Despite yoga’s oft-quoted definition “to yoke,” yoga classes are often anything but united. Come with us as we share simple ways to create inclusive yoga classes and inspired experiences for your all your students.

KEY TAKEWAYS:

• Inclusivity in Yoga: Teachers should strive to create welcoming environments that cater to all students, considering physical, mental, and emotional needs.
• Accessibility: Go beyond modifying poses by addressing barriers such as physical limitations, financial accessibility, and cultural concerns.
• Inclusive Language: Use inviting and non-judgmental language to make all students feel comfortable and accepted.
• Respect for Diversity and Trauma: Understand and honor students' cultural backgrounds and be mindful of trauma, fostering a safe and respectful environment.
• Practical Adjustments: Offer clear instructions, use props, and demonstrate pose modifications to accommodate varying abilities.

Unity In Yoga: Make Your Yoga Studio More Inclusive

An Introduction to Inclusive Yoga

Inclusivity has become a buzzword in business and educational conversations across the world, and the yoga industry is no exception. Teachers and studios are asking questions like “Are our classes inclusive,” “How can we help yogis of all abilities feel welcome,” and “Does our teaching style reflect the needs of all our students?” As a teacher and studio owner myself, I’ve seen yoga often branded as an exclusive activity for those with specific body types and matching high-end clothing sets. I’ve also seen how harmful this is – for yogis themselves, for studios, and for the idea of yoga as a whole. We, more than anyone, should be sharing acceptance and inclusivity, and I think most of us want to. It then becomes more a question of how we foster a sense of inclusive yoga. Come with me on a journey toward acceptance of all as I share tried-and-true ways I and other instructors have learned to create inclusive yoga classes, both in-person and online.

Accessibility for All

Inclusive Yoga goes far beyond modifying poses, although that can be a big part of it. Inclusive yoga includes physical accessibility, mental awareness, and emotional sensitivity, among other individual factors. When we reach out to our students to provide more than just an adjustment, we can positively impact their lives on and off the mat. Inviting and then enabling all to participate fosters a sense of community and belonging. Many of us do well at the first part – the invitation. We invite all bodies to join us, but how well do we do at helping them feel seen, accepted, and welcomed?

The first step is to understand the needs and circumstances of your students and potential students. Some of the most common barriers to inclusivity in yoga are physical limitations, financial accessibility, cultural concerns, and self or society-imposed intimidation. Think about the geographical area in which you teach? What populations do you see in class and what populations do you see outside on the streets nearby? Are they the same people, or is there a demographic that isn’t represented in your classes? If the latter is true, consider what you might do to make your classes or space more inviting.

This doesn’t mean you need to uproot your entire style and method. Just as your personal practice and teaching style have evolved over time, your move toward inclusive yoga can too. You are what makes your yoga classes unique, so hold on to those good parts of your practice and be willing to open up to new ideas and ways to make your yoga classes inclusive and accessible

How to Master the Art of Inclusive Yoga Classes

There are countless ways to make your yoga classes more inviting for all. As you read these practical tips, keep in mind the people from our earlier question – who in your community do you not see in class? Take note of which tips may help bring these people into your classes and how you can further support the people who are already there:

1. Create a Welcoming Environment

When students and potential students walk through your door, what is the atmosphere like? Create a space that is inviting – one that directs yogis where to go and what to do. As students arrive at your facility, help them feel welcome by making the facility accessible. Know where the nearest parking stalls are for those with disabilities, and let people know on your website where to find them. Offer instructions on navigating the way to your location if the location is not readily visible from the street or parking lot. Make your space wheelchair and other mobility-device friendly by having wider doors and keeping the floor clear for easier movement. Each of these things can help draw people in rather than pushing them away. Coming into a place for the first time can often be intimidating, and making simple adjustments can ease that anxiety.

Once inside, pay attention to the lighting. Warm lights may help some students feel relaxed and safe. Brighter lights may help those with visual impairments. Avoid flashing lights or significant changes in lighting to avoid overstimulation. If you turn down the lights for savasana, as many of us do, let students know ahead of time, so they can anticipate the change.

Be mindful of the sounds and music in your class. I have had many students tell me they prefer instrumental music with no words so they can focus better. If you play music, you may choose to have it loud enough to be audible throughout the room, or perhaps have a section of the room without a speaker for those who prefer a quieter, more focused practice or are sensitive to noise. If you are teaching online, ensure that your voice can be heard easily and clearly, and that if you have music in conjunction with your cues, that it is not too loud. Where possible, offer closed caption options for greater accessibility.

Set up the space for easy access, letting students know before class begins how much space to put between them and other students (a studio I frequent has a small piece of tape on the ground where the front of each mat goes). This gives students a sense of ownership over their space. Allowing students their own space, where they can see and understand boundaries, helps them to relax and let go, knowing that no one is going to encroach on their space and time.

Along with setting up the space, let students know where props are and when it appropriate to access them (Some teachers may prefer that students get props at the beginning of class. I tell my classes that they are welcome to get props out at any time during the class. It may cause a minor disturbance, but that is something I have accepted in my classes and my students have come to respect and honor others’ needs as they may evolve in class. Neither answer is better than the other, just preferences of the instructor).

The central focus of the class environment is you. Students will notice your actions and words, and it will often set the tone for the entire class. Choose to be present and inviting as students arrive. Let your body language signal that you are open to questions they may have before getting started. If you are teaching online, your presence is even more important, because you can’t control the students’ environment in the same way you would in-person. Consider offering written or video instruction before class to help your students set up in their own space so they can be comfortable and ready when class begins.

2. Offer Modifications and Alternative Poses

Modifications are often where teachers really excel or fall flat. As you practice your sequences, move through them with the focus of finding poses that may be difficult for various ages and abilities. Pause and find alternative solutions for these poses. If you have students with certain challenges you’re aware of, practice as if you were them. For example, if you have a regular student with knee problems, move through your sequence as if your knees were stiff or painful. Better yet, talk with your students (if they’re comfortable sharing), about what poses are difficult for them. What we may assume is easy or hard often isn’t the case for our students.

Whether you teach online or in-person, consider how you help students with adjustments. If you offer hands-on adjustments in class, find a sensitive way to let students opt out of physical touch without feeling embarrassed or interrupted. If you teach online, let your language be clear, concise, and encouraging. Because you may not be able to see all students all the time, cueing with kindness and options can bring much to an online class.

Another simple way to improve accessibility is to actually use the props we bring out. I have been guilty myself of encouraging students to have blocks, and then not integrating them into my teaching. Teach your students when and how to use blocks, straps, bolsters, and chairs  – the time taken away from a sequence to learn these things will benefit them far more than one more flow will.

When you demonstrate poses, show the various modifications where possible. In tightly packed classes or online, you may need to adapt your poses for small or irregularly shaped spaces. When teaching a repeating sequence, I will often demonstrate a different modification with each round, starting with a regressed or simple version of what a pose may look like, and offering progressively more difficult options as we move through the class.

I remind students frequently that they are welcome to take whichever form of a pose feels best to them that day. Since our bodies aren’t always the same day to day, it can also be beneficial to help students accept where their body is at that day. Some days, a pose may feel great, but other days it may not. Let students know that every expression of a pose is worthwhile and valuable. The best students aren’t the ones who can perform every pose. The best students are the ones who listen to their body and find the pose that fits them.

3. Use Inclusive Language

Words matter, especially in a yoga class where people are often more in tune with their thoughts and the words of the instructor. Some students may come just for the flow, while others will come to you for the peace and wisdom that seasoned yogis seem to resonate. We have the opportunity to be a great influence for good and much of that comes from our words.

Using inclusive yoga language creates a seemingly subtle shift in your classes. As you learn to replace words that are unintentionally harmful, your classes will change and students will feel more comfortable opening up and making the experience their own.

There are many words and phrases commonly used in yoga that can be exchanged for something that provides a more welcoming context. A great place to start is with these phrases:

• Replace “if you can’t…” with “if it feels good…” For Example: “If it feels good, stay here. If you would like a variation of the pose…”
• Toss our terms like “advanced pose” or “easier pose” and instead use words like “variation of the pose” or “another version of the pose” (Heyman, 2020). For Example: “From extended side angle, you’re welcome to stay here if it feels good. If you would like to try another version of the pose, you can bind the arms by…”
• Be cautious of telling students where and how they should feel something, avoiding phrases like “you should feel a deep stretch in your hips when you…” Because everyone experiences poses differently, let them draw their own conclusions and be present in their own body. For Example: “While in this pose, take a moment to note how your body feels here.”
• Shifting our language to an inviting tone, rather than a commanding one can dramatically shift the energy in the room and the outcome of the class. Consider people’s identifying terms: keep language gender-neutral and avoid ableist wording. Our goal as teachers is first and foremost to ensure students’ safety, and part of that comes in never assuming that a student can or cannot do something. People will put their best selves forward when given the chance to show up in their own way.

4. Express Respect and Sensitivity for Culture and Trauma

As we work to be inclusive in our yoga classes, we have to remember that while we are all sharing the same practice or space, the practice is not truly the same for everyone. Each student brings their own background, emotions, and beliefs with them, and it is important to honor that. Seek to learn about different cultures and how yoga may weave into them. Rather than bringing in your ideas of what yoga means and what it yokes or unites, let your students decide for themselves. Part of an authentic yoga practice also comes from understanding the culture that yoga comes from. Learn what the elements of a yoga class mean. Do we incorporate chanting, mudras, Sanskrit or other languages that are not our own, and why? Each of these things have meaning, and before we use them into our classes, we should have a purpose for them and an understanding of how to use them respectfully.

Students from historically underrepresented groups are also vastly underrepresented in the yoga community. Dianne Bondy, a prominent instructor, author, and activist writes “My yoga practice has… taught me much about race, culture, and diversity… I have learned that blacks folks, other people of color, people with disabilities, and people with non-binary genders aren’t always welcomed in yoga spaces. Yoga and other spiritual practices seem to be endeavors reserved for wealthy, white, cisgender folks, even though yoga is meant to reflect all aspects of an individual and all aspects of life itself” (Bondy, n.d.).

We need to have those hard conversations within the yoga community – in staff meetings, in teacher trainings, and in self-study. While we may not fully understand another’s experience, things will never improve if we don’t ask and then change accordingly. I had a conversation with a student recently about their background and how I could honor it more effectively and help them feel more comfortable in class. It helped the student feel seen and heard and taught me how I can improve.

Part of understanding your students is also to be sensitive to their experienced trauma. Whether or not you choose to become a trauma-informed yoga teacher, there is great benefit in understanding the basics of how trauma influences a yoga practice. Refer to How to Make Your Practice Trauma-Sensitive - Beyogi to learn more about how to cultivate trauma-sensitive classes. Come with the expectation that there may be emotions and feelings arise, and be prepared to guide people through them as needed and as you’re qualified.

Conclusion

These suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to creating inclusive yoga classes. Start with one thing and go from there. Have conversations with students, other teachers, and people from communities that are often excluded. Learn what people are seeking and integrate it into your teaching. Shift your mindset and your teaching to create inclusive yoga classes that invite and encourage all. 

References:

Bondy, Dianne. (n.d.). Yoga, Race, and Culture. Yogainternational.com. https://yogainternational.com/article/view/yoga-race-and-culture/

Heyman, Jivana. “6 Ways to Avoid Ableism in Yoga Classes.” Yoga Journal, Yoga Journal, 19 Aug. 2020, www.yogajournal.com/teach/teaching-methods/avoid-ableism-in-yoga-class/. Accessed 12 Sept. 2024.