Journal · October 20, 2022
5 Benefits of Private Yoga Sessions
By Mel, 500-hour RYT · Well With Melo
Even experienced yogis are beginners every time we step on the mat, because each day we're in a new state of being.
Group classes vs. private sessions
In a group class, the teacher plans around a theme, physical, emotional or mental, and guides everyone through it. It's a beautiful experience, and I love studio classes and trying new teachers. But in a group, each student meets their own limits, and the class can't be built around just one person.
Through an Ayurvedic lens, every pose and every breath has its own qualities. Those qualities can either support your body or aggravate it. That matters even more when you're stressed, burnt out or going through a hard season.
Why a personalized practice helps
When you know your nature, you can choose practices that keep you in balance, and you'll understand how to adapt poses and pick classes that suit you, even in a studio.
The main benefits of 1:1 sessions
1. In your own space
At home, at work, outdoors or online.
2. Variations for your body
Great for beginners, injuries or physical limits. You find your edge safely.
3. Breath designed to balance
Not all breath is equal. Each breathing practice has its own effect: cooling, warming, energizing or calming. Yours is chosen for you.
4. Alignment
None of us are perfectly symmetrical, and daily habits shape our posture over years. A trained teacher can help you adjust safely.
5. A deeper connection to yourself
When you understand what's happening in your body, your practice moves off the mat: sitting differently on the couch, breathing deeper after meals, resting when you're sore.
Bonus benefits
- Support and accountability: intentions you set together
- New styles: try things that are hard to find in studios, like yoga nidra or mantra
- Your own home practice: no waiting for the 7:30 class
- Grounding through life transitions, when self-care is often the first thing to go
Today, my 1:1 work lives in the Vedic Movement Plan, four weeks of personal support built around your body and the season.
1:1 · 4 weeks
Want a plan made for you?
The Vedic Movement Plan is four weeks of personal support: a 90-minute assessment, then movement, wellness and seasonal nutrition built around your body.
*Some links in this post are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps keep my classes free. This post is for general wellness education and isn't medical advice.