As a Group Exercise Fitness Trainer or especially a new yoga instructoroften times will know that a student is not in the correct alignment or correct form of a posture and should change into the right alignment, but the instructor may not be clear as to what they need to do to improve the pose.  They might begin with a sort of “hit-or-miss” type of approach, hoping to get the student into the proper pose.  The student in turn may feel frustrated and you will have only communicated uncertainty, rather than confidence in your abilities.

1) Using Firm Touch
 

Light touching like a feather landing on someone’s shoulder will not relay much to the student, and can also be a distraction.  Confidently place your hands to firmly guide the body.  The student should not have to guess what it is you want them to do.  Broaden your hands and make direct contact with the muscle that will need to be worked to move the bone, and touch as much of the muscle as you can.
 

2) Proper Body Position
 

Try to stand on your feet and do not kneel or sit.  When you maintain a position of control on your feet, you feel more balanced.  As in the triangle pose, standing behind the person, adjust the shoulders and hips and support the back of the body to allow the front to open.  If you stand in front of the student, you become an obstacle more than an aid to the opening of the body.
 

3) Being Aware
 

Try to be aware of whether or not the body is hard and rigid, or soft and flaccid.  Be mindful of the person being warm or cold, and whether or not they are receptive of your touch.  You can learn a lot about your student when you place your hands on them as to whether they need to put forth more effort or relax.
 

4) Respecting Boundaries

Your student will give off signals that may say, “Please, refrain from touching me.”  If you approach someone with the intent of touching and you notice any hesitation, simply ask if you may touch them.  Give them the opportunity to decline, and if so, do not take it personally and only give them verbal instructions.
 
 

5) Demonstrating and Explaining

 
With some personal attention, a student will better understand the pose.  Make a mental note not to spend too much time on one student or else you end up holding up your entire class.
 

Commonly Made Mistakes

1) Interference
 

If balancing is a problem and the adjustment moves the student into a place of instability, do not try to adjust them, move back before trying to stabilize them or you will simply knock them over.

2) Spending Too Much Time on One Student

 
You have to decide if you are going to continue trying to adjust any given student, or stop yourself and move on.  Spending the rest of the class working with only one particular student who is having a hard time may only serve to make them and you frustrated.  Yoga is a process and if the student is in no type of danger, let it go and allow some more time for learning.
 
 

3) How Much Touching to Use

Whatever type of position you are addressing, such as placement of the feet, you may adjust the hands as well; your touch can be a distracting factor because the student loses focus and follows your touch.
 
 

4) An Abrupt Finish

Be very aware that you relay a great deal through touching, and giving a student a sense of caring is as important as the instructions.  Once you have adjusted a student, you might ask them to try to hold the position without your help.  Take notice of the way the student’s body moves once you stop touching them.

Hope these pointers help in the way you adjust your participants as a Yoga teacher or a Group  Exercise Fitness Trainer in your fitness programs,