On routines, switching it up, and the quiet joy of spreading a little calm.
I didn’t expect the first month back teaching yoga to feel this good.
If I’m being honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect at all. It had been a long time since I taught consistently — life happened, then Kendall happened, and yoga teaching had quietly moved to the back burner. But this month, I landed a private teaching contract, and just like that, I found myself back on the other side of the mat three times a week.
And I have to say — I’m really, genuinely enjoying it.
🗓️ The Routine That’s Working
Monday, Wednesday, Friday. 8:00 to 9:00 PM.
What I love about this schedule is that it slots in perfectly after work hours, and by then Kendall is already asleep for the night. So there’s no guilt, no rushing, no split attention. I get to show up fully — just me, my mat, and two lovely students who are completely new to yoga.
This is actually the first time in my yoga teaching journey that I’ve taught this consistently — at least three classes a week, every week, for a solid month. I didn’t realise how much I missed having that kind of rhythm until I was back in it. There’s something grounding about knowing that three evenings a week, I have a room, a playlist, and a purpose.
🧘♀️ Keeping It Fresh — For Them and For Me
One thing I’ve been really intentional about is switching up the classes before each session.
My students are beginners, so the foundations stay the same — we always open with some form of presence and breathwork, flow through a vinyasa sequence with poses in between, and close with a cool down. But within that structure, I change almost everything else: the opening (sometimes seated, sometimes standing, sometimes lying down for a body scan), the in-between poses, the peak pose, and the cool down focus.
One session might be all about hip openers and a Camel Pose peak. The next could be balance-focused with Eagle Pose. Then maybe a restorative cool down, or a deep yin sequence, or a mix of forward folds and twists.
I spend time before each class mapping out the sequence, thinking about what their bodies need, what we haven’t explored yet, and what would feel good to build toward. It’s become something I genuinely look forward to — that planning process feels creative and intentional, and it keeps me as engaged as my students.
🌏 Teaching Across a Language Barrier
My students are foreign, and English isn’t their first language, so I’ve learned to teach mostly through demonstration rather than verbal cues. Less talking, more showing. It’s actually been a really interesting challenge — when you can’t rely on words, you become so much more deliberate with your body and your presence.
I’ve found that it works beautifully. They follow along, they pick things up quickly, and there’s a lovely kind of quiet in the room because we’re not filling it with unnecessary instruction. Just movement, breath, and music.
💌 The Feedback That Keeps Me Going
The best moment of this first month? Getting a message from one of my students after class saying that every session leaves her whole body feeling relaxed and refreshed — and that the quality of the classes was beyond what she expected.
That kind of feedback means everything. Not because I need the validation, but because it tells me that what I’m trying to do is actually landing. The intention behind every class plan, every playlist, every carefully thought-out sequence — she felt it. And that’s exactly why I do this.
🌿 Spreading a Little Calm
What I keep coming back to is how much joy this brings me.
Teaching yoga isn’t just about the physical practice — it’s about creating a space where people can slow down, breathe, and feel good in their bodies. My students come in after their own long days, and for one hour, we just move and breathe together. I leave every session feeling lighter. And I’d like to think they do too.
There’s something really special about being a consistent, calming presence for someone three times a week. It’s a small thing in the grand scheme of life, but it matters. To them, and to me.
One month in, three classes a week, and I’m just getting started. 💕
— Kimberly
The Diaries of Kimberly 
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