Yoga Adjustments

Adjustments during yoga can be absolutely amazing. A gentle touch from a knowledgeable instructor can lead you into a pose you thought you'd never be able to do. Adjustments during Savasana can help deepen your relaxation. Sometimes an adjustment can even trigger an emotional response and help you let go of something that really needed to be let go of. I witnessed all of these things during my latest teacher training weekend. The focus of this training module was Thai Yoga Massage and Anatomy because yoga instructors need to know how to do adjustments safely. All Yoga teachers should attend this training module or watch Paul Grilley's Anatomy for Yoga DVD. At the very least they should never hop on and crank away like the cartoon above. 

Yoga adjustments and yoga poses should never be painful. A little discomfort is okay, but not pain. Discomfort yes, pain no. Delicious stretch that's so intense you might be sore tomorrow good, pain BAD. Say it with me, PAIN BAD. 

PAIN BAD!!!

 JUST SAY NO, NINJA KICK THAT MEAN YOGA INSTRUCTOR AND LEAVE IF YOU HAVE TO!

Pain bad. 

I know there are yoga instructors out there who will push, pull and sit on someone to try and get them in to what they think Downward Facing Dog is supposed to look like. But what if the body they're sitting on isn't designed to do it that way? I have a friend who's been doing yoga for twenty plus years and she can't get her heels to the ground in down dog. My yoga teacher can't do a back-bend because his arms won't even go back to his ears. Their bodies don't do what they're being asked to do. 

A good instructor will provide adaptations to poses or give an alternate pose. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're doing something wrong and don't let anyone cause you physical pain. 

Namaste.