Asana Laboratory Observation – Breath and general vibe, Feet and ankles, Knees, Pelvis, Spine, Rib cage, Chest and collarbones, Shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers, Where is the model’s energy?, verbal cues and hands on adjustments.

Basic Elements of Asana Practice

Basic Elements of Asana Practice – Being present, relaxing, breathing, rooting, stabilizing, aligning, moving, and energetically engaging.

General Principles in Giving Physical Cues and Adjustments

General Principles in Giving Physical Cues and Adjustments – Learn to feel how different bodies respond to your hands under varying conditions relating to gravity, resistance, and positioning. Stay grounded and attentive to your own stability and ease. Ask permission to touch. Attuned to the student’s breath, stability, and ease. Be clear and specific in giving the cue or adjustment without attachment to a specific preconceived outcome. Do not apply pressure to vulnerable joints, organs, or injured areas. Attention to and reinforce the foundation of the asana.

How Not to Touch in Asana

How Not to Touch – Knowing how to touch. Knowing how not to touch. Appropriate physical cueing. Distally, safe Biomechanics. Forceful adjustment can cause an injury as a student is pushed, pulled, or rotated beyond their safe range of motion. Meanderingly, our hands-on cues should be specific and deliberate. Blindly, staying fully present to what you are doing. Randomly, touch involves giving cues with no particular logic or order. Inappropriately – clear understanding of alignment, safe biomechanics, or crossing personal boundaries with overly sensuous or sexual touch.

Modifications, Variations, and the Use of Props

Description

Modifications, Variations, and the Use of Props – Different individual genetics, body structure, strength, flexibility, intention. B. K. S. Iyengar contributions to Hatha yoga. Asanas benefits equally accessible to all students. Stretch, strengthen, relax, or improve the alignment of the body. Props blocks, bolsters, blankets, straps, walls, chairs, sandbags, and eye pillows.

Pacing and Holding Asanas

Description

Pacing and Holding Asanas – Holding Asana at final pose. Importance of following our inner teacher in yoga practice. Ideal duration. Basic considerations (being present, breathe, relaxing), Class intensity level, Student ability, Style of yoga class, & duration.

Refining Asanas

Description

Refining Asanas: Individualizing Instruction – guide through process of self-reflection and refinement by suggesting, elements of refinement. Modification by observation. Understanding, body intelligence, muscle strength and flexibility, bone structure, and other factors. Observations and giving more specific instructions.

Transitioning into Asanas

Description

Transitioning into Asanas – Asanas pros and cons, be present, breathing at nose, relax, conscious body movement.

Transitioning out of Asanas

Description

Transitioning out of Asanas – Awareness, Breathe, relaxing muscles, counter pose.