Introduction

Quickly assess your knowledge of Teaching Various Experience Levels, and identify gaps in your education. See below for assessments on these subjects:

1. Beginners Introduction
2. What Students Want & Need
3. Mixed Level Classes

Purpose

Offer a series of free quizzes for yoga teachers to:

1. Provide an effective way to assess knowledge of each of the Teaching Knowledge Standards.
2. Make it easy to self-assess privately, on your own time.
3. Help teachers who identify educational gaps to bolster their knowledge with accessible and practical lessons.

More Self-Assessments

For more self-assessments, see the Standards & Self-Assessment Hub.

Beginners Introduction

Teaching Standard

Be prepared to teach to the unique needs of beginning Hatha Yoga students.

Assessment

1. What might beginners find new and unusual in their first few classes? Include comments on how students may experience their body and how the brain reacts to new experiences.
2. Aside from their physical fitness, what is a reason that yoga will be more mentally and physically tiring for beginners?
3. Name six general categories of consideration when teaching students who are new to the physical practices of yoga.
4. Give six ways that can you be thoughtful and supportive.
5. Provide four examples of how to teach beginners with particular care.
6. Describe four techniques to promote safety.
7. Provide considerations related to choosing appropriate pose versions.
8. Provide considerations related to sequencing mindfully and simply for beginners.
9. Give examples of how to teach clearly.

What Students Want & Need

Teaching Standard

Be prepared to balance students’ desires to be seen and included, a teacher’s need to promote safety, and the need for students to explore without feeling excessively “corrected.”

Assessment

1. What are some universal desires and needs among students?
2. Some students may feel awkward or uncomfortable, or carry inherent shame, which is experienced as nervousness or bravado or wanting to “be left alone.” How might you respect such needs while reconciling the universal need for inclusion?
3. What are some ways that you can be particularly thoughtful and supportive with new students?
4. What are some special considerations when demonstrating for new students?
5. There’s a risk involved when a student is singled out for support. Explain the risk and how to address it.

Mixed Level Classes

Teaching Standard

Understand the challenges in effectively teaching a mixed-levels class and review suggestions for overcoming them.

Assessment

1. What three primary areas can help teachers more effectively teach to mixed level classes.
2. Describe a demonstration technique for mixed levels.
3. Provide two additional considerations, as possible.
4. Give an example of teaching verbiage that implies a hierarchy of value in pose practice, i.e., you are a better student if do this variation and a lesser student if you do this one.
5. Explain considerations related to the words, “beginner” and “advanced.”
6. Due to the nature of a mixed-levels class, you may be presented with a plethora of considerations for which students to give individual attention or adjustments. How might you respond to this challenge?

Next Steps

1. To view more self-assessments, go to the Standards & Self-Assessment Hub.
2. To bolster your knowledge and be recognized as a YTC teacher, enroll in the Yoga Teacher Central Study Program (details below).
3. Members, view clear and concise lessons:

• Beginners Introduction
• What Students Want & Need
• Mixed Level Classes

In a Nutshell

• The enrollment fee is $25 and is open to Yoga Teacher Central members, past members and non-members.
• Members receive current membership benefits plus additional benefits listed below.
• Enrollment in the Study Program qualifies you for lifetime YTC Teacher status.

Benefits

Enrolling in the Study Program gives you:

1. A downloadable Knowledge Standards Lesson Guide to walk you through a structured study path toward certification.
2. Selection of 5 downloadable lessons of your choice (from a library of nearly 500).
3. Recognition as a YTC Teacher (for life; no expiration).
4. Professional marketing kit for highlighting your YTC Teacher status on social media and your website.
5. Excellent preparation for taking certification exams.

Members

• Your current membership gives you online access to not only thousands of pages of organized study and teaching knowledge, but also sequence breakdowns and teaching notes, theme plans, injury cheat-sheets, and so on.
• When you enroll in the Study Program, you get these additional benefits: a Knowledge Standards Lesson Guide, selection of 5 downloadable lessons of your choice, and a professional marketing kit for highlighting your YTC Teacher status on social media and your website.

See here for information about exams, badges and certification. Get links for each exam, and for a no-risk trial exam.

We think you’ll enjoy taking the exams. The questions are well-thought-out and the subject matter is quite engaging and significant for teachers. You’ll get an inspiring teaching after answering each question. At the end of the exam, you see a summary of wrong answers and the relevant teachings,  giving you a personal study guide targeted to your needs.

This is an hour well-spent!