Michelle Berman MarchildonTheme Weaver: Connect the Power of Inspiration to Teaching Yoga

This book has some great ideas and motivation for creating new yoga classes and how to keep a seasoned instructor on their toes as well. Great ideas. Thank you

As a beginner yoga teacher, I really liked this book. It's great that not just a description, but also specific examples and tasks. After the first chapter, I already have an understanding of how to position myself. Thanks to the author!

I cannot express how helpful this book has been. I have a 7 year practice and have been teaching three. I’m very passionate about yoga as a student and as a teacher. I plan my classes very carefully from a physical standpoint and from a philosophical perspective so I was hopeful this book would show me new ways to incorporate themes to my practice. The first topic broached by this book is you. Yes! You. It makes you confront your own genuine individuality. The chapter on branding contains some journaling activities that bring up your intentions, qualities and passions. You can’t skip over this, and the point is driven home by the different perspectives in which these important topics are brought up. You may have to ask yourself “What do I have to offer?” Are you brave enough to confront these inquires?I feel that the audience for this book must be open-minded and fearless. It requires courage to teach a little philosophy. Today, people shy away from offering advice on approaching life, but this book shows you how to offer people nuggets of affirmable truths. This is not a book for students. It’s geared for teachers who want to take their teaching to a higher level, or for teachers who want to learn to teach more than just a physical practice. If you teach in a way to help students live their greatest lives by empowering them with philosophy they can experience through a physical practice, this book breaks it down for you in an easy to understand, multiple part system. The author's intention, was to share a great strength that many yoga teachers have that draw people into a class. This book is a one of a kind on the technique of weaving themes of knowledge and philosophy into a physical practice.I am reading this book for a 3rd time, as part of a teacher training program. Many teacher trainings are including this book now as required reading because it addresses such an elusive task of weaving philosophy into your teaching. The author's humor makes this a great read as there are several examples of yoga faux pas and comical scenarios teachers often encounter in teaching yoga. She frequently referenced the cliché of "let go," which I found hilarious. As a reader, I felt as though she really reinforced the importance of the self-work that needs to be done prior to attempting to theme. I recommend you do the activities first to find where your strengths are when it comes to teaching. I'm thankful this book has been helpful to me as well as several other teachers I know. I bought the kindle version to have with me at all times and a paper-back copy that I lend out to teachers who are in a slump or just looking to take their teaching practice to new heights.

"Like a love affair, teaching yoga is good, until the day it is not."Theme Weaver by Michelle Marchildon is a book that I wish I had read during my Yoga teacher training. Some days I teach well, some days it falls flat.Like her first book, Finding More on the Mat, Theme Weaver's writing style is clear and laced with humor. She starts right out with having the reader write a mission statement, a bio, and branding about themselves, which is the basis of all the themes that the teacher will use in class. She then goes on to describe how to theme and what elements to consider. She even says its not necessary to create themes, but the elements she presents will help any teacher to present a better class, theme or no theme.The viewpoint is marketing. As Michelle says, "students show up to see you. Now all you have to do is show up for them." With so many teachers in the industry today, it is that much more important to make ideas cohesive and be organized. She uses what she calls The Other Eight Limbed Path to get teachers there: You, Theme, Human Operating Value, Anecdote, Contemplations, Golden Nuggets, the Why Bother Factor, and Quote. Each are thoroughly explained and repeated to reinforce the importance of each.Personally it has made me far more conscious of how I use my words in teaching and how I put my classes together. Whether you are a novice or a well seasoned teacher, Theme Weaver is a valuable asset to your library.

MICHELLE! I am so excited! I planned my first class using what we learned in Theme Weavers and I feel GREAT! I didn't get everything in and it wasn't perfect but it was a HUGE step forward for me. True to your book, it took me a long time, and I practiced timing my opening lines...and ya know what? I felt very prepared and for one of the first times- truly authentic with all of it! I can admit that before this I was `borrowing' other peoples themes and trying them on for size and they never fit quite right - in fact some were awful and I'm sure people were like WTF?!BUT- this theme was all mine and came about very naturally. I felt a sense of freedom as I worked to apply the principals you gave: "5 minutes to the move and where is home base?" Those were my only two goals. I wanted to stop giving cues just to talk, and instead begin looking at what my students really needed, and cue to that. And it was the first time I truly felt myself "present as the teacher." I was in complete control and calm- yes I WAS CALM, well ok, calm for me anyways! I want you to know your book truly made a difference in my teaching. This was the first night Michelle where I actually thought I might be able to really do this and I wasn't scared. So, I hope you are smiling because I am hugging you with tears of gratitude in my eyes.

I think the people who have given this book low reviews are failing to see the gem that it is. If you want to teach more than asana then this book is a great resource. Theming classes at first is hard work at first. I know this from firsthand experience but this book breaKs it down into manageable sections of planning. It’s helped me realise what I’ve been missing. If you want to offer your students the best experience possible then give this book a go.

If you think the point of teaching yoga is to have lots of students, then maybe this book is for you. I didn't connect with it.

This book is supporting my Yoga Teacher training.

Interesting and thought provoking read for yoga teachers.

Très intéressant et plein de inspiration pour préparer les cours de yoga 🧘🏻‍♀️Ce bouquin te fait réfléchir un peu en étant très sympathique à lire et pas du tout lourd.