The Great Adjustment Debate

Like just about everything in the yoga world, the subject of adjustments is approached very differently depending on the teacher's background, tradition and personal standpoint.

Most ashtangis, for example, are accustomed to strong adjustments, while in the Sivananda tradition, teachers are trained to adjust only occasionally.

Even then, the aim is a light touch meant to guide, rather than physically move, the practitioner.

At their best, mindfully executed adjustments are a wonderful way for the student to discover alignment and grace in a particular asana - helping to fine-tune awareness how the body 'should' feel in a particular pose.

In the worst case scenario, over-zealous or incorrect adjustments can - and this is not as unusual as you might think - lead to injury. I have heard of students being injured by a teacher pushing them beyond their limitations in Baddha Konasana.

Like most things, there is no right or wrong answer to the Great Adjustment Debate.

In the first of a two-part article on the subject, we ask a hand-picked selection of experienced teachers (as well as a few students) just how they approach the rather thorny subject of adjustments.

Sally Parkes - London-based yoga and pilates teacher

Just as in the frequently asked question, 'What style of yoga is best?', there is no straight forward answer. The subject of adjustments is a real grey area; and all we can do is discuss our views and experiences and put different opinions forward.

When I started my yoga practice a mere eight years ago, I stuck solely to the Iyengar yoga tradition and still to this day feel so grateful to Mr Iyengar for his amazing teachings and lifes' commitment to this wonderful approach to such a beautiful tradition.

But after three years of Iyengar practice in which I feel I built a good foundation of knowledge and my body started to open, I felt that my mind and body needed something else.

That's when I discovered the breathtaking practice of Ashtanga yoga. I found it to be the most challenging thing I'd ever done and the adjustments felt both painful and amazing at the same time.

Every morning I would quietly breathe through the discomfort as my muscles leg go. After a few weeks I started to really enjoy the amazing feeling of being adjusted and stretched five or six times a week.

The adjustments I received in the Mysore-style class helped to propel me forwards into new realms faster than other traditions I had and have since tried. I progressed faster than I thought possible and I will be forever grateful to my teachers and their assistance over this amazing time.

Unfortunately, I did also see a few injuries in the class that happened during adjustments, popped knees and collar bones being the most memorable!

Personally I received a number of over zealous adjustments in Baddha Konasana during my teacher training. This lead to an over stretched hip flexor, alot of pain and reduced practice for three months while I waited for it to heal. 

More to the point, I was clearly in pain during this adjustment as I was crying!

I like to think my teacher at the time thought I was having an ‘emotional opening', hence the tears, but looking back I think his ego took over and thought, as I did, that he knew best.

So now we find ourselves in that grey area. At what point does the student say enough is enough and does the teacher know best?

As a teacher myself, I think it is somewhat arrogant to think you know someones' body better than they do. Yes, you may know yoga better than they do, but you certainly haven't lived in their bodies as long as they have.

In my opinion, what is required is mutual respect. Is that what yoga is about anyway? My intention is not to be negative towards ashtanga teachers - but I feel there should be more scope for students to speak up if things get a little heavy handed.

This is of course easier said than done, especially for new students, so it should be our job as teachers to ‘tune in' to out students and realise that even if their bodies' can take a strong adjustment, their minds may not. We need to try and sense what they are open to on a mental and physical level.

A beginner may find a class overwhelming enough without me pressing their face into their legs, whereas someone with a little more experience, should be gently encouraged to ‘be open' to an adjustment with their feedback gratefully received by the teacher.

I do adjust in my classes but always gently. Maybe this is less effective but at least I won't be hurting anyone. And if the student doesn't have good breath awareness, I don't even go there.

In my experience, adjustments without the breath is futile anyway. Yoga is breath after all.

In conclusion, I believe that adjustments are a very useful tool to propel ones practice gain deeper benefits of the asanas.

But teachers need to be fully tuned in to their students and be aware that whilst one adjustment is ok for one student, it may not be for another. Communication and mutual respect should be key components.

Anyway, what's the rush? Aren't us yogis supposed to be about the journey and not the destination? Now, who was that teacher who said ‘slowly slowly, all is coming?'.

Mine Ertanin - practitioner
When I first started yoga it was little "tweaks" that my teacher would give me and these really helped me get into the right posture without having to readjust my whole body.

For example, turning my foot in instead of out; pointing my hips forward; helping me push my heel on the floor. These were helpful because they showed me and my teacher what my body could and couldn't do.

I think it's very important in the beg to receive these little tweaks not only to get the posture right but also because it helps to build a relationship between the student and the teacher.

I was quite nervous as a beginner and I think it also gives you reassurance that your teacher is with you on the journey.

As I progressed and he "pushed" me into postures I was anxious but confident and comfortable with my teacher because of the little tweaks I'd received.

I'm relatively flexible, so me and my ego like to think I go into a posture as much as possible but then when my teacher pushes me further into that posture it shows me just how deep I really can go and the next time I get into that posture I try to recreate the same depth without my teacher's assistance.

To me this is one of the requirement of a good teacher. To actually re-adjust me and show me what I am capable of doing.

Having said that, regardless of the experience or capability of the teacher, if I'm just randomly dropping into a class for the first time I would rather they did not adjust me intensively into any posture.

Maybe it's the level of intimacy; or maybe it's because I'm not trusting enough to know that the teacher knows my body well enough.

Anne Marie Newland - founder, Sun Power Yoga
I use hands-on adjustments frequently. I have learned as a trainer and learning champion that people absorb information in may different ways.

A lot of students have come to a yoga class for the first time and for some its the first time they have exercised; making a leap from word to physical can be a huge challenge.

For many the use of what we as Sun Power Yoga teachers refer to as 'appropriate hands on' is the most satisfying and constructive way to communicate the physical instruction.

Yoga is a subtle practice and a Spiritual one. Why should it be any different from any other human aspect of body work that we touch? As I say to all my teachers, don't be afraid and touch with sensitivity and respect - and always where appropriate!

Unfortunately, some teachers do perform over-zealous adjustments. I have seen with my own eyes vulnerable students moved into poses that the body may or may not be able to cope with.

Abuse is a strong word but when I see teachers use their power, good looks and position to move bodies and minds without the appropriate reasons for that adjustment I see only alienation, dis-empowerment and sadness.

If you are a teacher, as yourself what is appropriate: Can you assist a student into correct alignment for the sake of safe knees, back, or neck for instance?

Can you help them achieve a pose they are ready for but did not yet 'feel' how to reach? If the answer is 'yes, then adjust!

David Muehsam - internationally respected yoga teacher
It's become quite common in recent years for teachers to move through a yoga class giving many physical adjustments, and the students can come to expect and enjoy being touched.

So, it's possible that teachers sometimes feel obligated to make sure everyone gets plenty of adjustment. This opens the door to ‘over adjusting,' -

adjusting at times when it's not necessary.

Many years of experience with students of differing experience, ability and body type is needed to understand adjusting, and especially when not to adjust.

My approach is to adjust only when I think it's necessary. There are times when adjustment can help a student to discover a new aspect or depth of a posture, but in general, I feel my role is to help the students learn to practice on their own.

Of course, adjusting does not always mean pushing people deeper into yoga postures; it may be done verbally, or with very gentle physical corrections or directions.

Here are a few guidelines:

• Know when to leave your students alone. Developing yoga postures takes a long time, and allowing this organic process to proceed at its own rate is often the quickest, most harmonious, and most sustainable, route. When students go too deep, too quickly, it can result in tension deep inside the body. While the body may appear to be quite supple, it can take years to unravel this tension. Finding the true depth of each posture means performing the posture in perfect harmony, and it takes time to reach this level of practice. Be patient and allow adjustment to be an organic part of the growth process.

• Know the posture. Understand very clearly what the action in the pose is, and how different body types respond anatomically to the pose. Certain postures may not be possible for certain body types, and skeletal structures, and the teacher should know what these are.

• Know the student. Each person is unique and needs a different approach to be adjusted. Know what the experience level of the student is, how often they are practising, what their level of health is, and what their long term goals in yoga are.

• Be absolutely clear on the desired outcome. Know exactly why you are adjusting the student and what you seek to do. If the purpose of the adjustment is to increase the depth of a pose, be 100% certain that the student is capable of this before you even think to place your hands on them. When in doubt DON'T ADJUST!

• Communicate your intent clearly. This could mean speaking to the student and telling them what you intend to do, and also communicating clearly through touch and your body language. Make sure that the student feels comfortable giving feedback.

• Never adjust only ‘for effect,' - ie to show the student that you are paying attention to them, or to show some kind of control over them. This ultimately destroys the student's respect and immediately halts the process of learning yoga.

• Be careful to avoid the impression of intimacy. Any physical touching can be interpreted as intimacy. Be especially careful where and how you touch the student and be aware that some students may misinterpret your actions, even if you are well-meaning.

• Also, many people do not receive enough touch in their daily lives, and the yoga class might be one of the only places where they are touched, so that they may become dependent upon adjustments for something other than learning yoga.

• Understand that you will be creating a teaching style through your manner and frequency of adjusting, and that your students will come to expect certain adjustments. Know to what degree you wish to do this. Some schools of yoga do not allow their teachers to give any physical adjustments whatsoever.

What do you think? If you have an opinion on this subject, feel free to log in and post a comment here. Alternatively, contact us via the contact form and we will consider publishing your opinion in part two of the article.