Structure of a KY class

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam Mal:

 

> I like to have a QCS (questions, comments, suggestions) time after

> class, where I try to find out how to make my classes better for

>the students.

>

> Last night one of the ladies said she wanted a more "structured

> class" ,instead of just doing whatever comes to my mind. To me, it

> adds more variety to the class when I just kind of "improvise" what

> we do next, but, if structure is what they want, I am all for it.

>

> I realize the importance of having continuity in the lessons, so

>any suggestions on which postures should follow which would be

>greatly appreciated. Examples of your class structures would also

>be helpful.

 

A KY class should always follow the same basic structure:

 

1. Tune in (3-5 times Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo)

 

2. Warm-ups: here you can be creative, but several teachers of

teachers suggest that we use the same warm-up routine every time so

regular students can gain a sense of familiarity and notice progress,

and new students can tap into that sense of familiarity quickly.

 

The Sun salutations are a good warm-up sequence, and Gururattan's

books provide some great choices for warm-up sequences. Feel free to

skip or shorten exercises that will be performed in the kriya(s).

 

3. Kriya - one (or more if they are short) physical kriya. There are

many books full of many kriyas - I highly recommend getting

Gururattan's books, as they provide lots of physical kriyas (and

meditations) on many important and useful topics.

 

Please do not invent kriyas. YB has provided literally hundreds or

thousands of kriyas for us to teach and practice. These kriyas have

well-known and well-tested benefits and regardless of what you might

want to work on, you can find a kriya that is specific for that issue.

 

4. Relaxation in corpse pose - the length and presence of the

relaxation is optional, as some kriyas include relaxation periods or

a final relaxation as part of the kriya.

 

5. Meditation or meditative kriya - again, you might choose to do

more than one, if they are short.

 

6. Tune out (sing the sunshine song and 1-3 long Sat Nam's)

 

The place for creativity and improvisation is in the selection of

kriyas and meditations which fit with the theme of the kriya

(although many kriyas include a specific meditation as part of the

kriya).

 

Another place for creativity, and a great thing to do to attract

interest in your classes, is to create a series of classes around a

particular theme - for example, a chakra series, working on one

chakra each week. Or a series to boost the immune system (excellent

in the fall as we approach "flu season"), or a series to detoxify the

body (the spring is a good time for this, because the body will

naturally detoxify then anyway).

 

Sometimes I will prepare several different lesson plans, and then ask

the class to talk it over and decide (or vote) on what they would

like to work on that day. Then I can joke with them and say: "But

you asked for the kriya with 3 minutes of stretch pose".

 

 

Many blessings,

Sadhant