Alignment in yoga:

Alignment is a big topic in the world of yoga. Sure, there is a basic way to set your body in the postures, and the specific body mechanics are no doubt important. However, they are less important than the awareness with which you build them.

Here’s why. Think about your ideal home. What qualities does it have?

Here are some qualities that come to mind for me:

• Strong foundation

• Feeling of safety

• Spacious

• Cozy

• Full of love

• Relaxing

• Freedom to create and express myself

What’s most important on your yoga mat is to realize that you are creating a home within your body. A home that you live in 24/7. Wow. Yoga is an opportunity to align more deeply with the life you want to create — thus, each of the bullet points above are ways I could approach my postures on the mat to support the life I am creating.

True alignment in yoga is not of the physical body but of aligning with an idea or method of practice. Rather than worrying if your knee is set correctly in Warrior II, focus on “What am I setting out to do on my mat today?” Create stability? Soften into possibility? Feel strong in my body? Embrace flexibility? Whatever you set out to do… align with it.

Let this concept free you from worrying what your pose looks like, because that’s not what yoga is about. It’s about what it feels like for you to fully inhabit your body and create a solid, supportive structure (physically and mentally) that carries you through life. Yes, you are making shapes with your body on your mat, but because your body is put together uniquely (bones and joints), your postures will look very different than the person next to you in class — there is no universal alignment in each pose. Yoga is not a one-size-fits-all practice.

You will know if you need to make physical adjustments in a pose when you tune into your physical needs. A lunge is a lunge. A fold is a fold. Down dog is down dog… you can’t really mess these up. A good instructor will make sure you’re getting the most out of these shapes if they’re watching you, so make sure to find a great studio where this happens. That’s why we went through training as instructors and that’s a big reason people go to yoga studios to practice: to be guided and assisted safely and effectively through the practice.

I hope this helps shift your perspective a bit on alignment in yoga and helps you remember to relax in your poses and approach them more as a way to create a safe space within your own body that you can continually come back to — a space that supports the life you are building off the mat.

If you are interested in yoga teacher training, I am currently working on a 200 hour program that will be launching in 2025 at The Studio. This program is not just about becoming a certified yoga instructor (and learning how to teach powerful, effective yoga classes) — it’s about diving deeper into your practice and yourself — in a way you never have before. It’s about self-discovery, empowerment, and aligning with the life you want to create. I’d love to have you! Stay tuned for details.

This week’s practice is my latest guided meditation. Take a moment to pause, slow down, and connect with yourself, so that you can align more closely with the way you want to show up to your life this week.