When teaching yoga, there are many different styles of cueing poses. Some instructors are more anatomical in their descritptions and some use more imagery. No matter whether your instructor could double as a “boot camp” teacher or if they take you to another dimension with poetic phrases; they must mean what they say and make every word count. I’ve read many articles listing “so called” bad cues that are actually “inarticulate instruction”. Try to use positive reinforcement, affirmations and always allow for modifications in your classes. Study anatomy, physiology and kinesthetic movement in order to understand how the body moves through space.
For questions or comments please email me at monica@monicamathewsyoga.com
Here are a few of my favorite BAD CUES:
- Hinge from the waist (in a forward fold)
- Put all your weight in your hands in forward bend
- Clench and squeeze in your buttocks while in bridge
- Crescent lunge with Warrior 1 feet
- Lock your knees
- Tuck your tailbone under
- Tree pose with lifted foot on the standing leg knee
- Straighten up your spine and make your back really flat