Mastering the Art of Hands-On Yoga Adjustments
Learning to teach is learning to see. Discover how we use precise, hands-on adjustments and props to guide students toward stability, safety, and deeper practice.
Here, I am using a yoga belt to help a student maintain hip elevation and stability in Purvottanasana (Upward Plank Pose). This adjustment ensures the lift comes from the legs and core, not from straining the lower back.
Inversions like Salamba Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand) require precise alignment for safety. My hands guide the student's legs to maintain a straight line from the shoulders to the feet, ensuring the neck is protected and the benefits of the pose are maximized.
A block can be a powerful tool for teaching spinal twists. In this assisted Marichyasana, I am guiding the student to use the block for support, allowing for a deeper, more open twist without compromising the posture.
This is an advanced adjustment for Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel Pose) using a belt. This technique helps the student to open the shoulders and lift the chest higher, achieving a deeper backbend with support and control.
A gentle touch can make all the difference in a restorative pose. Here, I am helping a student release tension in their lower back and hips in Apanasana (Knees-to-Chest Pose), encouraging relaxation and surrender.
In Camatkarasana (Wild Thing), proper alignment is key to feeling the expansive heart-opening benefits. I am supporting the student's back and guiding their arm to create a beautiful, stable arch.
This adjustment in a supported shoulder stand helps the student find balance and stability. By holding the feet, I provide a point of reference, allowing them to focus on engaging their core and lengthening their body.
Mastering Navasana (Boat Pose) is about core engagement and spinal alignment. This video shows how I guide students away from common mistakes like a rounded back, using wall support to build strength and stability correctly.
Virasana (Hero Pose) can be challenging for the knees and ankles. I teach you how to identify the source of a student's struggle and use props like blocks and blankets to make the pose accessible and beneficial.
Inversions like Halasana (Plow Pose) must be taught with utmost care. This tutorial demonstrates how to use a wall and a belt for safe adjustments, ensuring the student's neck is protected while they receive the full benefits of the pose.
About The Art of Alignment: Hands-On Adjustments
You have seen the photos—it is never about pushing someone into a pose. It is about feeling where the resistance is and using the right prop or a gentle, precise touch to guide them toward stability. We teach you how to look past the surface and identify the root cause of a student's struggle, whether it is tight hamstrings, a locked shoulder, or a misunderstanding of the pose. This is the difference between showing a shape and teaching a practice.
When you join our Yoga Teacher Training, we focus heavily on the 'why' and 'how' of every adjustment. We don't believe in forcing the body. Like we say, iska ulta rehta hai (it is the opposite). Instead of making the body fit the pose, we use props like belts, blocks, and wall ropes to make the pose fit the body. This makes yoga accessible for everyone, regardless of their current flexibility or history of injury.
Our training, available at our studios in Vile Parle, Wakad, and Hinjewadi, covers the technical side of adjustments in depth. You will learn:
- Safe Physical Assists: How to use your hands to provide a reference point without compromising your own posture or the student's safety.
- Prop Usage: How to use Iyengar-inspired techniques to help students achieve optimal alignment.
- Anatomy Awareness: Understanding common points of failure in poses like Virasana or Navasana, so you can intervene before strain turns into injury.
We don't just lecture on this; you will practice it. Whether you are prepping for your RYT-200 certification or looking to refine your skills as an established teacher, these modules give you the confidence to guide your students through their own transformation. If you are ready to move beyond the basics and start teaching with clarity and compassion, let us start that process together.
Asan Yoga
We are a team that loves the practice as much as we love teaching it. We believe yoga is about how you live, not just the shape you make on the mat. We are here to help you get the technical precision right so your practice, and your teaching, can truly flow.
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