Teaching Yoga with Intention: The Essential Guide to Skillful Hands-On Assists and Verbal Communication

by Judith Hanson Lasater

The definitive guide to effective and appropriate communication through words and touch between yoga teachers and their students.

Clear, effective verbal communication and judicious touch are two skills that Judith Hanson Lasater feels are essential for every yoga teacher. In Teaching Yoga with Intention , she gives pointed advice on how to interact verbally with students in class and how to appropriately use touch to make corrections. Drawing from her fifty years of yoga experience and her training in Nonviolent Communication, Lasater trains yoga teachers to effectively communicate not only technique, but also the more subtle lessons of respect, empathy, and compassion. She also shines an unflinching light on the use of touch in yoga. Teachers often use touch to create understanding and awareness in the poses. But this is a subtle art, and Lasater gives clear guidance on how, where, and when the use of touch can be used appropriately to further a student's development.

In this book, Lasater also empowers students by encouraging them to take ownership of and responsibility for their practice. She covers myriad topics that can be difficult for students at any level to navigate, such as how and when to say "no" to an adjustment; keeping boundaries; when to leave a class; helping your teacher understand your needs; how to communicate your appreciation to your yoga teacher; and if and when to report a teacher's behavior. The skills that Lasater offers help create a safe environment for students to "own" their learning process, and to progress technically at their own speed.

Genres: Nonfiction, Teaching

136 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2021

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judith Lasater's books are always filled with wisdom and insight, and this one is no exception. It's short, just over 100 pages, and focused on how yoga teachers communicate with their students. As the title suggests, it address both verbal communication and communication through assists. I purchased the book mainly for the latter - like many yoga teachers, I moved away from offering assists during the pandemic and wanted a refresher - but in actuality, she talks just as much, if not more, about non-verbal communication. This first section centers largely around the information she presented in a prior book, Non-Violent Communication. I had read that book, but it was some time ago, so it was good for me to get re-acquainted with those concepts here (and I may go back to read that book as well). When she moves on to physical assists, Lasater spends quite a bit of time discussing the "where, when, and how" of physical touch. She then offers a section of specific techniques for using touch in class, focusing on specific areas of the body. The types of interventions she offers are what might be called "supportive" touch; she does not particularly address alignment or "corrective" assists. And she emphasizes that this section is by no means comprehensive but rather an introduction to "basic skills" that yoga teachers can practice in this area. As always, a valuable book from Lasater, one that would be extremely helpful for students in yoga teacher trainings but also useful for more experienced teachers.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judith Hansen Lasater is the teacher of teachers and it shows through in her approach to verbal cues and hands-on adjustments for students. I was hoping for more practical tips on effective verbal cueing, rather than just her philosophy, but it was still useful and I’ll definitely look at my own teaching through this new lens.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Brianna Tantimonaco · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Know your metaphoric yoga mat is always with you, unfurled in the center of your heart . Awaiting you”

Queen!!!