Is there a right way to do a pose?

Q. I take classes from several different teachers and sometimes how they teach a pose is contradictory and I don’t know what to do. Is there a right way to do a pose?

A.  No, there is no right way to do a pose. Everyone’s bodies are unique and what is appropriate for some might not be for others. Also, it depends on what school the teachers studied with. The intentions are different in many of the schools and the alignment may be different in order to specifically create different affects.

I ask my students to try new ways to do things. It is a great way to explore your body and find what works for you as oppose to doing something the same way simply because that’s how you have always done it. Also, don’t be afraid to ask the instructor why they are instructing the way they are. A good teacher will have a clear explanation.

In the end, no matter what school or the level of education of the teacher, none of us have ever taken a class about YOU. You know best, so listen to your body. If an instruction doesn’t feel right for your body, then it’s not right for you.