Drawing from a wide variety of teaching styles across the teaching spectrum will assist the instructor in ensuring that the concepts and principles they hope their class will learn are in fact learned.
    Beginning with the command style, all students will gain a base knowledge of terms and their meanings.  Command style also helps create a safe learning environment as their is no deviation from what the instructor precisely wishes of their class.  This is of importance in yoga, as some positions can cause injury if proper alignment is not emphasized.
    From here, the teacher can move to practice style, where each learner can explore the limits of their own body.  Yoga is a very personal exercise and will look very different depending on who is performing it.  As the instructor moves through the teaching spectrum there is an increasing number of opportunities for students to explore personal variation.  Practice style also allows the teacher to circulate through the class and offer specific feedback to those who require it.
    Once the class has a sufficient base of knowledge it is appropriate to introduce the reciprocal style.  It is important here to bear in mind that not everyone will look exactly the same, and that the observer should be helping the doer try to emulate the correct position as closely as possible even though the doer may have personal limitations.
    Enjoyment of the activity is paramount if the instructor wishes the students to continue the activity on their own, therefore students should not dispair if they do not exactly match the instructor who models it for them.  Task cards, part of the self check style of teaching, are an excellent way of learning yoga as they allow the learner to progress at their own pace.  These cards can also be beneficial in having students learn proper terminology.  Each card should contain detailed instructions on how to achieve the position, accompanied by a suitable diagram.
    Similar benefits can be had through an inclusion style of teaching where the learner determines their own base ability level from which to begin.  Some students may find beginner positions not challenging enough and may lose interest.  By determining their own beginning level, those students who desire a greater challenge can have one.
    When determining which teaching style to use, it may be appropriate to use some styles for some poses, and other styles for other poses.  Additionally, it may be appropriate to use certain styles to begin a lesson and others to finish.  As previously mentioned, a command style of teaching is an excellent way to begin a lesson for reasons of safety and to ensure a knowledge base.  Another style towards the other end of the spectrum which may be suitable to use at the beginning of a lesson is a divergent style.  By posing questions such as "what do you think such a pose would look like?" and only giving a vague description of it allows learners to be creative and makes learning yoga more fun, social and interactive.
    Eventually, the ultimate goal of the instructor should be to have a self sufficient learner who has a desire to improve their knowledge and skill of the art and exercise of yoga.  As the teacher and learner move through the various teaching styles, a conscious effort should be made to promote creativity and a variety of poses to keep interest high.  Different teacher/class dynamics will ultimately determine how and why you as a teacher decide which style you will employ.