The Abhyava guides
Guides for teachers who want students to keep practising
Practical guides, lesson plan templates and checklists for independent teachers: plan classes, keep students practising at home and see who is slipping.
Start hereHow to keep students practising between classesA teacher's guide to home practice: why students stop between lessons, how to set practice that gets done, and how to see who is slipping.Read the guide, 7 min →Teaching well
All teaching well guides →How independent teachers keep students practising, see who is slipping, talk to parents and spend less time on admin.
How to keep students practising between classes
A teacher's guide to home practice: why students stop between lessons, how to set practice that gets done, and how to see who is slipping.
7 min readTeaching wellWhy students quit lessons, and how to see it coming
The warning signs that a student is about to quit lessons, the common reasons they leave and what independent teachers can do to keep them.
4 min readTeaching wellCheck-in messages for students who have gone quiet
Copy-and-edit message templates for students who stopped practising or attending: short, warm, no guilt, for adults, teens and parents of children.
5 min readTeaching wellHow to track student progress in private lessons
Simple ways for private teachers to track progress: lesson notes, skills maps, recordings, milestones and short updates for students and parents.
4 min readTeaching wellHow to give video feedback to students
How to give useful, kind feedback on student practice videos: what to ask for, how to watch, what to say and how to do it in two minutes a clip.
4 min readTeaching wellCommunicating with parents as a teacher of children
How to talk to parents of young students: what to tell them each week, how to share progress, handle problems and keep messages short and kind.
4 min readTeaching wellProtecting student data: a guide for independent teachers
A practical privacy guide for independent teachers: what student data to keep, consent for children, handling videos, deleting data and choosing safe tools.
5 min readTeaching wellHow to write home practice assignments students will do
How to write home practice assignments that get done: a name, a time, exact steps, a demo and a way to show it is finished. With before-and-after examples.
5 min readTeaching wellHow to spend less time on admin as a solo teacher
Practical ways for independent yoga, music and dance teachers to cut admin: batch tasks, reuse plans, template messages and see who needs attention at a glance.
4 min readTeaching wellTurn this week's class into social media posts
How yoga, music and dance teachers can turn each class into Instagram posts, reel captions and newsletter lines in ten minutes, without exposing students.
4 min readPlan a class, use a lesson plan template and keep students practising at home between classes.
How to plan a yoga class: a step-by-step method
A simple method for planning a yoga class from theme to cool-down: choose a focus, build the peak, order the poses and plan the timing and cues.
5 min readYogaYoga lesson plan template with a 60-minute example
Copy a simple yoga lesson plan template, then see it filled in for a 60-minute vinyasa class with timings, cues, props and home practice.
4 min readYogaYoga teacher software: what to look for, and what to skip
What yoga teacher software should do, from class planning and home practice to student tracking and parent consent, and how to choose without overpaying.
5 min readYogaHow to get yoga students to practise at home
Practical ways to help yoga students build a home practice: short sequences, clear instructions, easy starts and gentle accountability.
5 min readMusic
All music guides →Get students to practise, run exam preparation, and use practice logs, lesson plans and online feedback.
How to get music students to practise (without nagging)
Why music students skip practice and what actually helps: smaller tasks, clear instructions, recordings, short feedback loops and parent support.
5 min readMusicA music lesson plan template for private teachers
A simple lesson plan template for private music teachers, with a filled-in 30-minute piano example covering warm-up, repertoire, technique and practice.
4 min readMusicPractice log template: what to track and why
A simple practice log template for music, dance and yoga students, with what to record, what to leave out and how teachers can use it each week.
4 min readMusicPreparing students for graded music exams: a 12-week plan
A 12-week plan for preparing students for a graded music exam: pieces, technical work, sight-reading, aural tests, mock exams and practice habits.
4 min readMusicHow long should a child practise an instrument?
A realistic guide to how long children should practise an instrument by age and stage, with tips on making short sessions count.
4 min readMusicTeaching music online: how to give feedback between lessons
How to give useful feedback to music students between lessons: short video clips, quick recordings, and a simple weekly routine that works online.
4 min readMusicCarnatic vocal practice routine: a teacher's guide
A teacher's guide to a daily Carnatic vocal practice routine: shruti, varisais, alankarams, raga work and how to set home practice for students.
5 min readDance
All dance guides →Plan classes, prepare for a recital, track progress and set home practice for dancers.
How to plan a dance class that flows
A practical method for planning a dance class: warm-up, technique, across the floor, combination and cool-down, with timings, music choices and progression.
5 min readDanceDance lesson plan template (with a worked example)
Copy a simple dance lesson plan template and see it filled in for a 60-minute contemporary class, with warm-up, technique, combination and home practice.
4 min readDanceDance recital preparation: a week-by-week timeline
A 16-week timeline for dance recital preparation, covering choreography, cleaning, costumes, music, rehearsals, parents and the final week.
5 min readDanceBharatanatyam practice at home: araimandi and adavus
A teacher's guide to Bharatanatyam home practice: building araimandi safely, drilling adavus, hastas and abhinaya, with a sample weekly plan.
5 min readDanceHow to track progress in a dance class
Simple ways for dance teachers to track student progress: skills checklists, video comparisons, milestones, notes and how to share progress with parents.
4 min readMeditation
All meditation guides →Structure a course, plan a class and help students keep a home practice going.
How to structure an eight-week mindfulness course
A teacher's guide to structuring an eight-week mindfulness course: weekly themes, session flow, home practice, group sharing and keeping people engaged.
5 min readMeditationMeditation class lesson plan template
A simple meditation class lesson plan template with a worked 60-minute example: arrive, practice, inquiry, teaching and a short home practice.
4 min readMeditationHelping students keep a home meditation practice
Practical ways to help meditation students build a home practice that lasts: short sessions, recordings, realistic goals and a kind response to missed days.
4 min readMeditationHow to structure a guided meditation without a script
A simple structure for leading a guided meditation in your own words: arrive, anchor, guide, pause and return, with phrasing tips and timing.
4 min read