Difference Between Group Yoga Sessions and Private Sessions

Yoga classes in Tampa and Miami can be found in a lot of places: gyms, yoga studios, outdoors, and in community spaces. There are a number of different types to consider when choosing a session: vinyasa, power, flow, hot yoga, and more. The classes cater to the masses, and are generally designed so anyone from beginner to expert can try out a yoga class. But this means you may quickly find yourself to be just another faceless yogi on a mat in a class filled with a set of constantly changing characters.

Here are some of the drawbacks of doing a general yoga or sound healing session, and why you should consider a private session instead.

Convenience and schedule

Many general yoga classes are on a set schedule, such as 7 a.m., Noon, and 5:30 p.m. on weekdays. Their set class schedules may not work around meetings you have at work, investor dinners, child care, or your commute. If the gym or studio isn’t in a good location for you, your only option is to find another one that might work, even though it might be even further away.

With the private yoga classes offered by SolFreshLife, we plan the class around your schedule. Need a morning class one week and an afternoon class the next? Having a particularly stressful week and feel the need for an hour and a half sound therapy session versus just an hour? We come to you at your home or office so you can cross a stressful commute off your list.

Poses catered to everybody; or your body

Each person’s journey in yoga and healing are different, and each person begins their practice with a different intention and goal for what they would like to get out of the session. In a typical yoga or sound healing session, the instructor needs to balance the class to serve all of the people attending. This might mean they need to recommend modifications for someone with a sore knee, talk in a louder voice for someone who is hard of hearing, or be constantly correcting the posture of someone who is newer to the practice. Therefore it’s harder for the individual goals of the attendees to be met if the goal is anything more than attending a session.

During a sound therapy session or one on one yoga class, you and the teacher will review together your specific goal for the session. We’ll review how your body feels at that exact moment, and if there’s any adjustments to be made to accommodate you. You could be stiff from a long flight, tired after a big business meeting, or having a flare-up of an old injury – we’ll customize the session around your body, every single time. Or it might be a day you’re feeling like an extra challenging session or you want to improve your inversions – each session is all about what your individual needs are.

Intention for your Sound Healing Session

When you begin your sound healing session, it’s best to set an intention for what you are seeking from the therapy. Are you looking for help with relaxation? Are you looking for a way to sleep better at night? Are you seeking an option to handle stress or anxiety from different aspects of your life. Each person that attends the sound healing session has their own reason for being there, and it might be quite different from your own. In a group session, the focus will be on each of the seven chakras equally, and may not address the specific issue you want to zone in on.

During a personal sound healing session, you might determine that your body could benefit from a focus on just one or two of the chakras. There might have been an element from a previous session you really loved that you want to repeat again. Each private sound therapy session is customized to bring you the support that you need that particular day.

Spotting the Teacher

In an ideal yoga class, you have the ability to see the teacher and watch the flow of how they move from pose to pose. During yoga classes filled with many people, the teacher will often travel throughout the room and assist different people with the poses. This can make it hard for you to spot them when you need to see how to correctly hold a pose. It also might lead to the teacher talking through a pose versus demonstrating it since they’re focusing on correcting the pose of another student.

During a one on one yoga class, it’s just the teacher and you. Their mat will be set up alongside yours and you’ll be able to see how they transition from one pose to another. If you are struggling with the transition between poses, you can speak up and ask for them to demonstrate it again or to break down the movement into smaller pieces to help you comprehend it better.

Distracting Movements

Sound healing therapy relies on your body’s ability to fully relax, listen, and feel the vibrations from the singing bowls on your body. Having other people in the session along with you can distract you from the meditative state you are in, such as if the other person coughs, sneezes, or snores. It can take a while to recenter yourself after you’ve been distracted, and you could lose valuable time in your session getting refocused and relaxed again.

In a private sound healing session, the singing bowls are placed strategically around your body, so the full effect of the vibrations can wash over you. This is referred to as a sound bath. Then the only disruption to your peace is your own movements. (Learn more about a sound bath.)

Private Yoga Lessons and Sound Therapy in Tampa Area

At SolFreshLife, our whole focus is providing one-on-one, personalized yoga and sound therapy sessions that cater to your individual needs. The session can be held at our studio or your home or office, and planned around your schedule. We serve the following communities: Harbour Island, Hyde Park, Davis Island, South Tampa, Apollo Beach.

Emily Basford has 500 hours of yoga training from the Association of Yoga & Meditation, is an Ayurveda Specialist, a Holistic Health Coach, and a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. Contact Emily today to get all the healing benefits from an individual yoga or sound healing session.