Segmenting Your Class

The Challenge

It can be challenging to accomplish all of your intentions without the class “getting away from you” i.e. becoming imbalanced with too much focus in one area or not enough time left for an adequate Savasana, for example.

More specifically, to skillfully design and teach an effective sequence requires many tasks such as:

1. Working within a confined time that varies by class
2. Adhering to wise teaching guidelines and safety cautions
3. Moving the spine in all directions
4. Considering all joints
5. Neutralizing throughout class
6. Effectively weaving in a theme
7. Teaching an overall balanced or intentional class while creating an energetic arc from warm up to peak intensity and back down
8. Meeting the needs of various student types plus adapting for individual needs

Sample Framework

Introduction

• Depending upon the style and intention for class, there can be quite a lot of variance among teachers, but no matter the approach, thinking of a class in segments can help to ensure it feels balanced and effectively meets your intentions.
• Consider dividing your class into sections and applying a percentage of class time to each. This makes it easy to adapt a class to different lengths such as 45, 60, 75 or 90 minutes.

Sample

Here’s a starting place from which to create your own timing of segments:

1. Welcome, Opening, Warm Up — 15 to 20% of class
2. Heat Building, Standing Poses — 20 to 25%
3. Inversions, Arm Balances, Floor Poses — 20 to 25%
4. Cooling, Slowing Down — 15 to 20%
5. Savasana, Pranayama, Meditation, Closing — 15 to 20%

Another helpful practice for more easily noticing if a class has begun to “get behind” is this:

• Take note of your targeted end time for each segment of class and then periodically watch the clock while teaching.

Here’s a tool we developed for newer teachers. These percentages are simply from our own experience; please vary them according to your style and goals.

See Also

• Use the Class Builder to note your plans by segment.