When I did my original yoga teacher training, a good part of the work in studying the asanas was learning to look at practitioners closely and make hands-on adjustments to help them achieve “full” expression of the postures.
Now, education in anatomical variation is a standard part of my teaching. I am continually gratified to see students have “aha” moments when they actually begin to understand their individual bodies — why some postures are easy for them while others are difficult (or impossible), why props are valuable tools and not remedial.
The research and publication of information relating to anatomy and biomechanics, yoga philosophy and tradition, and both the science of pain and our complex attitudes surrounding it, has exploded. The last few years, this research has sparked much discussion in the yoga community as to what is a safe asana practice. I believe that, as teachers, it is imperative that we follow this discussion, educate ourselves, and use what we find to make us better teachers.
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The focus of my teaching has also affected my thinking. Most of my work, now, is with seniors or with people who have health conditions that have led them to practice yoga for therapeutic reasons. I have two priorities when working with them — to keep them safe and to help them improve their conditions and general health. Informed by solid biomechanical research and an understanding of their particular risk factors, limitations and needs, I can design classes that keep them safe and emphasize functional movement that will make a difference in their day-to-day lives. Incorporating pranayama practices and meditation techniques into these classes, helps these populations considerably improve their quality of life.
Finally, I have come to the conclusion that instructions such as “listen to your body” or “know the difference between good pain and bad pain,” mean nothing to many, many people with poor body awareness. As yoga teachers, we often make the assumption that our students will have the same body awareness that we have. Most of them don’t. These gems mean nothing unless we teach them to understand their bodily sensations, their movements and how to listen to them. They need to understand tension, compression, nerve pain, end range of motion etc. to be able to recognize and describe to themselves (or their teachers) their sensations and how to work (or not work) with them. They also need to understand their own attitudes towards pain and unravel where these are coming from and if they are healthy.
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Now, I tend to construct classes out of asanas that contribute to either functional strength or functional mobility (vs. flexibility). I prefer to speak of “beneficial” or “optimal” alignment rather than “good “ alignment, putting the focus on the individual’s needs, rather than the aesthetics of the posture. My physical adjustments are minimal and only done with permission. I want my students to understand their bodies, to develop self-awareness and to be able to practice safely without a teacher’s (or despite a teacher’s) instructions. I hope they will unravel unhealthy preconceptions and replace them with new, healthy notions. This is how my asana teaching has evolved and there is certainly evidence in this issue that others are on the same path.
From articles that look at asana practice from broad perspectives (such as yoga philosophy, yoga history and tradition or self-awareness, including the physical, psychological, emotional or spiritual) to the specific (such as functional anatomy, alignment, flexibility, adjustments, the use of props, or sacroiliac joint instability) to the personal, this issue contains many points of view on our September theme —safely practicing and teaching asanas.
We invite you to read, think about and, if you like, respond to these articles. The discussion is only beginning.
Joanne Preece
Editor
Editor
The articles published in Canadian Yogi represent the views of the writers. Canadian Yogi is a forum for our members to exchange ideas and information. Articles do not necessarily represent the Canadian Yogi or the Canadian Yoga Alliance’s position.