Free Downloadable Dolphin Themed Yoga Lesson Plan Package
This dolphin themed yoga lesson plan was created using the Yoga Genie Lesson Planner.
Dophin pose is the peak pose.
Peak pose themed lesson plans are a favourite for most yoga teachers.
You almost certainly learned how to create a peak pose themed lesson plan during your yoga teacher training, but just in case you have a hankering to learn more, here’s my formula on how to sequence around a peak pose.
Below Is The 10 Step Formula That I Use When Planning A Yoga Class…
Step 1: Open The Planner
I open up the Yoga Genie Lesson Planner.
Step 2: Create A Yoga Lesson Plan
I drag and drop poses into the dashboard to create a dolphin themed yoga lesson plan.
It usually takes less than 5 minutes.
I will use that yoga lesson plan for 6 weeks, and do my utmost not to change a single thing during those 6 weeks. I was trained through the British Wheel Of Yoga (BWY) who are the governing body of yoga in the UK. The main BWY yoga lesson planning formula was to create a lesson plan and use it for 6 weeks, and repeat that process.
Some students change up the lesson plan on a weekly basis, but they are generally either full time teachers or retired (and therefore can spend the extra hours crafting lesson plans each week).
When I first started out teaching I used to burn the midnight oil to write a brand new lesson plan each week. Within a year of teaching I discovered my students actually preferred sticking with one lesson plan over 6 weeks.
My yoga lesson planning formula is: One Lesson Plan Every 6 Weeks
But, you may opt for a different formula due to your personality.
Just remember that students by their very nature want to learn. And how do you get a student, whether it’s a yoga student or math student, to learn? Repetition. Repetition. Repetition. That’s why I recommend sticking with one lesson plan over a 6 weeks yoga course.
Step 3: Search The Handouts
I spend one minute searching for appropriate handouts within the 250+ pre-filled yoga class handouts (that come with the Yoga Genie Lesson Planner) and found the following ones that were perfect for a dolphin themed yoga lesson plan. You can download a bunch of free yoga class handouts here.
The Dolphin Themed Handouts I found were:
- Dolphin Pose handout
- Dolphin Breath handout
- Dolphin Relaxation handout
- Dolphin Sequence
Because all the handouts are pre-filled I didn’t have to edit anything. All I had to do was print. I have 20 students in this class. So, I printed 22 copies of each handout (2 spare in case any unexpected newbie students arrive).
Step 4: Prepare The Room
For this class, I selected one of the yoga music tracks on my iPod and put it in the iPod speaker that the dance hall I use have available. There are 23 royalty free yoga music tracks within the Yoga Genie Lesson Planner.
I always have chants, mantras or something soothing playing when students arrive. I like the energy it gives the room and my students feel more at ease if there’s a bit of calming background music as they chat with the person next to them, practice a pose, sit or lie in Savasana.
In this class I have several teachers who always like a bit of chat before class starts. I tell my students that I always start the class at exactly 7pm. There are no exceptions. They know that when the clock strikes 7pm, I turn the background music off and the class begins. If there’s any nattering after 7pm, I politely and with a bit of light humour say something like, “No more nattering. You teachers should know better.”
Step 5: Build Dolphin Rapport
Dolphins are known for their communication skills. Before the beginning of a class is the perfect time to communicate with your students. As each student arrives to class, I give them their yoga class handout. They know to put it in their “Yoga Handouts Folder”.
I give all new students a Yoga Handouts Folder to put my handouts in and ask them to always bring their folder to class. This is an important point. The Yoga Handouts Folder is a great way to help students with their home yoga practice.
I make sure to personalise the front of the folder with their name and my contact details.
That way if their friends see the folder and say, “What’s this?”
They will respond, “Oh that’s the folder my yoga teacher gave me.”
Then after the friend has taken a look through the handouts, they’ll think, “Wow. That looks great. I’ll give that class a go.”
Within the Yoga Genie Lesson Planner there’s a download link for the cover I use for the folder. It’s easy to personalise. All you need to do is change the name on the cover with your student’s name in big, bold letters. Having their own personalised folder will instantly make your students feel special and part of a “club”.
Also within the Yoga Genie Lesson Planner is a link to folders I use. Make sure you get folders that have a clear, see through pouch on the front for you to insert the A4 cover.
When I’m giving the student their handouts, I build rapport by saying things like…
“How’s your body feeling?”
“Today we’re going to be practicing downward facing dogs. Because of your left wrist injury I want you to practice dolphin pose instead.” (I’ll then get on the floor and give him or her a quick demo of dolphin pose. This personal touch ensures my students don’t get injured and feel they are getting personal attention).
Step 6: Savasana First Pose
I always start my classes with Savasana.
I do this for the following two reasons. It allows students to slow down mentally and physically. And it is my sneaky way of talking through the yoga class theme while the students are relaxed and have their eyes closed. This is the perfect state to gently absorb the dolphin theme information I give them. Plus, I can cheat a bit and paraphrase from the yoga class handouts (handouts are wonderful teaching aids).
Step 7: Soak The Theme
I find every opportunity to let students soak up the yoga class theme (e.g. become a dolphin) during the class, especially during the beginning of the class when they are relaxing in Savasana. Having a theme is what morphs my class from an average one to something original and memorable.
Here are some of the things I said to bring the theme to life:
“Allow yourself to have fun, just like dolphins do.”
“Dolphins are known for their ability to have fun.”
“Dolphins are playful and filled with joy.”
“Dolphins are also nimble and strong because they spend so much time playing.”
“Allow yourself to become a dolphin and be aware of all the things to be joyous about in your life right now. Joy is your birthright. You don’t have to do something to deserve basking in joy.”
Step 8: Dive Into Yin
At the beginning of every 6 week yoga course, one of the handouts I give my students is always a “flowing yoga sequence”. Before we practice the sequence as a continuous flow, I get my students to practice them as Yin Yoga (also known as static yoga).
The great thing about the Yoga Genie Lesson Planner is that you can create a yoga lesson plan within minutes and each asana (e.g. Boat Pose) includes every detail you need to teach the pose including:
- Teaching steps
- Benefits of the pose
- Stick figure of the pose
- Link to a short video tutorial of the pose
- Recommended modifications, alternatives, and precautions
- Recommended preparation, follow up, and counter poses
Step 9: Go With The Flow
At the end of class 1 of 6, I demonstrate the poses they’ve just learned as a flowing sequence.
I usually demonstrate the flowing sequence twice, then ask them to follow along with me. I ask them to put the “Dolphin Sequence Lesson Plan” on the front of their mats as an aid in case they forget the sequence.
Step 10: Observe & Adjust
As my students practice the dolphin sequence, I always get off my mat and walk around the class observing.
When I see a student who needs an adjustment, I will talk them through the adjustment, or get on the floor next to them and demonstrate it. If I think they would benefit from me physically adjusting them, I ask their permission to touch them (important if you’re a male teacher).
When adjusting a student in a pose it is important that you stay with them throughout the entire pose, which includes when they are moving out of the posture and preparing to go into the next one. Students must never feel as if you have abandoned them mid-pose.
The classic adjustment for dolphin and downward facing dog:
- stand in front of the student
- place feet in mini-lunge with one foot between student’s hands
- place both palms on the student’s sacrum
- begin guiding the sacrum upward (not laterally or downward)
6 Week Course Formula
For the remainder of the 6 week yoga course, I follow a Two Step Formula:
Step 1: Practice the individual asanas as static, yin yoga poses at the beginning of the class.
Step 2: Turn the yin yoga poses we practiced at the beginning of the class into a yang yoga sequence (flowing sequence). This way my students get to practice yin and yang yoga in the same class and learn a sequence in an easy and unhurried way.
That’s it!
I hope you enjoyed my dolphin themed yoga class.