18/09/2026
Yoga assists ˚꩜。
When I completed my 200hr YTT in Ashtanga/Vinyasa, I didn’t introduce hands-on assists into my teaching until at least a year later.
I wanted to assist with intention and confidence. Although I come from a medical background in nursing, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where touch is nothing new to me, hands-on assists in yoga felt different.
Our practice is very personal, and an assist enters a student’s space both physically and energetically. I wanted to start when I felt ready.
Last year, during my time as a Karma Yogi apprentice at Sampoorna Yoga , I had the support, guidance and knowledge from the teachers and students to delve into the magic of assists during Ashtanga practice.
As a Vinyasa teacher, there is often less time for assists during a fluid, dynamic class. So I’ve started introducing longer holds in certain classes, creating more space for students to receive an assist.
An assist can help us become more aware of the body in asana, explore alignment, feel into sensations and sometimes go a little deeper into our practice.
For me, it’s about intention, awareness, trust and connection. 🤍