The Golden Rule of Manual Yoga Adjustments: Consent First!

Consent is not a one-time checkbox. It’s an ongoing conversation.

Manual yoga adjustments can be an useful tool to help students deepen their practice, but they should never be done without clear, prior consent.

Asking for consent before offering an adjustment isn’t just respectful, but it’s a fundamental principle of creating a safe, inclusive space in a yoga class.

While this may seem obvious, it’s disheartening to see how many yoga instructors still overlook the importance of consent. Manual adjustments can be deeply triggering for students with a history of trauma, and they may be unsafe for those with prior injuries.

For these reasons, you should never assume a student wants to be touched. No matter how well-intentioned the adjustment may be.

That’s why prioritizing verbal cueing is essential. Through clear, thoughtful instruction, you empower students to explore pose variations that serve their individual needs and bodies in the moment.

This approach helps students understand that an asana doesn’t have to look a certain way to be effective or meaningful. It invites them to reconnect with their bodies, make conscious choices, and deepen their practice on their own terms.

Your goal as a teacher is not to fix students or align their bodies perfectly, but to help them feel safe enough to explore their own experience.

That said, some students do enjoy and benefit from manual adjustments.

How to Ask for Consent in Group Yoga Classes

Asking for verbal consent mid-flow — especially during a fast-paced power yoga class — can feel disruptive, so here are some simple strategies that might help you:

Verbal check-in: Before class begins, you can also ask students to raise their hand if they’re open to receiving hands-on adjustments. While this can be a quick and helpful way to gauge consent, keep in mind that some students may feel uncomfortable opting in or out publicly —especially if they’ve experienced trauma or feel social pressure to conform.
Consent tokens: Offer students a small object (like a rock, card, or chip) they can place at the front of their mat to indicate they welcome manual adjustments. This is a subtle, nonverbal way for students to communicate their boundaries without needing to speak up. Let them know they can place the token down —or remove it— at any point during class, as their comfort level may change.
If the adjustment you want to offer is for a specific pose, consider using simple hand signals to get consent. For example, in Savasana, you might ask students to place a hand over their heart if they’re open to receiving an adjustment. In Balasana, they could turn one palm face-up as a signal. These small gestures give students agency without disrupting their practice, and help you honor their boundaries with care and clarity.
And remember: never touch someone without warning. Before offering a manual adjustment, always let the student know you’re about to make contact (even if they’ve already given general consent).

Let’s keep raising awareness and working together to build a culture of consent in yoga -one that prioritizes safety, respect, and empowerment for every student.