Exercise is a great way to keep your body healthy and stay fit. However, many people struggle to find ways to make exercise fun and enjoyable. Here are my tips for making yoga sessions more fun:
Make sure your clients feel safe.
Safety is the most important thing when it comes to exercise, so ensure your clients know they're in a safe environment with you as their instructor. This can be accomplished through verbal reassurance and physical guidance at all times during class. If someone seems nervous or hesitant about an exercise, give them support and encouragement to get through it--and always remind yourself that safety comes first!
Start small, and build up over time.
The best way to make exercise fun is to not try too much at once. It's easy for your clients to get overwhelmed with a big goal and feel like they have no choice but to quit when they don't achieve it right away. Instead of setting large goals like "I want to run a marathon," set smaller ones like "I'm going to walk 3 miles every day this week" or "I'll do 30 minutes of yoga each morning." Then, once those goals become routine, add some more! For example: if you've been walking 3 miles every day for two weeks straight without missing any days or feeling tired/sore afterward, try adding another mile or two on top of that (or increasing intensity).
Schedule exercise in advance.
The best way to ensure that you'll stick with a routine is by making it part of your schedule and setting aside time for it on the calendar. That way, you can't argue with yourself about whether or not you have enough time for exercise because the answer will always be yes! Try scheduling a few sessions per week; even if one of these sessions gets canceled due to an unexpected commitment or illness (which happens), there will still be two other sessions remaining.
Take it outside!
The great outdoors is a wonderful setting for exercise, and it can be especially helpful to those who don't feel comfortable exercising indoors. If your client is new to exercise or has not exercised in years, the fresh air will energize them and make the experience more enjoyable. Outdoor activities include walking, hiking, and gardening--all of which are easier on the joints than jogging or running on hard surfaces such as pavement. For example: "We'll meet at this park near my house every Tuesday at 8:30 am."
Have fun with it!
If you're a yoga instructor, it's important to remember that your clients are there because they want to be. They're not doing this because they feel they have no choice or because someone is forcing them into it. Some people may indeed feel like their doctor has told them that exercise is good for them, so they should do it, but for most people who come into your class, this isn't the case!
Have fun with it! Exercise should never feel like a chore; instead, try to make exercising enjoyable by doing things that interest you and trying new activities--or even just taking time during each session (or day) where you enjoy being outside and taking in the fresh air around you.
Avoid the "exercise bubble."
One of the most important things to remember is that you want to avoid the "exercise bubble." This is a concept I came up with to explain why people sometimes feel so isolated when they start exercising regularly. The exercise bubble can happen when you're doing something you enjoy, and no one else around you does it, or if everyone else around you does it but not as much as you do--in both cases, it can make people feel like they're alone in their interests or passions.
What is the best way to avoid this? Make an effort to be open about your workouts with others! Talk about them on social media; post pictures of yourself working out; invite friends over for yoga classes at home (or even encourage them by saying "I'd love some company" when inviting someone).
Keep a positive mindset and stay positive about the experience overall.
● Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you're struggling with an asana, ask your teacher if they can help you find a way through it or recommend another pose that might be easier for you.
● Don't be afraid to take breaks if needed--and celebrate them! Taking breaks is an important part of yoga practice because it allows us time for self-care, relaxation, and rejuvenation between more intense periods of physical activity (which can sometimes lead us to overstretch ourselves). It also gives our minds time away from thinking about work or other stressful situations so that we can return refreshed and ready for more when our break ends.
● Celebrate successes, big or small! This could mean celebrating your achievements by giving yourself credit when things go well, celebrating other people's achievements by congratulating them on their progress, or even celebrating little victories like holding an asana longer than last week (or even just getting out of bed!).
Let people choose what they want to do, not what you think they should be doing (especially if they have special needs).
As a yoga teacher, encourage your clients to participate in certain activities. However, if they've never done those activities before and aren't interested in them, then don't force them on them. Instead of pushing the issue, let people choose what they want to do--even if it means doing nothing!
In addition to letting people choose their own activities, make sure that any physical activity you suggest is safe and suitable for them (if they have special needs). If someone has a disability that prevents them from doing certain movements or poses safely and easily (e.g., poor balance), be sure not only that these movements are modified appropriately but also that the environment itself is safe enough so there's no risk of falling while performing said modification(s). And finally: Don't assume that just because someone has an obvious disability (e.g., paralysis) means they can't do anything physically active at all; sometimes, just getting up off the couch can be challenging enough!
Make sure to reward yourself.
● Reward yourself with something that is not food related.
● Celebrate each milestone along the way.
● Make sure the reward is something you want and will enjoy because if it's not something that makes you happy or proud of yourself, your motivation may start slipping away!
Conclusion
Yoga is a great way to get in shape, but it can also be a lot of fun! It's important that your clients feel safe and comfortable during their sessions with you, so make sure they know exactly what they're getting into before jumping right into an intense workout. Start small and build up over time as needed until they reach their fitness goals--and remember to celebrate each milestone along the way!
