Silence
Silence is a great thing.
Sometimes we shy away from silence because of our own monkey minds, but silence is a great way to begin a class with calm and focused energy. Simply, invite your students to sit with you in Padmasana or lay down on their backs for quiet breathing and grounding before asana practice.
Om
Chanting the sacred syllable Om together can be a way to invoke the divine and create harmony between everyone in the group, including you, the teacher.
Oftentimes, if you chant both at the beginning and end of class, you will notice a noticeable improvement in harmony.
If you open with Om, close this way as well.
Chanting
Chanting can be similar to Om in its ability to create harmony within the group and tune the class in to the teacher's voice.
Ashtanga yoga led classes begin with the Ashtanga opening chant.
Pick a Theme
Some teachers choose to guide their classes with a theme. This theme can permeate the postures you practice that day as well.
Let's say you pick heart opening. You may tell the class that this is the theme and may even discuss its significance, the body parts affected, or provide a relevant reading from the Yoga Sutras.
I would shy away from long stories and personal matters, but readings from sacred texts can help to provide some yoga philosophy and context for the deeper practices of yoga.
Yoga Teachers: What are some of your favorite ways to start yoga classes?
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