All my students know how much I count on having assistants in my classes.
Assistance is extremely important for any yoga instructor. Through it, the experienced instructor models the body of the student in yoga, improves the performance of asanas and correct posture, roots out wrong movement habits in his student.
But the main thing is that through the assistance we protect the students from wrong execution of poses, which could injure or harm the practitioner.
- There are a few simple rules to follow when assisting in yoga:
- Observing and studying the way of movement of the practitioner;
- Finding weaknesses in movements that need assistance and work;
- Establishing a balance between student and teacher;
- Grounding and extension;
Correct assessment of when, what and how much help the student needs.
The assistance of an experienced and patient instructor will allow the practitioners to better understand and enter the yoga asanas, to begin to feel themselves better and in harmony. And last but not least, the personal attitude of the instructor when performing the assistance helps to deepen the practice.
I. Assistance in performing Balasana (Child’s Pose) – Balasana is a resting pose. It gently stretches the hips, thighs and ankles. Therefore, when assisting, it is important for the instructor to guide the student with each inhalation to stretch the back of the torso more and more toward the ceiling, lengthening and widening the spine. On the other hand, with each exhalation draw the torso a little deeper into the curve between the thighs. The assistance is expressed in pressure of the pelvis and extension of the back, but this should not be at the expense of the depth of the breath. The facilitator places one hand on the student’s waist and the other hand on the mid of the student’s spine. Pressure occurs only when exhaling.
II. Assistance in performing Uthita Parshvakonasana (Extended Lateral Angle) – Uthita Parshvakohana is a great pose for starting a sequence of exercises related to the standing yoga poses. It is an excellent preparatory pose for the hip-opening poses such as Baddha Konasana, Malasana, Skandasana. Even advanced yogis find it difficult to maintain their balance in this pose as the weight of the body shifts forward. That is why it is important that they receive assistance from an experienced instructor until they get used to the asana. The main assistance in this pose is related to the raised arm – often practitioners do not pay attention to the shoulder rotation and simply throw the arm above the head. With good assistance, the external rotation is deepened, which opens a deep extension of the open part of the body from the waist and chest area. Another common mistake is the position of the foot on the back leg. Parallel to the front one, with its toes slightly inward, it aims to prevent twisting of the knee of the same leg. The foot must be firmly stepping on the ground without raising its outer line upwards.
III. Assistance in performing Backbends – Backbends help to make the spine more flexible and at the same time relieve stress on the vertebrae, shoulders and neck. Backbend assistance from the instructor is meant to support the opening of the heart area to achieve a strong controlled backbend. The instructor’s palm supports the point where the back is trying to make the strongest curve and thus takes weight from the most vulnerable places – in the case of Camilla pose, it takes weight from the curve at the waist.
