113: How To Respond To Students Who Want "Correct" Alignment with Ariele Foster

Do your students often ask if they are doing a pose “right”? And when they do, how do you answer that question? It’s complicated! You may teach from the perspective that there is no universal “correct” or “ideal” or even “safe” way to practice a pose, but then how do you answer that question?

There is a reason they have this question, and as the person responsible for holding space for their practice, you want to tell them something, right?! 

If you’ve been listening to The Mentor Sessions for a while, then you know I love conversations like this, and today I’ve got my friend Ariele Foster with us to unpack this idea. How do we respond to our students who want “correct” alignment? 

Ariele is a doctor of physical therapy and the founder of Yoga Anatomy Academy, a no-nonsense, evidence-based resource for learning yoga anatomy and movement science. She runs an integrative physical therapy clinic in Washington DC (and via telehealth). In addition to teaching online courses and an anatomy mentorship through Yoga Anatomy Academy, she has also taught online courses for and written for Yoga Journal on hip stability and fascia release. Ariele began teaching yoga in 2001 and her grandmother was also a yoga teacher. 

Listen to our previous conversations in Episode 7: Anatomy Informed Yoga and Episode 28: Hip Injuries and Yoga

In this episode you’ll hear:

  • the connection between alignment and anxiety

  • what students are really asking when they want to know if they are doing a pose correctly

  • how Ariele and I respond to that question (slightly differently!)

Learn More From Ariele:

This Episode Is Sponsored By Offering Tree

It is almost essential these days that yoga teachers have an online presence, even if it is minimal. But many yoga teachers are going beyond having a simple website and are now hosting their own online classes, or selling digital yoga class libraries. If you are one of these teachers, then I’m wondering… do you have a patchwork of software solutions eating up your time, energy and earnings? 

If you do, I’m excited to tell you about our partner, OfferingTree. They are an all-in-one software for your yoga teaching practice. With an Offering Tree site you can host your membership or on-demand library, post your class schedule, send emails directly to students, and take easy payments – all in one spot.

OfferingTree plans start at just $22/month, and I’m excited to partner with OfferingTree to offer The Mentor Sessions listeners a special discount! You can get 15% off an annual plan or 50% off the first three months by heading to OfferingTree.com/MENTOR

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114:  Pelvic Health in Yoga Classes with Shannon Crow

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112: How To Find New Private Clients with Mary Reddinger