1. Transit Smoothly
To teach Vinyasa yoga, you must have a firm grasp of the main concept of this discipline, which emphasizes the easy "flow" of one yoga movement into the next. Proper breathing and body alignment are also fundamental parts of this form of yoga. Every exercise transits to the next on an inhalation or exhalation.
2. Stretch to Teach
Know as many Vinyasa poses and sequences as you can. While its not imperative to learn every pose, you'll be better equipped to help students with their individual needs if you master most of the poses yourself. Many Vinyasa exercises work and strengthen the spine and arms, like the cat-cow stretch. This exercise relieves back pain, and can benefit many students. Get on all fours and slowly stretch your back in a round position, hold for 3 seconds while practicing deep, measured breathing.
3. Order, Please
Learn how to sequence better for your own personal well-being and that of your students. Although there are six sequences in Vinyasa, a teacher can order them creatively. Teach your students sequences like the sun salutation, a combination of three basic Vinyasa poses. The plank, an exercise that strengthens the arms, segues into another arm balance pose, the chaturanga, which positions the body lower to the ground, and finally to the Urdhva Mukha, a backbend to strengthen the arms and stomach. Sequencing gives Vinyasa its gentle, dance-like structure.
4. Tailor Made Yoga
Since Vinyasa yoga focuses on alignment of the joints, spine, etc., you'll need to know a lot about anatomy and how the postures affect different body types. A stocky person may find one exercise difficult, while a lanky person may have trouble with another. So, take this into consideration when teaching a vinyasa class. A naturally nervous student may have trouble calming down and getting into the controlled breathing aspect of Vinyasa flow while some students may take longer than others to conquer deep stretches.
5. One Thing Leads to Another
The Vinyasa "flow" methods of yoga include Anusara yoga, which uses props and back-bending exercises, Ashtanga yoga, which employs the Vinyasa flow style, and another flow style practice, Kundalini, which consists of fast, athletic movements that focus on a particular area of the body. These variations on the flow method of yoga are more athletic than original Vinyasa, so you may want to integrate one of these yoga forms into your classes as you progress as a teacher.
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