What does it mean to modify a yoga pose?
A modification of a Yoga pose is simply a communication that suggests a change to the alignment of a pose. I may ask you to back out of a shape a little bit or change it slightly, so the pose is more stable or more energetically expressed. If needed, I may gently adjust your body or offer a prop to help you.
There should not be any struggle with your Yoga practice. This does not mean that you should not challenge yourself, it means to challenge yourself within safe boundaries. If I see you struggling, I’m going to look for the source of the struggle.
My intent is to bring you as close as possible to the pose comfortably and safely.
What are some sources of struggle within a yoga pose that require modification?
Maintaining Alignment
If there is a misalignment in the pose it can feel more difficult to be in your full expression of it.
The Intent of the Pose
Identify what is needed to be in the pose. Does it require a certain level of flexibility, strength or balance? The intent is to find your own expression of the pose. It doesn’t need to be perfect. A modification will allow your body to practice without struggling.
Restrictions in Your Body
What types of restrictions are limiting your experience of the pose? Some things that can cause constriction are muscle tightness, recovering from injuries, or a chronic condition. Modifications are good workarounds for these issues.
how is modification helpful?
By first identifying the source of the struggle, it is then helpful to offer a suggestion to improve your experience. Modifications help keep you safe and improve the quality of your session. Once the modification is made, we can then evaluate the results to see if any further modifications are needed.
The intention behind assisting and modifying a yoga pose
My intention is to teach you to feel for yourself the physical and energetic sensation in the postures and move into an expression of the pose that is most aligned for you. When you are aligned physically, mentally and energetically, you can then fully integrate your experience of Yoga.