Modifying a Yoga Pose

What does it mean to modify a yoga pose?

A modification of a yoga pose is simply a communication that suggests a change to the alignment of a pose. I may ask you to back out of a shape a little bit or change it slightly, so the pose is more stable or more energetically expressed. If needed, I may gently adjust your body or offer a prop to help you.

There should not be any struggle with your yoga practice. This does not mean that you should not challenge yourself, it means to challenge yourself within safe boundaries. If I see you struggling, I’m going to look for the source of the struggle, and assist you.

What are some sources of struggle within a yoga pose that require modification?

  • Misalignment

    If there is a misalignment in the pose it can feel more difficult to be in your full expression of it.

  • Perfectionism

    The intent is to find your own expression of the poses. They don’t need to be perfect. Modifications will allow you to practice safely as you become stronger, more flexible, and balanced.

  • Restrictions in Your Body

    Some things that can cause constriction are muscle tightness, recovering from injuries, or a chronic condition. Modifications are good workarounds for these issues.

How is modification helpful?

By first identifying the source of the struggle, it is then helpful to offer a suggestion to improve your experience. Modifications help keep you safe and improve the quality of your session. Once the modification is made, we can then evaluate the results to see if any further modifications are needed.

What is the intention behind assisting and modifying a yoga pose?

My intention is to teach you to feel for yourself the physical and energetic sensation in the postures and move into an expression of the pose that is most aligned for you. When you are aligned physically, mentally and energetically, you can then fully integrate your experience of yoga.

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Working with Misalignment of a Yoga Pose