I Just Taught My First Studio Yoga Class: Reflections & Triumphs

A group of people practicing yoga together in a peaceful setting – just like my first studio class!

Hi beautiful friend,

Something huge just happened!

I taught my first-ever studio yoga class! And not just one - but two back-to-back classes at The Yoga Room in Leicester.

It’s exactly one month since I graduated from my 200-hour yoga teacher training, and I can honestly say, I thought it would take me months to land a teaching spot at a studio. I expected to send out endless emails, gently nudge, patiently wait, and hope for any opportunities to come my way. It seems that golden opportunity came along way sooner than anticipated, and before I knew it, I was standing at the front of the room, eyes on me, ready to lead.

To say I was nervous would be an understatement. But was I excited? Absolutely.

The Lead Up

The days leading up to the classes were a total whirlwind of emotions. I knew I was ready, but that didn’t stop imposter syndrome from creeping in. What if I forgot my sequence? What if my voice shook? What if no one showed up?

Vinyasa has been my first love since I stepped onto the mat years ago. It’s what I trained in, what I practice day in and day out, and what I taught for my teacher-training assessment. I knew that sequence inside and out.

But gentle yoga? That was another story. Slowing down. Letting go. Sitting with stillness. I’m a movement girly, so this was much more out of my comfort zone. And to add to the nerves? It was first. Usually, I’d want to get my “comfort zone” thing done first, to ease into it - but nope, I had to start by guiding people into deep rest before stepping into the energy of Vinyasa. A total flip in mindset and pace, which definitely tested my adaptability.

As I packed my bag that morning, I had a little moment of reflection. I reminded myself why I’m doing this - why I wanted to teach in the first place.

I took a deep breath and headed to the studio.

Stepping Into the Space

The second I walked into The Yoga Room, something shifted. The space is so warm, welcoming, and calm - the kind of place that instantly soothes your nerves. I unrolled my mat, set up my playlist, checked my notes (for the hundredth time), and then, before I knew it, people started arriving.

That’s when it really hit me.

I was the teacher now.

It was an incredibly surreal moment as people started to arrive and I began greeting and welcoming them into the space, just as I’ve watched all my teachers do before.

And then, we began.

The Class Itself

The moment I guided that first inhale, something clicked. I wasn’t thinking about my nerves anymore. I wasn’t thinking about myself at all - I was in it.

Teaching yoga is pretty meditative. Not in the sense that it’s “my” practice, but in the act of guiding the breath, cueing movement, and feeling the collective energy in the room - it’s something really special.

Even though I’d been far more nervous about the gentle class, I ended up loving it. There’s something truly magical about guiding people to slow down - especially in a world that moves so fast.

Then it was time to shift gears and bring the energy up for Vinyasa! The flow unfolded, and I felt more present than I had all day. I moved with my students, adjusted where needed, held the space. And when I finally guided everyone into Savasana, I realised - I was doing it. I was really, actually teaching.

Reflections & Takeaways

Okay, so it didn’t all go perfectly. I confused a couple of lefts and rights, got a bit tongue-tied on the odd Sanskrit word, and had a little technical hitch with my music right at the start (which definitely threw me off for a second!) - but hey, there’s no such thing as perfection.

Both classes were pretty full, which felt a bit daunting at first, but once I settled in, it was so rewarding. Connecting with students before and after class felt really special, and since I’d shared that it was my first time teaching, I could genuinely feel that everyone was rooting for me - which was so lovely.

The biggest challenge was definitely the lead-up! My nerves were buzzing - and it wasn’t just the teaching. It was unlocking and setting up the studio, ticking people off the register, wondering how long to wait for the last name on the list who hadn’t arrived yet... It was a lot! In hindsight, I really wish I’d turned to my own yoga toolkit - breathwork, meditation, movement - to help ground myself beforehand.

Still, I felt really proud of how present I was once we began. I learned how important it is to prepare thoroughly, but also to let go of the plan and tune into the moment.

The Vinyasa flow I taught was the one I’d used for my teacher training assessment, but I quickly realised I’d crammed too much into the sequence. It might have been fine for a room full of yoga teachers, but for a Sunday morning class with a group of mixed experience, it was too much, too fast-paced. That was such an important lesson. Until you actually start teaching, it’s hard to grasp just how many different levels and bodies you’ll have in the room, so adaptability is something I hope will keep growing with time and experience.

Triumphs

I definitely threw myself into the deep end - two back-to-back classes, two different styles, all in my first go at teaching - but I’m proud to say I swam, not sank!

This experience confirmed how much I love teaching in a studio space. I’m so excited to keep growing, refining my voice as a teacher, and (hopefully) securing my own class at a studio in the future.

I’ll be covering again at The Yoga Room end of this month, as well as covering at The Nest, in Hinckley, over the next couple of weeks - so plenty more opportunities to grow as a teacher, yay!

What’s Next

I still can’t believe that just last month, I was in teacher training, and now I’m actually teaching. It’s all unfolding! I am so proud, and I really want to sit with this feeling for a while.

Building my own community class is a dream I’ve had since the very beginning… I’ll be sharing all about my own class that I am starting in May in my next blog, so stay posted!

All my love,

Sophie x

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P.S. Shoutout to my The Yoga Collective mat - it carried me through my training in Goa, and stepping onto it to teach felt like home. If you're looking for a supportive, eco-friendly mat, use code SOPHIE for 15% off!

Want to Know More of My Story?

My yoga journey started with one life-changing class - you can read all about it here!