What is normal in a yoga class?
Is it the typical playlist? A 60-minute flow? A well-used quote on a seasonal theme? Or maybe it’s the style of the class itself – Vinyasa on a Monday night at 7pm, with students who all look and move a certain way. But what happens when we dare to go beyond that?
In this workshop, we’re exploring the idea of normal in the yoga world – and how stepping outside of those boundaries, gently and intentionally, can transform our teaching, deepen our connection to the practice, and breathe life back into our creativity.
What Is “Normal” in a Yoga Class?
So many of us unconsciously follow a script that was never really ours.
“Normal” often looks like:
- A familiar sequence of poses
- A predictable class length and time slot
- A style label that restricts us
- Go-to quotes and recycled seasonal themes
- A demographic that fits what we’ve always seen in studios
But what happens when that sameness starts to feel… uninspired? Or when our creative spirit feels boxed in by the very rules we’ve followed?
The Power of Exploring What’s Beyond
Over the last few years, I’ve been gently stepping out of the “normal” I once clung to as a teacher. I used to fear that my desire to go deep – to unearth layers of meaning, nuance, and tradition – was too much. Too serious. Too intense.
So I watered it down.
But the more I leaned into my own essence as a teacher, the more my business flourished. The more depth I allowed, the more connection I found -with students, with the teachings, and with myself.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your “too muchness” is actually your superpower – you’re not alone.
Familiar ≠ Safe
Here’s the thing: our nervous systems seek the familiar. Familiar feels safe. That’s why stepping outside of normal can feel edgy or scary – both for you and your students.
But we can build tolerance for the unfamiliar, gently.
For example, in a class inspired by Uranus in Gemini, I brought in small egg-shaped shakers. At first, they were unfamiliar – students felt unsure. But we began by simply holding them in stillness. Then breathwork. Then movement. Slowly, the unfamiliar became familiar. The nervous system relaxed. And suddenly we were in a brand-new experience, safely.
That’s how change happens – in small, integrated steps.
Breaking the Mould with Integrity
So what does it actually look like to step outside the boundaries of normal?
- Teaching a class that doesn’t fit neatly into a style label
- Skipping savasana in favour of sitting in stillness
- Offering a unique workshop on a theme no one else in your community is exploring
- Dropping recycled quotes and sharing something that’s truly resonant for you
- Making your classes more accessible – not just physically, but culturally, emotionally, spiritually
- Sharing your quirks, your depth, your truth – even when it feels like “too much”
Your “too muchness” might just be your zone of genius.
Creativity, Confidence, and Authenticity
When we try to fit ourselves into a mould of what a yoga teacher should be, we can lose:
- Creative spark
- Authenticity in our offerings
- Confidence in our voice
Instead, imagine creating a class or course that only you could teach. Not because it’s flashy or different for the sake of it – but because it’s rooted in the very essence of you. Your unique path. Your lived experience. Your personal practice.
Your Invitation: A Gentle Rebellion
So here’s your invitation:
✨ Reflect on what “normal” means to you as a yoga teacher.
✨ Question the rules you’ve been following – are they even yours?
✨ Ask yourself: What would I love to teach if I didn’t need it to be accepted?
✨ Consider the tiniest ways you could start to share what lies beyond normal – today.
That might look like offering a slightly different alignment cue, choosing an unexpected quote, teaching a new breath pattern, or simply being more yourself in class.
RELATED: The Seeds of Creativity – Teaching Yoga Is a Creative Expression
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Conclusion
If there’s one thing I want you to take from this – it’s that what you think is “too much” about you might just be your magic.
The spiritual path of yoga needs diversity of voice, approach, and expression. We are not meant to all sound the same, teach the same, or create the same.
So, let’s step – one gentle, nervous-system-honouring step at a time – beyond the boundaries of normal.
Let’s reclaim our authenticity, our creativity, and our confidence as teachers.
Let’s stop hiding the parts of us that shine the brightest.
You’re not too much. You’re not not enough.
You’re exactly the kind of teacher this world is waiting for.
