Yoga Lesson Plans

About this series: Each yoga lesson plan provides both a physical focus, to guide your choice of postures, and a practice focus, to help students explore an important principle of yoga practice. The intention of the yoga lesson plan series is to present guidelines for creating a coherent and thoughtful class experience, with suggestions broad enough to allow you to choose poses that are appropriate for your students.

Yoga Lesson Plans:

Yoga Lesson Plan 1: Hip-Opening and Patience
Begin with a pose that will serve as a check-in. You will return to this yoga pose later when you invite students to notice changes in the pose after a patient practice of hip-opening. The pose should be gentle enough to be practiced without much preparation.
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Yoga Lesson Plan 2: Twisting from the Core and Intention
The physical focus of this yoga lesson plan is twisting from the core, and the broader focus of intention mirrors this physical action. To follow through with our intentions, we draw on our inner strength to support our heart’s purpose and direct our actions.
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Yoga Lesson Plan 3: Shoulders and Liberation
It is sometimes said that the ultimate goal of yoga exercise is liberation. This yoga lesson plan takes the essence of that abstract and potentially intimidating idea, and sets students’ sights on an attainable freedom: liberating the shoulder blades.
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Yoga Lesson Plan 4: Finding Focus
In yoga practice, the gaze (“drishti”) serves two purposes: (1) it expresses the energy and action of a yoga pose, and (2) it focuses the mind. Each purpose is also a teaching tool. You can use the theme of the gaze to help students explore the physical actions of different yoga poses, and you can use the theme to teach mental concentration.
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Yoga Lesson Plan 5: Core Strength
The physical focus of this yoga lesson plan is a balanced approach to core strength, and the broader focus is finding a deep inner strength that supports everything we do.
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Yoga Lesson Plan 6: Body Appreciation
This yoga lesson plan will help you guide your students to celebrate their individual bodies. It's a great practice to try out yourself whenever you need a mood boost.
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