Creating a clear and grounded experience in a yoga class begins with effective cueing. Cueing isn’t just a series of instructions, it shapes how students feel in each pose, guiding them to stay safe, focused, and fully present. This step-by-step guide to cueing a yoga class offers practical techniques that bring clarity and help students connect with their practice on a deeper level.
Step 1: Start with Simple Alignment Cues
Start each pose by establishing basic alignment. These cues should help students find stability, preventing strain and encouraging a strong foundation.
Tip: Focus on one or two key body parts per pose to avoid overwhelming students. For example, in Warrior II, you might say, “Bend your front knee over the ankle and press down through the back heel.”
Example: In Mountain Pose, “Stand with your feet hip-width apart, grounding evenly through all four corners of your feet.”
Step 2: Guide Breath to Create Flow
Connecting breath with movement is central to yoga practice. Breath cues remind students to stay present and move in rhythm with their breath, which can make the practice feel natural and reduce tension.
Tip: Pair breath with action words to keep the instructions clear. For instance, “Inhale, lift your arms overhead; exhale, fold forward.”
Example: In Cat-Cow, “Inhale as you arch your spine, lifting the chest, exhale as you round your back, drawing your belly toward the spine.”
Step 3: Add Sensory Cues to Deepen Awareness
Sensory cues encourage students to notice sensations, fostering body awareness. By focusing on how a pose feels, rather than how it looks, students can move with greater confidence and calm.
Tip: Use words that describe sensations like “soften,” “ground,” or “extend,” and allow students to find their own sense of the pose.
Example: In Forward Fold, “Feel your spine lengthening with each exhale, as if you’re creating space between each vertebra.”
Step 4: Encourage Personal Exploration
Yoga isn’t about achieving a perfect pose, it’s about feeling into each shape and finding what works for each body. Let students know that they can adjust poses as needed.
Tip: Rather than directing them to achieve a specific look, guide students to find what feels best for them in each pose.
Example: In Downward Facing Dog, “If your hamstrings feel tight, try bending your knees slightly to focus on lengthening your spine.”
Step 5: Use Imagery for a Deeper Connection
Visual imagery can make your cues more impactful, inviting students to create an inner picture of each pose. This can help students stay relaxed and focused, making each pose feel more accessible.
Tip: Choose images that relate to the feeling of the pose, like roots grounding in Mountain Pose or light expanding in Warrior II.
Example: In Tree Pose, “Imagine your standing leg is like the trunk of a tree, steady and grounded, while your arms are branches reaching toward the sky.”
Step 6: Pause to Allow Integration
After giving a cue, give students a moment to take it in and respond. Pausing allows them to feel each movement without rushing, which can prevent confusion and help them feel more connected to their bodies.
Tip: Build small pauses into each flow. Instead of quickly moving through instructions, let each instruction settle before moving on.
Example: In Warrior I, “Inhale as you lift your arms; pause here and feel the strength of your legs, holding steady.”
Step 7: Offer Positive Reminders
Encourage students by reminding them that yoga is a personal practice, free from judgment or competition. Positive cues can help them feel at ease and focus on how they feel rather than how they look.
Tip: Avoid phrases like “keep up” or “push harder.” Instead, try “notice how you feel” or “be gentle with yourself today.”
Example: In balancing poses like Eagle, “Remember, it’s okay to wobble ‒ balance is a series of adjustments, not a static position.”
Step 8: Use Adaptations and Modifications
Offering modifications lets students practice safely and at their own level. Encourage them to find their comfort zone in each pose.
Tip: Rather than telling students to “work toward” a full expression of the pose, offer variations that allow everyone to feel comfortable in their current range of motion.
Example: In Seated Forward Fold, “If you’re feeling tight in the back of your legs, try bending your knees slightly to find more comfort in the stretch.”
Step 9: Adjust Cues for Different Learning Styles
Students absorb information in different ways. Some are visual learners, others respond better to verbal instructions, and some may need hands-on adjustments (if appropriate and welcome).
Tip: Offer cues that appeal to all learning styles. Demonstrate each pose if possible, speak clearly, and use hands-on adjustments only with consent.
Example: Verbally describe a pose, demonstrate it visually, and give tactile cues when guiding them into poses like Triangle or Warrior II.
Step 10: End with Breath and Grounding
Conclude the class with cues that help students slow down and reconnect with their breath. Encourage them to release any tension and enjoy a few moments of stillness.
Tip: Softly guide students to notice their breath, which helps create a relaxed and reflective end to the practice.
Example: In Savasana, “Let your body melt into the mat, feel each exhale releasing any remaining tension. Allow yourself to simply be.”
This step-by-step guide helps you build a foundation for cueing that is clear, effective, and encourages students to connect to their practice in a way that’s meaningful to them. Great cues don’t just tell students what to do, they invite students to feel more present, more grounded, and more confident on their mats.
