Teaching Hatha Yoga: The Summer Slow Down

Let's face it, Yoga teachers who live in Northern"pilot class" for the busy season?
climates have been looking forward to a break fromOnce again, I ask you to enlarge your vision and "think
the "winter chill." Your Yoga students have also beenoutside the box." Do enough ground work and
looking forward to the warm weather and they wantresearch to become an innovator, rather than "follow
to take a vacation. What can Yoga teachers andthe crowd." Even if your Yoga classes do slow down
Yoga studios do to compensate for the "Sumer Slowa bit, you can cater to your "regular students," who are
Down?"with you "through thick and thin." Ask your Yoga
You have taught your Yoga students aboutstudents for feedback.
empowerment all year, but some students may notOne last major point to bring up: Make sure you are
return to your regular classes, without a reminder.working on "reminders" to your Yoga students who
Many North Americans take a couple of weeks off inregularly attend classes during cooler weather. It is
July and some summer vacations will be planned forbest to use this time to get a list of all of your Yoga
August. Most of my friends in Europe take August off,students and prepare for a mailing in late August, or
therefore, Yoga teachers are looking at a minimum ofearly September.
one month during the summer that is predominantlyThis is the time when children go back to school, and
slow, depending on your exact location and culture.family plans are made for the fall schedule. If you
Some Yoga teachers in the Southern United Statesteach Yoga for a living, your first priority is to thank
will experience a slow down, if the temperatures riseyour students for their past participation and remind
too much and too soon. Yoga classes can becomethem that you still teach Yoga.
sparse, especially if the temperatures jump to the 90'sIt is very easy for anyone to forget their priorities, and
Fahrenheit during late spring or early summer. So, whatYoga students are no exception. Yoga teachers
action can Yoga teachers take to deal with thiscontribute to the well being of their student's mental,
vacation season?physical, and spiritual health. When you see inactive
How about special classes? Did you ever think aboutYoga students around town, they often thank you for
teaching Yoga classes in a pool? What about testingwhat they have learned from you.
Yoga classes that you had not considered during aTherefore, do not take a summer slow down
busy season? What about an "Introduction to Hotpersonally. This is a season that you should make the
Yoga" or a Vinyasa style Yoga class that is a littlemost of by taking action and testing new ideas for
warmer than usual? What about testing a short-termyour Yoga classes.
Pranayama class or Yoga meditation workshop as a