My top tips for a teacher when a student returns to yoga after an injury
I know it can be very overwhelming when a student comes back to your class after an injury.
You often don’t have long to chat to them before class and it can be overwhelming to modify.
Where to start?
Here are some of my top tips for teaching students as they return to yoga after an injury. These strategies will ensure their recovery is supported while maintaining the integrity of your class.
Before anything else, confirm that the student has been cleared to return to yoga by a healthcare professional. This is essential not only for safety but also to take the pressure off you as the instructor. If they have been given clearance, ask them to share any guidelines or restrictions provided by their practitioner. For example, they may tell you, “I’ve been cleared to practice, but my doctor advised against forward folds.” Knowing this information upfront will help you modify yoga poses to suit their needs, making their return smoother and more effective.
2. When a student is returning from an injury, it’s important to proceed with caution. Begin the practice slowly and gently, with small, controlled movements. Focus on restoring mobility and stability gradually. In the early stages, it’s better to err on the side of caution and avoid pushing them into deep stretches or more advanced poses.
Starting with gentle movements will allow you to assess how their body responds and ensure they don’t overexert themselves.
3. It’s tempting to push for progress once a student feels better, but moving too quickly after an injury can easily lead to re-injury. This is especially true in yoga, where flexibility and strength are often improved gradually over time. Be mindful of their range of motion and avoid pushing them too far too fast, even if they insist they’re feeling fine. Taking it slow helps ensure that the injured area is fully healed before it’s placed under any significant stress.
4. A common misconception is that once pain subsides, the injury is fully healed. However, pain relief doesn’t necessarily equate to complete recovery. The affected area and tissues may still be healing, and certain movements may still strain them. Remind your student that it’s important to listen to their body, even if they feel no pain. Encourage them to check in with how the injured area feels during and after class to assess their progress. Recovery from injury requires patience, and consistent practice with proper modifications is key to a full recovery.
5. Encourage the use of props for a student returning from injury to yoga. They may need extra support, especially if they’ve had a long break from yoga and their flexibility has decreased. Encourage your students to use blocks, straps, blankets, and other props for modifications. This provides them with the necessary support to practice safely and helps reduce the risk of re-injury.
Props also allow you to modify poses to suit their current ability level, ensuring that they’re still able to practice without pushing their limits.
6. Overall movement is usually beneficial as it promotes blood flow/circulation, delivers nutrients and removes toxins. Movement also help minimise scar tissue. This can help increase the speed of healing too.
7. Remember even breathing at yoga can calm the sympathetic nervous system and as a result improve healing rates by delivering oxygen and nutrients to the injuries tissues. When we focus on diaphragmatic breathing, we help direct oxygen and nutrients to the injured tissues, facilitating the healing process.
Make sure your students focus on mindful breathing throughout their practice, as it can significantly enhance the healing of their injury while calming their mind and body.
8. Remind the students of the benefits of just showing up to class!
As a yoga teacher, it’s essential to create a safe, supportive space for students returning from injury. By following these tips for modifying yoga for injuries, you help your students move safely through their recovery while strengthening their body and mind.
Whether you’re helping a student with a back injury, knee pain, or recovering from surgery, the goal is to ensure they feel safe, confident, and supported in their yoga practice. Want to learn more?
For those interested in deepening their understanding of anatomy for yoga and how to better teach students returning from injury, reach out for my next online anatomy teacher training dates!
I hope this helps.. Questions ~ sophie@homebodyanatomy.com