Yoga can be a powerful force for good in your life, but it's important to do it the right way. That's why, when teaching others, either via video or audio instruction, your words, delivery, and approach are vitally important.
One of the best ways to ensure that your yoga class is effective and safe is to write a script. Not only will this help you to stay on track, but it will also help you to be more concise and focused in your teaching.
But whether you are walking students through poses or taking them through calming meditations, how can you ensure the script is spot on? From getting the length of the pauses right to ensuring you've chosen the right voice, here are a few tips for writing a script for your yoga audio pieces or videos.
How Long Should the Pauses Be?
In short, it depends on your specific video or audio as well as the instructions you're delivering. You could be instructing someone to strike a specific yoga pose, or you could be asking someone to repeat an affirmation you've just read to them.
The point is your pauses should be in line with the action or instruction you are giving. If you are giving a long instruction, then your pause should be correspondingly longer; likewise, your pause should be shorter if you're giving a quick instruction.
Generally speaking, aim for pauses that are around 3-5 seconds long. This will give your students enough time to process the instruction without being so long that they lose focus.
Can Someone Else Write the Script for Me?
When coming up with a script for yoga audio or video, many instructors get hung up on the writing itself. But the good news is that there is no need for you to write it yourself if you don't want to.
There are several freelance marketplaces with certified yogis offering their video and audio script writing services. All you need to do is provide the details of what you are looking for, and they will take it from there. You can then use their work to add bits and pieces you feel are missing and personalize it to your unique teaching style.
Should I Record Video First and Add Voiceover? Or Voiceover First and Then Perform Poses for Video?
Generally speaking, it's easier to write your script and hand it over to your professional voiceover artist after you've filmed yourself performing poses. This is because you'll have a better sense of what you'll need in terms of scripts and voice tone/style once you've watched every back, which you can then communicate to your voiceover artist.
However, if you're more comfortable with filming yourself and then adding the voiceover later, that's perfectly fine as well. Just be sure to at least storyboard your video (so you know how everything will flow), and don't forget to leave enough space in the video for the voiceover to be added (you don't want it sounding rushed or crammed in).
Should I Add Music? What Kind of Music Should I Add? What Volume Should it Be? Can I Get Someone to Put the Music to the Voiceover and to the Video for Me?
Music is a vital element of any yoga video or audio recording. It sets the tone for your class or session and helps to create an environment that is both calming and inspiring.
When it comes to adding music, there are a few things you'll need to consider. First, what kind of music should you add? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question; it depends on your personal preferences and the type of yoga you are performing. But, broadly speaking, it should be relaxing, meditative, and inspirational in nature.
It should be loud enough to be heard but not so loud that it drowns out your voiceover or the sound of your students' breathing. You can either add music yourself or get someone else to do it for you, with many professional voiceover artists (including myself) offering this within their voiceover services for video narration.
How Long Should it Be?
How long is a piece of string? Joking aside, the age-old length question is tricky to answer without knowing the specifics, such as the style of yoga you are teaching or the nature of your recording (e.g. filming poses for an online class or recording audio for meditation).
However, as a general rule of thumb, aim to keep your yoga audio or video under 30 minutes. Anything longer than that, and you run the risk of your students losing focus.
It's also worth bearing in mind that, as your students progress, they may want to start working through more extended and more advanced classes. So, rather than creating one long recording, it might be better to split it up into shorter segments that can be used as standalone classes.
Speak to a Professional Yoga Voiceover Artist Today Regarding Your Video or Audio Recording
Creating a yoga audio or video can seem like a daunting task. However, with the help of a professional voiceover artist, it doesn't have to be. If you're not sure where to start or what you need, you can speak to me today, and I can help guide you through the process.
I have helped dozens of yoga instructors deliver video classes, audio meditations, and affirmations over the years. Not only am I familiar with the jargon and poses, but I understand the tone of voice required for each element of this type of recording work.
So if you like the sound of a talented female British voiceover artist overseeing your yoga content, feel free to get in touch today for a free consultation. I am available on 07972 532937 or via email at NickyGriffithsVO@Gmail.com.
In the meantime, feel free to check out my voiceover services in my online shop or learn more about choosing the right voice for your yoga video here.
I look forward to teaming up together soon :-)
Nicky Griffiths
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