• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • LOG IN
  • SUPPORT
  • CART
  • ABOUT
  • MEDIA
  • HOST LAUREL
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
LAUREL BEVERSDORF

LAUREL BEVERSDORF

Movement Courses and Teacher Training

  • ONLINE COURSES
  • LIVE/ONLINE EVENTS
  • PRIVATE SESSIONS
  • VIRTUAL STUDIO
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram

A New Attitude on Alignment

Leave a Comment

I’ve observed 3 general attitudes toward alignment-based teaching among yoga teachers and students. I’ve held these same attitudes along the way. Here is what I’ve observed. 

ATTITUDE #1 — Alignment-based teaching is the safest way to teach. 

When we are “out of alignment” we’re unsafe. And certain types of alignment (emphasized in my school by my teachers) are inherently safe, while other types are inherently dangerous. 

This was me after I completed my teacher training and called myself an “alignment-based” teacher. Then I developed persistent hip and SI joint pain and shifted away from this attitude. The “safe” alignment hurt. 

I started to learn about pain and grapple with what research shows is a poor relationship between pain and posture. Meaning people with idealized posture can have pain, and people with non-idealized posture can have none. 

Instead, I started to understand that moving in more ways—like lifting weights—and aligning my body in different ways—even “suboptimal” ones—would help me feel better in my body. Adding in this variety would expose me to loads I was missing, and therefore needed to increase my resiliency.

ATTITUDE #2 — Alignment-based teaching isn’t helpful. 

From the other camp comes the argument: Alignment doesn’t matter, anyway, so why bother? Everyone is different and needs their own natural “alignment” that is best for them. 

Also, alignment-based teaching is a power grab where teachers assert their authority (somatic dominance) and create an atmosphere of obedience over agency and performance over feeling. 

This was me about 5 years ago, when victims started speaking out about teachers who coercively and abusively forced shapes on their students’ bodies. I was listening to these stories. I was also recognizing my personal practice lacked variety (in part because I was always aligning my body in one “right” way, which was not always the “right” way for me). This lack of variety was causing some of my persistent pain. 

For these two reasons, I got pretty down on alignment-based teaching for a while and started doing more somatic practices and rolling on therapy balls.

ATTITUDE #3 — Alignment-based teaching is one way (among many) for guiding proprioception, mobility, coordination, and variability. 

As long as students have a variety of possible alignments, they’re encouraged to play within a range of possibilities. No one option within that range of possibilities is absolutely right/safe/or ideal, but rather just one possibility among many that may have a variety of benefits depending on what you choose to focus on. 

This is where I’m at today. I believe certain strategies for aligning promote different kinds of awareness, abilities, and capacities. 

Alignment Beyond Aesthetics

Part of what compelled me to ditch alignment earlier on (per points 1 and 2 above) was that the application of alignment was based in aesthetics, rather than growth and exploration (per point 3). 

This “one right/safe way” approach to teaching alignment, wherein all bodies are expected to “align” with a predetermined image of a shape or movement, is not helpful or conducive to learning. It’s dogmatic, coercive, and false.

However, throwing alignment, a potentially useful tool that has been misused, out the door entirely is not helpful, either.

When a toddler uses permanent markers to scribble all over your walls, do you throw out all the markers (or the toddler)? No. Because the value of a marker (or any tool) is based on how we use it (and don’t use it.) We can use markers to create art. We can also use markers to destroy it.

Like markers, alignment is a tool that can be used for good, not harm; to help, not hurt.

A Skillful Approach to Alignment

I propose that, if you’re a teacher who’s also interested in alignment as a tool to foster awareness, ability, and capacity, to broaden the range of your students’ experiences in the bodies rather than narrow it, you consider these ideas: 

  1. There is no universally safe alignment.
  2. There are limits to our knowledge as teachers, such that we can’t possibly know what alignment is safe for everyone.
  3. There are a lot of ways to align the body, and that the value of alignment is in being able to discern between, choose, and try out these different approaches. Not to find the one right one to do forever.
  4. Variation is the norm when it comes to human bodies. Our alignment instruction should make space for that.

We must teach with humility and curiosity, and continue to listen and learn from people who help us locate our blind spots and check our biases. In doing so, alignment can become a way to practice these qualities as well.

Filed Under: Body of Knowledge

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Topics

Footer

Join me on Instagram

laurelbeversdorf

A “flow” refrain within an asana class can be A “flow” refrain within an asana class can be more than chaturanga-up dog-down dog.Find a flow phrase and keep coming back to it.Repeat for as long as it’s interesting.
.
.
.
.
.
#shouldercircles #shouldercars #yogaflows #yogasequencing
7 New Looks for Cat/Cow that I love!1) arms cros 7 New Looks for Cat/Cow that I love!1) arms crossed = new feels for the upper back!2) thigh crossed = new feels for the hips and a constraint to lumbar movement/this one might mobilize your upper back more, too!3) Wavy spine! Learn to differentiate your spinal movements with the wave and find stiffer segments you’d otherwise gloss over.4) Tidal wave/shift forward and back and get your elbows and knees involved in the wave, too. This is a great precursor to spinal wave from down dog into plank pose and from plank to chaturanga. It’s also a rocking movement which in and of itself can be a rhythmic, soothing way to reset the nervous system.5) Need an adjustment in your neck and upper back? This one’s not for everyone, but if it’s for you, you’re welcome 🤤 IYKYK6) Stair steppers bring in rotation and IMO no other movement feels better in my upper back than when I rotate (+ flex) or rotate (+ extend.)7) Which is convenient because then we go cock-eyed and spend even more time flexing and extending while rotated. Suuuuper duper!Sprinkle in some new looks for cat/cow from time to time. They can be surprisingly informative to certain movement themes and they often also feel so good!
.
.
.
.
.
#catcowpose #catcow #catcowvariation #spinalmobility #neckmobility #upperback #lowerback #yogasequencing
A challenging movement brings us to the present mo A challenging movement brings us to the present moment.Challenging movement is not necessarily what you think it is.It’s not inaccessible or fancy, particularly.It’s not leg behind head while standing on one foot.It could be something simple like coordinating bird dog with shoulder circles.Or patting your head with one hand while rubbing your tummy with the other.When you challenge your coordination in this way, whatever was stressing you out will get pushed out of your mind by a different problem to solve—the kind that stretches, lubricates, and mobilizes your shoulders, spine, and hips.Simple movement that requires deep focus and concentration can be deeply therapeutic.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#shouldercircles #shouldercars #birddogs
Wanna make a familiar, well worn practice novel? Wanna make a familiar, well worn practice novel?Work your angles.We know that in thread the needle, typically the arm reaches straight out to the side, and then we sweep it behind the weight-bearing wrist to rotate the spine.And that feels so good.But we can take this general movement *template* and expand upon it without having to totally reinvent the wheel (or needle?)When we do, these small changes can add considerable variety to how we move, which can in and of itself go a long way toward reducing pain (and increasing pleasure!)To play with reaching your limbs to different angles in thread the needle, think of your arm as the hand of a clock that you can reach forward to 12 o’clock to the side to 3 or 9 o’clock and straight back to 6 o’clock.There are many more hours in the day and angles with which to play than this!Hit them all (or as many as you can) and feel what happens!Same goes with the entire lower extremity.Notice how it completely alters the movement, stretch, and muscle activation from your spine/core, as well as hips and shoulders.Each traditional pose (or well worn movement) is really just one point along a continuum of possible directions of movement to play with.Work your angles!
.
.
.
.
.#threadtheneedle #creativeyoga #creativeyogaflow #yogasequencing #upperback #upperbackstretch
I refuse to shrink away like I tried to do in my e I refuse to shrink away like I tried to do in my early 20s with the endless pursuit of “smaller” for the benefit of the “male gaze” (which corporate interests made up.)I will continue to send the cells of my body the message that I am strong.This message, when it’s a little “louder” than they’re used to hearing, lands in a way where they respond and go, “oh, I guess this is what we do now.”My tissues remodel at every level to be strong—bone, tendon, muscle, cartilage, self-esteem.Heavy strength training is protective stress. Especially for women.Who told you to stay small?Who told you weak was pretty?Who painted the tiny dumbbells pink?Who profits from these messages?Who’s trading your self worth for money?
On its own, down dog is a wonderful stretch, but h On its own, down dog is a wonderful stretch, but have you tried targeting different areas of your body with some sly fidgeting?One of my favorite things to do in down dog is fidget (and sneak in some multi-planar micro moves to an otherwise sagittal, static pose.)Fidget #1: Cross your legs as much as possible, bend your knees (it’s a little like eagle pose legs) then flip your heels to one side of the mat (your knees will point to the other). Flip your feet (and knees) thenother way. Then change which leg is crossed in front and repeat.Fidget #2: Step your feet to the midline and line them up. The knee of the foot in front will naturally be a little bit more bent. Straighten it as the heel of the foot behind lifts. Then drive the heel of the back foot down and let the front knee bend. Repeat for as long as it feels good. Change sides.Fidget #3: While in down dog, surreptitiously bend opposite elbow and opposite knee. You might notice the non-bent limbs feel really “plugged in” and your spine gets a chriopractic adjustment with no chiropractor needed!Hold the pose but sprinkle in some fidgets!
This rockin’ (literally) sequence helps you work This rockin’ (literally) sequence helps you work on back strength and teach your dog new tricks!In this 90 second video, I show a build up to Urdvha Mukha Svanasana (upward dog) using passive, active, and breath-based strategies.We work active and passive range in spinal extension and shoulder extension.We use the arms to initiate a rock back and forth to highlight effort from the back body to lift the upper trunk and head higher, as well as effort from the back body to lifts the lower extremities higher.Then we apply a sneakier trick with the breath to see how abdominal breathing on inhale (inhale the belly out and down into the floor) shifts the fulcrum lower to advantage a lift if the chest, and vice versa, how exhaling shifts the fulcrum to advantage lifting the legs.Get rocking with your prone backbending and teach your dog some new tricks. 🐶
I’m happy to share this episode on the Practice I’m happy to share this episode on the Practice Human Podcast!@sarahcourtdpt and I sat down with @caitlincasella a few weeks ago to talk about scope of practice and cognitive biases.Swipe left to hear a couple highlights from me on working with different types of people with unique interests and goals, and from Sarah’s clinical perspective on being able to read a person.From the host (and my dear friend) Caitlin:I’ve always admired Laurel as a colleague and friend for her mental malleability when approaching a broad array of ideas, beliefs, and questions. Thank you Laurel for your insights. I will always consider you an inspiration and valuable partner in learning.As I mention in the episode intro, Sarah (unknowingly) served as a model for me of someone making the leap to go to PT school after a career teaching yoga. Sarah, I’m so grateful for your guidance still and the wisdom you impart in this talk.Link in my bio @caitlincasella to hear the full episode. And check out Laurel and Sarah’s podcast and online educational programming @movementlogictutorials#scopeofpractice #learningstyles #cognitivebias #cognativebiases #moveinalltheways #physicaltherapy #physiotherapy #physio #getptfirst #practicehuman
UPDATE: Shoulder Circle Flow turned into Let It Go UPDATE: Shoulder Circle Flow turned into Let It Go Flow followed immediately by Savasana.We learned shoulder circles.Then we learned how to not take ourselves too seriously while doing shoulder circles.
Old news: shoulder circles are a fabulous way to m Old news: shoulder circles are a fabulous way to mobilize your shoulders.New news: But have you taken a step back to really appreciate how excellent they are for mobilizing your spine?That’s exactly what we’ll be exploring in a brand new whole body, slow flow about to hit my Virtual Studio.SHOULDER CIRCLE SLOW FLOWThis video is a version of what we will build toward. (It’s also a form of “note-taking” that I use for my class planning process. Since I get ideas from seeing movement as much as I do from moving, videos of my “thought process” inspire new “thoughts”.)Sometimes I share my process with you! 😊The reason I put this class together and made these specific choices is that I polled my members and their top vote was as follows:Class type—slow flow
Region of focus—shoulders
Pose type—unique flow transitionsThis class will have all of that and more with a body AND brain challenge. 🧠
Physio balls elevate the happy factor!We’re ro Physio balls elevate the happy factor!We’re rolling ours out for handstand practice these days.I sort of sprung some optional physioball exercises on my Tue/Thu morning live class members and then quickly learned that many already have one.If you also happen to have one sitting in the corner over yonder, here are 5 ways to use it!Move more and make it playful! 😊
“Take the cookies and put them on the bottom she “Take the cookies and put them on the bottom shelf.”One of the better teaching analogies I’ve encountered. 😊🍪 🍪 🍪
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Quick Links

  • MEMBERSHIP STUDIO
  • LEARN IN PERSON
  • LEARN ONLINE
  • HOST LAUREL
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG

Start Learning

LEARN MORE

Copyright © 2023 Laurel Beversdorf · Design by GreatOakCircle.com
Privacy Notice - Australia | Privacy Notice - California | Privacy Notice - EU | Privacy Notice | Terms of use | Cancellation Policy

Tired of status quo instruction and ready to move beyond the script?
_____________
Enter your name + email below to join the resistance...errr my list...and get 3 FREE sequences to strengthen and soothe your neck and shoulders using resistance bands, a kettlebell, and therapy balls.
YOUR NAME:
YOUR EMAIL: