Yoga Instructors: 20 Questions For Guiding Your 1:1’s
As a yoga instructor, it's common to feel apprehensive about one-on-one sessions. Many of us, myself included, emerged from our 200-hour teacher trainings with more questions than answers, particularly when it comes to personal instruction. This isn't surprising—these trainings rarely delve into the nuances of guiding a private session. Over my 15-year journey with yoga, one truth has become abundantly clear: the more I learn, the more I realize there's so much I don't know.
The intimate setting of private yoga can be daunting. You're the go-to for any and every question your client might have, from anatomy to philosophy to handling trauma. And what do you do when you're stumped?
It's crucial to remember: you won't have all the answers. Yoga's depth is likely what drew you to it in the first place. Its vastness is endless, and that's the beauty of it. We are seekers by nature, always on the path to the next discovery, never reaching the final revelation.
So take a deep breath with me, and enjoy a big sigh of relief. I’m here to remind you - we’re simply here to GUIDE. Your client will always be the true expert when it comes to their own body, practice, and experience. Period.
So what is the difference between showing up as an expert & guide?
Private yoga is all about dialog and discovery. Guides offers intentional & thoughtful questions that lead our client to their own answers and observations.
As the guide, if you can show up with curiosity, empathy, and the genuine desire to help, you will be create a uniquely valuable experience for your client.
As guides, we offer a framework to help clients gauge their progress, working together to define what improvement looks like and how it's measured.
Guides lead from a few steps ahead, not from the top of the summit. It’s the between being with them on the path, and preaching from above.
Below are 20 questions I lean on to navigate through the self-discovery process with my clients, from the initial intake to ongoing sessions and deep dives into their practice:
My Intake/Initial Session:
What has your yoga journey looked like so far?
Have you had a mindfulness or yoga practice before?
What are your current or past favorite movement or fitness routines?
Describe your typical day's activity.
What's your profession? (This helps gauge their daily movement and stress levels.)
Any past injuries, surgeries, or physical limitations I should know about?
The following questions I like to ask to help both the client & I measure progress from their initial session. It’s important to revisit these questions later down the road. For example, if I have a client booked for a 10-pack, I will more formally re-visit these questions about 4-5 sessions in and I am always referencing to check progress each session.
What is most important to you/where would you like to see overall improvement: mobility, flexibility, general comfort, strength, or stress management?
How would you currently rate the flexibility/strength/balance/stress levels, scale of 1-5?
Where do you generally experience tension or discomfort in the body?
Does one side of the body tend to feel more flexible than the other?
Each session, the needs may shift. Here are questions I use to check in before each ongoing sessions:
How has your week been?
How are you feeling today?
Anything notable since our last session?
Any areas of the body that feel tense or tight?
What focus would best serve you in your session today?
Questions I’ll ask to guide them to discovery in their practice or even in a particular pose. I’ll also use scales to help me measure progress for strength, flexibility, etc. in particular areas they are focused on improving.
How would you rate the flexibility/strength/stability, etc. in your (ex. right knee/shoulder/hip) , scale of 1-5?
How would you rate the intensity (in a pose), scale of 1-5?
What would it feel like to go deeper in the (pose/body part/breath) here?
How does the body responding to (this pose) today?
Where in this pose can you release unnecessary tension or resistance?
This toolkit of questions can boost your confidence in taking on more private clients and fostering their journey of self-discovery. I'm eager to hear how you support your clients or if you have any strategies or questions of your own. For those looking for further guidance or tips in personal yoga instruction, I'm here to help. Just reach out!
Remember, these questions are tools to better understand and serve our clients, encouraging them to observe and uncover insights within their practice. Always maintain clear communication about the boundaries of our expertise, especially when it comes to medical or therapeutic advice. Establishing a network of professionals for referrals is crucial for instances outside our scope as yoga instructors.