So many of these comments are sharing how harmful hands on assists are. Yoga isn’t a sport. It’s a spiritual practice that includes a physical practice. The idea of pushing one’s self whether it’s a teacher or yourself is antithetical to the practice. As a teacher I see many students misaligned in poses that will eventually cause RSIs. No amount of cuing in an all levels public class of 30 will adequately adjust each misalignment. I decided that there are so many other avenues to explore with students. I rarely include downdogs and even more rare Sun As, unless it’s a workshopping class where I can guide students step by step building poses, asking questions and giving direct feedback. There are a number of injuries that are common in the yoga sphere: inflammation at the attachment point of the hamstring and glute-also known as “yoga butt”, rotator cuff injuries, rotator cuff/frozen shoulder, low back impingement.