In the current yoga landscape, there’s a growing conversation around physical adjustments, with some schools choosing to step away from them entirely. At Sacred Paths Yoga, we acknowledge the complexities surrounding this practice, yet we feel that physical adjustments are not only valid but essential tools for fostering deeper connections, both with the body and with the teacher.

While alignment can manifest in many forms—spiritual, energetic, mental, and emotional—here, we are focusing on anatomical alignment. Proper anatomical alignment is the foundation for safe and effective asana practice. It prevents injuries, builds strength, and facilitates healing on multiple levels. When the body is fully aligned, the mind quiets, energy flows, and the practice becomes a pathway for connecting to the divine.

We believe that physical touch, when applied with clear intention, respect, and consent, offers a profound opportunity to teach correct anatomical alignment. Verbal cues, demonstrations, and props can guide a student, but physical adjustments allow the student to feel their alignment, often experiencing a deeper expression of a pose that they might not reach on their own. This hands-on approach, when done skillfully, brings students beyond their self-imposed boundaries, creating a space for surrender and transformation.

Why Physical Adjustments Matter

The debate around physical adjustments often centers on concerns about consent, discomfort, or inappropriate touch. These are valid concerns and underscore the importance of teachers acting with integrity, respect, and sensitivity. However, we cannot deny the powerful impact of safe and mindful physical connection.

• Building Trust Through Connection: Receiving physical adjustments fosters trust between teacher and student. This trust can translate into a deeper practice, allowing students to soften, let go, and find a place of surrender in their bodies.
• Guiding Students Beyond Limitations: Often, a gentle adjustment can help a student realize they are capable of more than they thought. It’s not about forcing the body into extreme postures, but rather guiding it safely toward its optimal alignment.
• Facilitating Energetic Shifts: A well-timed and appropriate physical touch doesn’t only shift the body but also the energy. The teacher, through physical connection, becomes a conduit for deeper healing—bridging the physical and energetic bodies.

While some might argue that physical adjustments are no longer necessary in modern yoga, we believe that, when done mindfully, they provide unparalleled benefits. It’s not just about the physical body; it’s about empowering students to embody their practice in a more profound way.

Guidelines for Ethical Touch in Yoga

We recognize that the responsibility of offering physical adjustments must be approached with care. At Sacred Paths Yoga, our teachers are trained to follow specific guidelines to ensure all adjustments are rooted in respect, safety, and non-harm (ahimsa):

1. Permission and Awareness: Always seek consent. Every student’s body and boundaries are different, and teachers must remain mindful of personal space.
2. Intentionality: Touch with clear intention. We encourage our teachers to ask themselves if the adjustment is truly necessary for the student’s progress in the posture. The goal should always be to serve the student’s highest good.
3. Sensitivity: Be aware of private or sensitive areas and approach with caution. Avoid any contact that could be misconstrued or uncomfortable for the student.
4. Personal Practice: Teachers must embody the alignment and energetic principles in their own practice to guide others effectively. If we can’t feel alignment in our own bodies, how can we guide our students to feel it in theirs?

Ultimately, physical adjustments are not about dominating or forcing the body into alignment; they’re about offering gentle, supportive guidance. When used wisely, they become a powerful tool to facilitate growth, trust, and healing.

We recognize the ongoing dialogue surrounding this topic, but at Sacred Paths Yoga, we stand by the practice of physical adjustments. With mindfulness, respect, and pure intention, these adjustments offer our students a deeper connection to themselves, to their practice, and to the divine.

By choosing to offer physical adjustments, we also choose to honor a time-honored tradition in yoga that speaks to the essence of human connection—safe, respectful, and empowering. For those who disagree, we invite you to explore this practice with an open heart and see the transformation it can bring.