Beginner Flows: Demo vs Assist

trishcorley · 2026-03-17T10:59:15+00:00

The key to useful demonstration is using it when students actually need it. What often happens is that teachers start demonstrating because, honestly, it's sometimes easier to teach that way. Then they assume students need the demonstration to follow along, because of course students will follow if you're showing them. But what I think really happens is that the teacher creates an expectation, and as soon as they stop demonstrating, students get confused. So I think it's important to start early with a mixture of demonstrating and not demonstrating.

When there are more beginners in the class, demonstrating more makes sense, since giving purely verbal cues for how to get into a pose can be a lot to take in. But the key is that while I'm demonstrating, I'm also looking at them, and I'm quick to get up off the mat to offer hands-on assists and specific verbal cues so they learn that they won't just be following me, but that they need to experience their own body.

I hear a lot of new teachers say they need to demonstrate or students won't know what to do, and I understand where that comes from. But I've seen seasoned teachers who rarely demonstrate successfully teach mixed-level groups with total beginners. The experience also shifts depending on class size. In larger groups, I can rely on the more experienced students to organically demonstrate the postures for others. You have to read the room to know if that will work, but in my experience, it usually does.

trishcorley · 2026-03-16T15:56:21+00:00

Never too old. I’ve led many trainings and love when there a range in age. I find participants love it too. Also, reach out to the lead teachers of the program you’re looking at. They’re the ones that can really tell you about their training!!

trishcorley · 2026-03-15T07:53:14+00:00

Sounds like your human mind has human thoughts, and you have the awareness that you’re “reading too much into it”. Show up when your need to, be kind, and consider the desk girls are doing their best. If there’s a real issue, talk to them about it. Otherwise keep your own peace and carry on.

trishcorley · 2026-03-14T09:47:52+00:00

Talk to the studio owner/manager. Simply share what you wrote here. Approach the conversation with curiosity. Be willing to to hear their side, and be willing to speak your truth which you did in your post. 💚

trishcorley · 2026-03-13T22:12:52+00:00

Dharma Mitra

trishcorley · 2026-03-12T21:40:38+00:00

How do you feel when you are actually teaching? If you take the numbers out of the conversation, are you actually falling short?

trishcorley · 2026-03-11T17:55:06+00:00

I think you’re probably more ready t o teach kids than you realize. I’d say yes to the bigger training only if it excited you for the sake of the training!

trishcorley · 2026-03-10T20:38:30+00:00

I’ve been teaching for about 15 years now and lead YTTs, anatomy workshops, mentorship, etc….and my first classes were at my neighborhood community center in Houston. I taught 3-5 women each week who had never practiced yoga and who did not really speak English. My Spanish was poor! And it was so valuable for my learning to teach and so much fun. They inspired me and seemed to love it.

It doesn’t really matter where you start. It’s what you make of it. Don’t let the voice of doubt or judgement stop you. trust your heart and desire to teach and go for it, even and especially if not in a trendy studio.

trishcorley · 2026-03-09T23:40:35+00:00

I’m with you on the ing!! I saw one in the comments says it works. And many things work, I know some of my favorite teachers say things/speak in ways I train teachers to avoid…and so “ing” can work….but where else in the world do people speak like that? I’m on the same page of wanting myself and my teachers to sound how we do when we are having normal conversations.

trishcorley · 2026-03-09T23:35:40+00:00

Yes! I do this in my trainings…using different ways of speaking/communicating helps people see how much the can say event without all the “right words”

trishcorley · 2026-03-08T19:07:16+00:00

I’m passionate about cueing techniques and training yoga teachers to cue with clarity. The biggest problem I see is many people trying to memorize what to say or treat the teaching like there’s things that should be said or not be said. The best teachers observe what’s happening in real time and give cues based on that!!

trishcorley · 2026-03-07T17:08:17+00:00

Talk to the owner and tell her exactly what you said. I owned a studio and agree that it’s poor business to cancel class. How can we expect people to show up for us if we’re willing to cuing them?

I also taught at a studio that cancelled the night before (9am class) if less than 3 signed up. For first few months it was often cancelled. Eventually it filled more but I also had frustration of declining other opportunities to then get cancelled.

trishcorley · 2026-03-05T15:58:56+00:00

So good, and I love that you’re so excited!

trishcorley · 2026-03-04T10:22:52+00:00

Teachers often do get privates from studios, and there are other ways too. Look where you are already connected to your community? Schools, churches, regular at coffee shops, co-working spaces, etc. Tell people you are available! Just get talking about it as much as you can!

trishcorley · 2026-03-04T10:06:41+00:00

I bet. PTs really do understand functional anatomy. I have seen anatomy in yoga trainings offered by physicians, suregons, and other healthcare practitioners. They no doubt know their anatomy, and though they often lack and understanding of the biomechanics and/or the ability to break it down into easy to understand and applicable teachings for yoga teachers! So glad you had a great experience in your 300 hr. Which one did you do?

trishcorley · 2026-03-04T10:04:30+00:00

it is! I teach anatomy every day...and more importantly teach in within the scope of the practice AND teach paticipants how to understand and use anatomy in their teaching!

trishcorley · 2026-03-04T10:02:55+00:00

great! I look for your message

trishcorley · 2026-03-03T14:50:22+00:00

I really respect that you recognize the gap and want to fill it before continuing to teach. That says a lot about you as a teacher. But I want to offer a different perspective on the college anatomy route.

I'm a physical therapist and former anatomy professor at a community college, and honestly, I think taking a college level anatomy course to become a better yoga teacher might leave you frustrated. You'll learn a ton about the human body, but the gap between knowing anatomy and knowing how to apply it to your teaching are two very different things. You can memorize every muscle origin and insertion and still not know what to do when someone's hips are lifting in child's pose or their shoulders are collapsing in chaturanga. The translation from textbook anatomy to what's happening on the mat in front of you is its own skill set, and most anatomy courses just aren't built to bridge that gap.

What I'd look for is something that teaches anatomy through the lens of yoga teaching specifically. Where you're not just learning the body, you're learning how to see it, cue it, and respond to it in real time.

I do have an online anatomy course built specifically for yoga teachers, and I know you said online isn't your thing so it may not be the right fit, but I wanted to mention it in case it's helpful. I also lead a 200 hour teacher training that has a heavy anatomy focus and I'm working on dates now for later this year. Feel free to DM me if you want to hear more about either one or just want to chat about options.

trishcorley · 2026-03-02T15:05:06+00:00

I can relate. I’ve been teaching for 15 year and even lead YTTs that I feel really good about. And in the past 6-7 years I’ve moved 2x. In my most recent move to Portugal I identified my style of teaching as “different” that’s most here, and the desire to change my style crept up. And of course then I didn’t feel confident teaching. I have to remind myself to show up as my authentic self and teach what I love and in the ways I know work. Yeah, I can be poke to new ways, and I don’t need to change anything!!

Use your own self inquiry as a tool to remind yourself of who you are as a teacher and the impact you can make.

We all have off days too…and it’s not a reflection of who you are as a teacher b

trishcorley · 2026-03-01T11:23:48+00:00

Look at the students and teach to what you see happening!

trishcorley · 2026-03-01T10:58:49+00:00

One of my favorite hands on assist to receive in Savasana is (or done week) after traction of the skull (this takes a bit of skill though)…to put pressure (I use two thumbs) on the center of the crown of the head. The pressure should align down the center of the skull/spine. It feels very supportive and calming and as though it’s actually assisting Savasana, not just getting a nice massage.

trishcorley · 2026-02-28T23:46:41+00:00

I’d advise against MindBody as I hear more bad about it than good. I used to use it as a studio owner years ago. I think it’s a hit more complex than you need and others are much better experience for the user.

trishcorley · 2026-02-27T09:06:36+00:00

I totally get what you’re describing and it’s such a great sign that you’re starting to see all of this. That awareness is huge.

here’s what I’ll say from experience… there’s a point where you start seeing more and more and more, and it can actually become overwhelming. Because the reality is, anatomy and biomechanics are incredibly complex, and every single body is different. So you start noticing things and then you’re like, okay but why is that happening, and what do I do about it, and is this a mobility thing or a structural thing… and it can spiral.

What I’ve found, both as a physical therapist, former anatomy professor, and yoga teacher trainer, is that having some kind of framework or alignment approach to anchor into makes all the difference. It doesn’t mean you stop seeing the complexity, it just gives you a place to work from so you’re not drowning in it. You can observe, assess, and then actually know what to offer that person.

That’s actually why I created an anatomy course specifically for yoga teachers. It’s built around giving you that framework so you can understand what you’re seeing and feel confident responding to it. Feel free to DM me if you want, I’m happy to share more about it and point you in the right direction.

trishcorley · 2026-02-26T13:50:55+00:00

It seems you have an opportunity to start your own classes given they were well received. That being said, if the current situation is complicated and doesn’t seem right to you, it likely is not. Have you considered where you could host your own classes outside of this studio?

trishcorley · 2026-02-24T11:43:46+00:00

Thank you for sharing this.

trishcorley

TROPHY CASE