Have you ever sat in a yoga class and wondered if it could be doing more for you? Maybe you're working around an injury and holding back. Maybe stress has taken over, or you're in the middle of a big life change and looking for something steady.
There are so many reasons people come to yoga, and not all of them fit neatly into a group class. That's where 1:1 yoga comes in. I teach private sessions across the New Forest, around Minstead, Lyndhurst and Totton. In this post I want to show you what it actually looks like, through the story of one of my recent clients.
Who 1:1 yoga is for
Private yoga can help if you are:
recovering from an injury and want to trust your body again
managing stress, anxiety or poor sleep
wanting to build strength, mobility or body confidence
going through a life transition, such as menopause, children leaving home or caring for elderly parents
looking for meaning, presence or a sense of belonging
new to yoga and find the idea of a busy class daunting
already practising and curious to go deeper
Some people come to me for physical reasons. Others want emotional, mental or spiritual support, and many come for a mix of all of these. Yoga is multi-faceted, and that's one of the reasons I love it so much.
How my 1:1 sessions work
An initial chat. We talk about what's brought you here and how often you'd like to meet. It's also a chance to see if we're a good fit.
An onboarding form. I send you a form I've designed to get to the root of how you feel in your body, what you want to achieve and your longer-term goals.
Your first session. We start where you are now, not where a standard sequence says you should be.
Home practice. You leave with a practice worksheet, plus notes and feedback from our session.
Weekly check-ins. I check in once a week, and you're free to message me with questions in between.
Building over time. Each session builds on the last, and your practice adapts as you progress.
There's no long-term programme to sign up to. You decide how often we meet in person and how much you practise in your own time.
A real example: building shoulder strength and body confidence
My most recent client already practises yoga and loves her long-standing vinyasa class. But a lack of strength and mobility in her shoulders meant she was holding back, especially in weight-bearing poses.
She also has diastasis recti (a separation of the abdominal muscles), which she's conscious of. On top of that, she was feeling achy, most likely from stress and sitting at a desk all day. Those were the physical niggles. What she really wanted was more strength and more confidence in her body.
Why we didn't start with a yoga sequence
A classic sequence isn't what she needs right now. Instead, I've given her:
movements that build body awareness, starting with something as simple as looking at her posture
breath practice that connects to movement and to how her core works
gentle shoulder mobility and strengthening
modified core strengthening
These are the foundations of change. They're small and gradual, but with practice and repetition they'll carry into her vinyasa class, her other exercise and how she feels every day. Learning her limits, her movement patterns and her posture all builds towards body confidence. From there, we'll build a yoga sequence that keeps supporting her goals.
“I felt Kara understood the problem I was dealing with and gave me some exercises I knew I could manage until our following session, Kara has continued to check in and make sure i’m managing, - I am really looking forward to growing stronger over the coming months with her guidance”
If you have diastasis recti, I always recommend checking in with a women's health physiotherapist alongside our work together.
This is just one example. I'm also working with people whose goals are emotional, mental or spiritual. It's my own years of personal practice that I draw on in every session.
1:1 yoga and group classes
Private sessions aren't a replacement for your favourite class. Weekly classes are wonderful, and I still teach them. Going a bit deeper on your own can simply help you get more out of them, without feeling you have to hold back.
If you'd rather practise with a friend or family member, I also offer small private group sessions.
Is 1:1 yoga right for you?
I'll be honest: this won't work if you're not willing to practise between our sessions. I won't be hounding you, but I am committing to you.
I'll give you the foundations and the yoga that suits your body as it is now, and I'll adapt it as you change and progress. That's the beauty of working closely together: accountability, progression and real support towards your long-term goals.
If you've read this and thought "yes, that's me" get in touch for an initial chat. We'll see if we're a good fit. Is it time you invested in you?
Frequently asked questions
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No. 1:1 sessions work just as well if you've never tried yoga, and many people find it an easier way to start than a busy class.
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That's up to you. We'll agree what works in our initial chat, and you can change it as you go.
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I teach private sessions around Minstead, Lyndhurst and Totton in the New Forest.
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Yes. I offer small private group sessions too, so just mention it when you get in touch.
About me
I'm Kara Gray, a yoga teacher based in the New Forest. I've been teaching for over 9 years and practising for many more, and I hold a Level 4 Certificate in Teaching Yoga from the British Wheel of Yoga, completed through their 500-hour progression. I studied at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, India. I teach group classes, restorative sessions and personalised 1:1 yoga.