Yoga Cue

Whether you’re teaching beginners or veterans, yoga students need clear communication to move safely and effectively in class. Cues—verbal instructions that help guide the class through a pose—are one way that teachers communicate with their students, and they can help create harmony and understanding within the classroom.

Best cues for yoga teachers can range from describing the anatomy of a body part to evoking an emotion or feeling to encourage students to connect with their poses. The best yoga cues are ones that speak directly to the body and have a clear intention for students. They’re also backed by anatomy, meaning that if a student were to ask the teacher why they were doing something certain in a pose, the answer would be supported by physical evidence.

One common example of this is referring to the muscles in the arms or legs and using their names to help students engage them. For instance, when teaching locust pose, the teacher may ask the students to “bring their tail bone down” or “tuck their chin into their chest”. This allows the students to know what to engage and where to place their focus.

What is a Yoga Cue?

Another type of yoga cue is referencing the anatomy of the body to give students a deeper level of understanding of their bodies and how they work together. This is especially helpful for teachers that have newer students or if they’re unsure of how to explain something in more detail. Anatomical cues can be helpful to explain why the hands are placed in the crease of the knee or why it’s important to keep the shoulder joint down and away from the ears.

While some of these cues are effective for most students, they can be overwhelming to newer practitioners or those with physical limitations. In these cases, it’s important for teachers to regularly be critical of the yoga cues they use and consider whether or not they are serving the needs of their students. This is a great opportunity to read up on the different research and opinions in the yoga community about what works and doesn’t, so that teachers can be sure they’re providing the highest quality of instruction for all of their students.

A final thing to consider when choosing yoga cues is the distinction between internal and external cues. Internal cues refer to the movement of body parts and are often more specific, such as “bring your shoulder blades down into your back” or “open the front of the chest toward the ceiling”. External cues involve tactile feedback and are aimed at encouraging the students to connect with their external environment. For example, if a student is struggling with their alignment in plank pose, the teacher might suggest placing a block on their upper back and asking them to lift into it. This is a more effective external cue than simply telling them to open their shoulders up.