Theme Weaver: Connect the Power of Inspiration to Teaching Yoga

by Michelle Berman Marchildon

Finally, a book for yoga teachers wishing to elevate their teaching to motivate students on the mat.

Have you ever wondered how to theme your class to inspire students, but not talk them to death? This book is for you. Michelle Berman Marchildon, internationally-known as the Yogi Muse, shows you with wit and wisdom how to connect on an authentic level and create a unique experience for your students.

Discover the secrets of “The Other Eight Limbed Path,” a method Michelle developed to create and weave a theme through a typical class sequence. Theme Weaver is a must-have for teachers who want to blend inspiration with perspiration to motivate their students, but not become a distraction to the practice of yoga.

Genres: Reference

175 pages, Paperback

First published April 16, 2013

Reviews

[Abigail]

I found the author came across slightly self-important, and her methods for planning class themes very involved! But it did give me some good ideas about how to be more intentional about my yoga class themes and a lot of the "what not to do" advice was helpful. I've already been teaching for awhile and this may have been more useful when I was first starting out and very stressed about how "exactly" to plan a yoga class!

[Dana Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book after hearing about it on a podcast....while I am a practicing Yogi I am not a teacher but interested in yoga on and off the mat. This book also seemed like it would have good guidance for creative aspects of my life, such as writing. It did. It also made me think about what teachers I am following and practicing with and what to look for in a good teacher. It would take couple more times of reading to fully digest how to be a "theme Weaver" if I were a teacher though.

[Beth Honeycutt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some good stuff in it. I appreciate some of the specific examples.

[Kimberly Purcell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theme Weaver is a book on how a yoga teacher can formulate a theme to use in their yoga classes. Michelle is very methodic in her training of creating a theme for yoga classes.
Her teaching style is very personable and laced with humor. She is straight forward in stating that the yoga teacher does not have to have a theme for their class however, if they do want one, here's how to do it. I was a bit confused about some of the meanings of the different parts of building a theme but as I continued to read on, Michelle makes it very clear.
I can see how I will use this book along with the companion workout to create themes for any yoga classes I might teach.
Side note: Michelle actually delivered the book and workbook to my house! She happened to be in my town to a craft fair with her mother and she said she just decided she'd drop it off instead of just mailing it to me. I was starstruck! She was a very nice lady, she talked a bit with me and told me that I need to come into her studio sometime for a class. Which, I plan to do.

[Camille · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has great bits of information but the author lost me when she made unnecessary comments about students wanting to die/hang themselves/kill themselves if you said “xyz”. It was a poor way of explaining that as a teacher, a theme should or should not have certain attributes. She made a comment about being from New York so maybe there is a sense of humor that isn’t resonating with me, but for someone who has written a book on the power of words, I could have done without the allegories to students or the author ending their life over a bad theme in a yoga class. For me it took away from the books’ message.

[Krissie Bentley · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I’m a little torn. I really enjoyed the material in this book. But I was inspired to read the book based on a podcast (Yogaland). The podcast was basically just a summary of the podcast so I didn’t feel like I learned anything new. I also didn’t find the examples helpful because they are not my style at all.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for new and seasoned yoga teachers for theming! Every teacher training program should have this as required reading. A light, yet deeply progressive read on finding your "why" as a teacher and teaching a clear themed yoga class. Now, I will be diving into the companion workbook!

[Cherie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not very useful book for yoga teachers; great if you have never taught a class before and aren't sure how to teach, but even those who have done a YTT won't likely find this helpful. Doesn't do much to help a teacher string together a class.

[JULIANE · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book.

I like the book, and it did inspire me, but was not really what I was expecting. However, I am new in Yoga, I still on the path of learning.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid resource. Better than I was expecting and has good examples.

[Rebecca Wenglinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect guide on how to create a theme for a yoga class

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book which helps you identify your why, communicate your niche to others, and theme classes effectively

[Terrin Marino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provided great structure on how and where to draw inspiration from to start theming your yoga classes. I specifically found the exercises to create a yoga mission and bio very helpful.

[Mary Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an inspiration (and a total challenge) ! This will be a wonderful resource, something to routinely come back to

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was helpful info given while other parts could be skimmed. Would rate 3.5.

[Mekare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a great book about themeing for yoga classes. She does often remind the reader that students are there for the yoga, not to hear us talk. The talk is yoga too. Yoga is more than an exercise program, it's a life system and there is nothing wrong with teaching our students about that. However, the ideas and outlines for creating inspiring themes is quite helpful. I'm enjoying implementing these suggestions into my teaching.

[Dave Frenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

To have run into this book just starting my yoga teaching career is a real blessing. I love Michelle's writing style, it's easy but she gets to the point and doesn't let the reader get off the hook.

The book is loaded with useful content in a refreshingly organized way

Luckily I had an experienced YT friend recommend this to me, thanks Erin

[Suzanne Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool book

Like her sense of humor and her straightforward instructions. The text would benefit from more examples of what other teachers do for better or worse and why she thinks that matters. It reads a little like an autobiography of a yoga teacher. Pretty helpful though overall

[Thea Nicholas]

she sounds pretty angry sometimes! wow! some good ideas but I wouldn't want to take a class from her.

[Laura Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it! great resource for teachers

[Heather Delia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for yoga instructors who want to take their teaching to the next level.

[Megan Bettis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This helped so much with weaving themes throughout my yoga classes and helped to further cultivate my authentic authentic teaching voice. I only wish it had been part of my teacher training required reading!

[Meganators]

helpful