From Shared Plan to Ready-to-Teach Yoga Lesson in Under 10 Minutes
Video Walkthrough
Sometimes the hardest part of teaching yoga is not the teaching. It is staring at a lesson plan and thinking…
“How do I make this feel like my class?”
The good news is that you do not always need to build a lesson from scratch.
Inside the Online Yoga Lesson Planner, there are thousands of shared yoga lesson plans created by fellow members. That means you can begin with a strong foundation, then quickly refresh it using a simple structure, a little help from ChatGPT, and the often-overlooked magic of Sequence Separators.
In this post, I will show you a fast way to take a shared plan and turn it into a more polished, ready-to-teach yoga lesson in under 10 minutes.
Yoga lesson plan formulas are like your personal “class recipe” — they give you a proven structure to follow, so you’re never starting from scratch. Instead of building every yoga lesson plan from a blank page, you’ll be able to save your favourite yoga class structures and re-use them again and again.
I have included a video walkthrough below, so you can see the process in action.
Video coming soon!
Free Yoga Lesson Plan: From The Video Walkthrough
In the video walkthrough (see above), I am using a shared plan with Side Plank Knee Crunch as the peak pose.
Here are the shared lesson plan URLs:
Non-members can view the plan using the links above.
Members can copy and edit it inside the Online Yoga Lesson Planner.
Side Note: When creating a plan using the Online Yoga Lesson Planner, the system automatically creates 3 plans in one (short, long and streamed).
Who Is This For?
This resource is mainly for members of the Online Yoga Lesson Planner, because members can copy and edit shared plans inside the planner.
If you are not yet a member, you can still view the example yoga lesson plan used in this post, but you will not be able to copy and edit it unless you join the Online Yoga Lesson Planner here:
Join the Online Yoga Lesson Planner
What Will You Learn?
By the end of this post, you will know how to:
- Copy a shared plan (there are 1000’s to choose from)
- Choose a clear lesson plan structure
- Use a simple ChatGPT prompt to generate an Aim, Objectives and Theme
- Use Sequence Separators to improve the flow and readability of the plan
Turn an existing shared plan into a lesson that feels clearer, fresher and more teachable
Why This Works
One of the quickest ways to save time as a yoga teacher is to stop reinventing the wheel every time you plan a class.
A shared plan gives you the skeleton.
Your job is to add the flesh, personality and teaching intention.
That is where this method works so well. Instead of spending ages wondering what to teach, you begin with an existing plan, then shape it into something more purposeful and more “you”.
Before You Get Started: Know Thy 7 Lesson Plan Structures
If you’re a member of the Online Yoga Lesson Planner when copying a plan, it helps to know the seven structures yoga teachers use when crating a lesson plan.
In this example, we are using a “Peak Pose” lesson plan structure, with Side Plank Knee Crunch as the peak pose.
If you want inspiration for different lesson planning structures, read my post…
101 Yoga Lesson Planning Ideas: Includes 7 Ways To Structure A Lesson Plan
That post explores seven useful ways to build inspiring yoga lesson plans – using the seven ways to structure a lesson plan.
It also helps to get familiar with your own go-to lesson planning formula. These two posts will help:
How to Create Your First Yoga Lesson Plan Formula
The more familiar you become with your favourite structures, the easier it is to refresh a shared yoga lesson plan quickly.
The 10-Minute Lesson Plan Method
Step 1: Copy a shared plan
These steps are for Online Yoga Lesson Planner members only…
Start by looking through the shared plans until one catches your eye. Click the blue “Shared Plans” button.
Click Search Plans
Now, where it says “Lesson Plan Type“, select “Shared Lesson Plans”, and click “Search”. You now have access to thousands of shared lesson plans.
Within “Lesson Plan Type” select “Shared Lesson Plans”
Click on plans you like the sound of (the plan will open up in a new browser tab). If you don’t like the plan, click “X” on the browser, and return to the “Shared Plans” page. Keep doing that until you find a plan you like. It does not need to be perfect. It simply needs to give you a useful starting point.
Found a plan you like? Great!
Copy it into your own account so that you can edit it. You do that by clicking the blue “Copy Plan” button.
Click the “Copy Plan” Button
At this stage, do not overthink it. The goal is speed. Choose a plan with a decent flow, then improve it.
Step 2: Decide what kind of lesson it is
Now give the plan a clearer identity.
Ask yourself:
What is the main structure?
Is this a peak pose class?
Is it themed around an area of the body?
Is it energising, grounding, restorative or strength-building?
What is the teaching intention?
If you want inspiration for different lesson planning structures, read my post:
101 Yoga Lesson Planning Ideas: Includes 7 Ways To Structure A Lesson Plan
In this example, the option I went for was the “peak pose” structure (which is the most common structure that us yoga teachers use for our plans).
The title for my plan was…
Peak Pose: Side Plank Knee Crunch
With the structure set, the lesson plan is much easier to create.
Step 3: Use ChatGPT to create the Aim, Objectives and Theme
This is where the plan starts to come alive.
Once you have copied the plan, paste the plan URL into your ChatGPT and use this prompt as a template. This is the plan URL that I pasted into my ChatGTP: https://georgewatts.org/lesson-planner/short-plan/?id=1&lesson_id=29712
Yoga Lesson Plan URL
George’s ChatGPT Prompt Template
Important Note: Don’t forget to change the plan URL with the plan you just copied (see screenshot above).
—– Start of Prompt ——-
I’d like to include “Aims and Objectives and a Theme” within the “Edit Plan” section of the Online Yoga Lesson Planner. I’ve just copied this lesson plan (from a fellow member of the lesson planner): https://georgewatts.org/lesson-planner/short-plan/?id=1&lesson_id=29712
Create aims and objectives and theme for the lesson plan with “Side Plank Knee Crunch” as the peak pose using this as template:
Aim: To build the core strength, shoulder stability, balance and side-body control needed for Side Plank Knee Crunch.
Objectives:
Mobilise the spine and gently warm the whole body.
Open the shoulders, chest and side body.
Strengthen the legs, glutes and core.
Develop balance and concentration through standing poses.
Prepare the body for weight-bearing on one arm.
Build confidence and control for the peak pose.
Release tension with twists, relaxation and Savasana.
Theme: This class explores the idea of holding yourself up when life feels unsteady. Side Plank Knee Crunch is a pose of courage, coordination and inner lift. As elbow and knee draw together, the body gathers itself into one clear action, reminding us that strength grows when we come back to centre.
—– End of Prompt ——-
You can then copy and paste the result into the lesson plan by clicking the blue “Edit Plan” button from the lesson planner dashboard (then paste into section 2).
Why the Aims, Objectives & Theme is so useful
A lot of lesson plans already have the poses, but they are missing the teaching thread.
Adding an Aim, Objectives and Theme helps you:
- understand why the sequence works
- teach with more confidence
- communicate the purpose of the class more clearly
- turn a functional plan into a more meaningful one
The Aim gives you the physical destination.
The Objectives describe how the class gets there.
The Theme adds feeling, symbolism and emotional connection.
That is often the difference between a plan that looks fine on paper and a class that really lands with students.
Step 4: Add Sequence Separators
To add a sequence separator click the blue icon with three wiggly lines.
Step 4: Add Sequence Separators to the Plan
This is one of the simplest ways to improve a lesson plan quickly.
Sequence Separators help break the class into clear sections so the plan feels easier to read, easier to teach from, and easier to understand.
For example, you might separate the plan into sections such as:
- Arrival / centring
- Warm-up
- Standing sequence
- Peak pose preparation
- Peak pose
- Cool down
- Relaxation / Savasana
Even if the original shared plan has a good list of poses, adding Sequence Separators makes the teaching journey much clearer.
They help you see the shape of the lesson at a glance.
Step 5: Make A Few Light Edits
At this point, you do not need to rebuild the whole class.
Just make a few small improvements.
For example:
- tweak the title
- adjust the lesson structure
- tweak the Aim, Objectives and Theme
- insert Sequence Separators
- remove any pose that feels out of place
- add one or two poses if the plan needs a better lead-in to the peak pose
I use ChatGTP to come up with a good title. Here’s the ChatGTP Prompt I used: “Come up with a better title for the lesson plan than: Peak Pose: Side Plank Crunch“.
It spat out a few title options. I choose “Peak Pose: Build to Side Plank Knee Crunch“
The idea is not perfection.
The idea is to take a useful shared plan and make it feel more polished, coherent and ready to teach.
Example: What Changed In This Plan?
In our Side Plank Knee Crunch peak pose lesson plan example, the original shared plan already gave me a useful sequence. I only made one or two minor changes.
I copied the Aims & Objectives and Theme (see below) from ChatGTP and pasted it into the “Edit Plan” section (section 2).
Aim: To build the core strength, shoulder stability, balance and side-body control needed for Side Plank Knee Crunch.
Objectives
Mobilise the spine and gently warm the whole body.
Open the shoulders, chest and side body.
Strengthen the legs, glutes and core.
Develop balance and concentration through standing poses.
Prepare the body for weight-bearing on one arm.
Build confidence and control for the peak pose.
Release tension with twists, relaxation and Savasana.
Theme: This class explores the idea of holding yourself up when life feels unsteady. Side Plank Knee Crunch is a pose of courage, coordination and inner lift. As elbow and knee draw together, the body gathers itself into one clear action, reminding us that strength grows when we come back to centre.
After doing that, the plan does not just contain poses. It also contains purpose.
Why My Members Use This Method
This approach is especially useful when:
- you are short on time
- you need inspiration quickly
- you want to teach more confidently
- you have found a shared plan with potential but want to make it your own
- you want to build a lesson faster without sacrificing teaching quality
It is also a great habit to develop because it teaches you how to think like the yoga teacher who created the plan.
The only time you would have ever seen another yoga teacher’s lesson plan was when you were a yoga teacher student (having to critique your fellow trainees during the dreaded “teach in front of your peers” section of the course).
Over time, you will start to recognise patterns more quickly:
- which plans need more grounding
- which need a clearer peak pose build-up
- which need better transitions
- which need more of a story or emotional thread
That is where your teaching voice starts to shine.
A Note For Non-Members
If you are reading this post and are not yet a member, you can still view the example shared plan used in this article, but the real magic happens when you can copy and edit plans inside the Online Yoga Lesson Planner.
If you would like access to the shared plan library, the ability to copy plans, edit them (add your own aims, objectives, themes and sequence separators), and make each plan your own, you can join us at: Online Yoga Lesson Planner
George’s Conclusion
You do not need to create every yoga lesson plan from scratch.
Sometimes the smartest approach is to begin with a shared plan, give it a clear structure, add an Aim, Objectives and Theme with the help of ChatGPT, use Sequence Separators to improve the flow, and then make a few thoughtful edits.
That is often enough to turn a decent shared plan into a ready-to-teach lesson in under 10 minutes.
And that is a win not just for your planning time, but for your confidence as a teacher too.
I recommend watching the video (top of this post), so you can see exactly how quickly this process can work in real life.
Haven’t joined us yet? Click here…Online Yoga Lesson Planner.
