear your feedback in the comments.
Need Some Ideas to Theme Your Classes?
Check out this article for 50 Theme Ideas for Your Yoga Classes.
Wanting More?
Are you more teaching strategies to grow your community? Want to know more about how to move your Yoga teaching from side-hustle to full-time?
Della Wheeler is a Yoga teacher and business coach helping teachers and studios grow their communities with confidence, authenticity, and abundance. Connect with Della on Facebook here.
