The first step towards maintaining a fit life is the need for mobility, strength and agility. This translates to a combination of resistance training, cardiovascular exercises and yoga. As many might be aware the benefits of yoga are long term and can be used as effectively for toning muscles as it can be for losing fat. While there are a number of yoga classes being conducted these days, possibly the most effective form of yoga training is having it privately. In this post, we discuss why one should consider a private yoga lesson over a generalized public class.

Private Yoga VS Group Yoga

There are a number of reasons private yoga classes are more of a priority with clients rather than public ones. This section deals specifically with the idea of yoga and how a more personalised approach shows greater efficiency in terms of fat loss, strength gain and mobility.

1. Cookie Cutter VS Personalized Training Approach

There is no cookie cutter approach to achieve health results. In fact, this is one area that needs in-depth discussion to understanding how the current lifestyle affects oneself. Not merely in matters of exercising, yoga or cardio but also in terms of nutrition, the psychological aspect of health, stress factors and gender differences.

As the rates of obesity and many other health issues are steadily increasing due to the major variety of food easily available, the idea of coming up with a one stop solution to all the problems seems to be on the rise as well. While generalised diet patterns are not the answer neither are blanket training classes.

Generalized yoga classes are not suitable for unique needs and problems

A certain pattern of sets and reps is certainly not the solution for all. For instance, generalisation is not the approach for people with back injuries, knee problems and other skeletal issues. Regular group yoga classes are not up to the level of personal customization since they are not able to target into the specific needs of the individual.

In yoga, the idea of using full body movements to increase flexibility is incredibly complicated. The reason being that skeletal strength, muscular tension and the neural-muscle coordination vastly differ from person to person. Group yoga classes, while advantageous in the economic aspect of things, might often lead to under-achievement in terms of holistic mind-body fitness and ignore the very personal nature of fitness and health itself.

2. Measuring Progress:

When it comes to group lessons, comparing yourself to those around you is almost always inevitable. This is probably the single most detrimental method of measuring progress.

Through experience, there are countless of people who measure their strengths solely on the basis of how fat or thin they might look in comparison to the person standing next to them. This is not only detrimental physically (as it does not lead to any health benefits or even fat loss, for that matter) but is also a great psychological stressor.

Working towards an improved health and well being

The point of a private yoga lesson, however, is to enable you to see strength for itself in matters of how your body feels, how functional your immunity is, how well developed your hormones are and how flexible and injury free you can be. The focus is geared towards producing a healthy version of you.

3. Convenience and devotion of practice time

While an ideal situation would mean that we all have the time to perfectly balance our fitness endeavours, work life and social aspects; the truth is far from the ideal. In order to help clients achieve their functional and aesthetic goals, a personalize program schedule takes into consideration such as time constraints, work commitments and other social factors.

The major reason for this is that if one is constantly filled with thoughts of items of their to-do-list, there will be little to no concentration devoted to the yogic movements. This results to not achieving the state of movement meditation.

Presence of mind is an essential component of yoga, the idea of convenient timings and flexibility is central to a personal program. As opposed to group classes, the private ones tend to focus a lot more on the nitty gritties of the client’s daily schedules and hence, on the mental and holistic well being of the person involved.

Having your own sacred personal time

Fixing certain days and times for weekly yoga practice is a commitment and devotion to achieving a better self. This improves discipline, general health and well-being. Not to mention, having your sacred personal time from the hustle and bustle in daily activities.

4. Overcoming issues

Fitness is a journey rather than a fast track approach. Sometimes there may be the occasional injuries and health ailments that cripple progress. There will also be the festive celebratory feasts that stall your healthy eating plans.

Lesson plans are design to meet learners’ situations

In order to help you move on from the temporary deviations, the private yoga lessons provide the answers and solutions to individual problems and troubles. This is because lesson plans are design to meet the situation of the client in a compassionate and comprehensive manner. The result, of course, is a customised and effective solution for long term health that can be easily maintained and followed effortlessly.

Private interaction time with the instructor

Again, while many group classes do have a window of opportunity after the lesson for one on one interaction, there is hardly the scope for an entire hour’s worth of dedicated interaction.

5. Instructor’s support and learner’s accountability

The final and majorly important reason that private lessons take over in terms of efficiency from group classes is due to the accountability factor. It is easy, in many cases, to give the group lesson a miss. After all, you are just one of a crowd.

However, when one is enrolled in a private class, the idea that the trainer is counting on your presence makes a whole lot of difference with attendance and commitment.

Comfortable and relaxed environment

Furthermore, when it comes to measuring progress, one on one interactions tend to create a comfortable and more relaxed environment where one is not in any way unhealthily self-conscious of the body and behavioural image.

In a world where body image disorders are rampant, group classes might become more intimidating than beneficial. An individualised support coupled with a sense of accountability makes for the perfect impetus to healthy living.

Final Verdict

As can be seen, private yoga lessons have its benefits as compared to public classes. Over and above everything, one must keep in mind that yoga- the principle of which is mind body connectivity- is probably one of the most individualised approaches to fitness there is. Ultimately, the choice of engaging a personal instructor or attending a group class depends on your needs and preferences.