Imagine you have just walked into a room full of 30 teen boys.
You are about to teach them their first class of yoga …EVER!
One of them is imitating Kung Fu Panda – you know the move, another is chanting Ommmmm …to much amusement, another is pulling a friend around on a yoga mat, and as you walk to the front of the class, you overhear a boy utter the words, “Yoga is for girls!”
This was my class last week.
It is also most teen classes, (with a variety of scoffing, jokes, noises, grunts and behaviour reserved for the new teacher.)
It is not what you see in an adults class, though. And why so many adult’s teachers (and lots of my adult yoga teacher friends) have such a shock when they teach their first kids or teens class.
And being to handle the behaviour of kids and teens will make all the difference between a smooth flowing, impactful class ..
…or a challenging experience.
Which, is why it is critical to be trained to manage classes well.
So that you as a teacher feel confident to deliver a good class.
And for the class, to receive your amazing lesson and the gifts of yoga in the way you planned it out.
In my mentoring roll as a teacher trainer, I’ve spent many classes sitting at the back, watching teen girls talk non stop throughout the class, listened to the jokes and whispers.
I’ve watched half a class give up half way through when it got tough. (Some chose to lie down and chat.)
..Seen little kids wander off to do something else :)
…I even watched a teen girl, put her ear phones in during relaxation and tune out the teacher, preferring her own rap music…
You see, children and teens do not behave like adults.
It takes new skills to have a class engaged, participating and quiet.
The good news, is that these skills can be learned.
And they are so important that we make sure every teacher who comes through the Zenergy Kids Yoga Training Programme are equipped to handle any situation, with any age group and any class size.
You get the Zenergy Yoga Classroom management Template for what to do from the moment you walk in the room, how to set the mats up (yes, it does matter.) All the way through to the steps to lead the class into relaxation.
It’s what has Zenergy Graduates teach smooth, successful classes from their first class.
It’s what has parents and teachers say, “Wow! How did you have the class so quiet?”
And it’s what has even a group of teen boys quiet within 2 mins.
But more than this….
I guarantee that at the end of a class, as you look around the room at all those faces – serene, quiet, relaxed (and often asleep!) you’ll know every second of that training was worth it.
Especially, when a teen boy utters, “I look forward to this every week.”
It’s the best moment and fulfilling feeling.
Loraine x
PS If you want to learn more about becoming a kids yoga teacher, click here: Kids Yoga Foundation Course.
PPS Want to become a 95 hour Certified Children’s Yoga Teacher? Then click here: Ultimate Kids Yoga Teacher Package.
