This entry was posted on Jun 14, 2022 by Charlotte Bell.
For a number of years now, I’ve been listening to of a well-liked yoga instructing approach. I’ve heard about it immediately from mates and have learn it on-line. It’s apparently de rigueur for lecturers to suggest that college students relaxation in Balasana (Youngster’s Pose) if the trainer presents one thing particularly difficult. I’m all for protecting college students protected in school. It’s arguably an important accountability of a yoga trainer. However I’m not so eager on merely recommending Youngster’s Pose each time a pupil feels over-challenged.
Why Not Advocate Youngster’s Pose?
It’s completely applicable to suggest Youngster’s Pose as a respite within the midst of an lively class. Anybody can profit from taking trip to verify in with their physique. However when a trainer recommends practising Youngster’s Pose when a pupil “can’t do” what the remainder of the category is practising, the pose can really feel like punishment. In in the present day’s aggressive yoga atmosphere, who needs to be the individual resting in Youngster’s Pose when all people else is taking part totally? This might, doubtlessly have the other impact that the trainer intends. College students would possibly keep away from practising Balasana so as to not really feel like the one that “can’t sustain.”
Be Artistic
Another excuse to not default to Youngster’s Pose is a matter of instructing talent. I provide alternate options in my courses on a regular basis. However in 36 years of instructing, I’m fairly certain I’ve by no means supplied Youngster’s Pose as an alternative choice to, say, Urdhva Dhanurasana (Upward Bow Pose), Virasana (Hero’s Pose) or Virabhadrasana III (Warrior III Pose), for instance. That’s as a result of it doesn’t matter what pose you is likely to be instructing, there’s all the time an alternate that confers comparable advantages.
For instance, an alternative choice to Urdhva Dhanurasana could be Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose). For a pupil whose knees don’t tolerate Virasana, I’d suggest sitting larger, on a yoga block or two. An individual who’s having hassle balancing in Virabhadrasana III can place yoga blocks below their fingers.
Youngster’s Pose Alternate options in Vinyasa Lessons
When you’re aware of which elements of the physique are being stretched and/or strengthened in any pose, you’ll be able to all the time provide you with an alternate. As a result of I educate conventional Hatha-style courses, it’s straightforward for me to assist college students discover various poses. We spend sufficient time in poses that they’ll simply set themselves up with additional props, or do a special pose fully. In a fast-paced Vinyasa-style class, it’s extra of a problem, however you’ll be able to nonetheless do it.
For instance, some college students may have a break from the extreme hand and wrist weight bearing in most Vinyasa courses. Repeating the sequence of Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Dealing with Canine Pose) to Chaturanga Dandasana to Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward-Dealing with Canine Pose) time and again in a Vinyasa class can take a toll on the fragile buildings of the fingers and wrists. (The fingers and wrists are usually not actually designed for extreme weight bearing; they’re fitter for wonderful actions.)
As a substitute of telling them to relaxation in Youngster’s Pose, right here’s an concept. Have them follow the Downward Canine-Chaturanga-Upward Canine sequence on their forearms as a substitute of their fingers. They’ll nonetheless get the identical core strengthening, hamstring stretching, backbending advantages as they might within the conventional sequence. However they received’t compromise their fingers and wrists. You might additionally suggest that they skip Chaturanga typically or substitute Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) for Urdhva Mukha Svanasana. This fashion, your college students can nonetheless take part within the move of the category with out sacrificing their fingers and wrists.
Make a Listing of Youngster’s Pose Alternate options
It may be useful to make a listing of poses you educate frequently. During which poses do you typically suggest Youngster’s Pose? Beneath every pose, listing what’s being stretched and/or strengthened. Then take into consideration different poses that supply the identical advantages. Listing these poses beneath. Making a listing might help you combine the data mentally. It will make it extra accessible to you within the context of a category.
Once more, there’s completely nothing incorrect with Youngster’s Pose. It’s a beautiful method to pause and combine within the midst of a category. However it’s not a catchall pose for everybody in each occasion. Exploring methods to seek out applicable alternate options will develop your instructing abilities. And if you develop your instructing abilities, your college students profit.
About Charlotte Bell
Charlotte Bell found yoga in 1982 and commenced instructing in 1986. Charlotte is the creator of Aware Yoga, Aware Life: A Information for On a regular basis Observe and Yoga for Meditators, each printed by Rodmell Press. Her third e book is titled Hip-Wholesome Asana: The Yoga Practitioner’s Information to Defending the Hips and Avoiding SI Joint Ache (Shambhala Publications). She writes a month-to-month column for CATALYST Journal and serves as editor for Yoga U On-line. Charlotte is a founding board member for GreenTREE Yoga, a non-profit that brings yoga to underserved populations. A lifelong musician, Charlotte performs oboe and English horn within the Salt Lake Symphony and folks sextet Pink Rock Rondo, whose DVD received two Emmy awards in 2010.