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Because the dawn of time, words have provided us with a solution to form connection or division. The words we use carry certain connotations and emotions. They reveal a lot about who we’re and what we stand for. They will define us and create a long-lasting impression. There are such a lot of paradoxes with language, and other people may understand words in a different way depending on societal aspects. As yoga teachers, we’ve turn into more aware of using inclusive language because we recognize the facility of words.

Language could be very deeply ingrained, and therein lies the issue. Our vocabulary reflects our cultures, families, friends, identity, and community. We’d like to turn into aware of our own biases expressed in our language—often picked up from people we’ve got met, the media we’ve consumed throughout our lives, and our lived experiences.

How can we begin to handle this? The reply is thru education and training. Listening more and speaking less is an awesome solution to pay attention to our biases and what we are likely to say. Nowadays, we live busy lives and are sometimes on autopilot. “Think before we speak” needs to be our mantra, as most words flow out before our brains even engage.

Using our words rigorously

Self-study is a very important way by which we will turn into aware of the language that we use in order that we will avoid causing unintentional harm. History shows us that language, communication, and experiences continually evolve. This implies we will rewrite the proverbial script and create vocabularies which are more compassionate and inclusive—vocabularies that allow everyone to feel welcome. Language isn’t meant to alienate us; it’s meant to assist us understand each other and create connection.

Teaching with care means speaking with care

As yoga teachers, we should be open to reflecting on ways to be more inclusive and understand that our selection of language is critically necessary. Our words have the facility to encourage and heal. They may devastate, traumatize, harm, and make students feel they don’t belong. And our words really influence the yoga space—we due to this fact must take care when establishing our vocabulary to be able to create a protected space for everybody. Feeling excluded can actually cause students to lose a way of safety. Here is a few language to think about.

8 terms to (re)think about using while teaching yoga

1. Just

How over and over have you ever used the word “just” in your teaching? Chances are high, you’ve used phrases just like “Just put your right foot between your hands.” It’d seem to be an easy throwaway comment that seems to effortlessly fit into our vocabulary and appears to don’t have any real meaning, however it has so many negative connotations. Its use is definitely considered to be ableist and may immediately snap someone out of their mindful yoga practice.

Nobody was more surprised than me once I listened to a recording of myself where I cued the entry right into a posture with “just.” I put myself in my students’ shoes and thought of how I’d feel if a teacher said, “just go into splits.” I’d feel inadequate, because the usage of “just” makes it sound like something that needs to be achieved effortlessly. I’m currently considering making a “just” jar—like a standard swear jar, but for “justs.”

2. Good and Perfect

Listening to one in all my very own recorded classes was a superb solution to experience my use of language. It made me aware of the words that I exploit as fillers in addition to their frequency. I appear to love describing every part as “good” or “perfect,” and that is something I’m consciously working to remove, particularly once I’m asking anyone to do something in school. Using praise in this manner is unhelpful because it contradicts me telling my students that there is no such thing as a such thing as perfect, yoga is a practice, and falling out of the pose is okay as that is all a part of being a yogi. Perfection should not have any place on the yoga mat.

3. Guys

Avoid referring to large groups of scholars as “guys.” It’s seen by many as a ubiquitous term used to handle any gender and is hence considered gender-neutral—but is harmful. At first glance, “guys” seems inviting and friendly, however it undoubtedly has masculine connotations. The term could also be commonly used, however it could also be considered inconsiderate to subconsciously address just one specific gender. It may be difficult for girls or gender non-conforming people to feel empowered when, upon receiving a greeting, they’re immediately misgendered or ignored.

Some other ways by which you may greet the category are “friends,” “everyone,” “humans,” “folks,” or “beautiful people.” I remember once I was teaching in Texas a teacher called Brad would attempt to get me to say “ya’ll”—but not with much success (the memory still makes me smile).

4. Gendered pronouns

Don’t openly confer with students’ genders, as you don’t know the way the people within the room want to be identified. The one instance where this can be appropriate is when you are in a position to discover (and remember) everyone’s pronouns before the start of sophistication.

A method I attempt to work around that is addressing the scholars by their names; I feel that it’s so rather more personal. How do you are feeling when someone acknowledges you by your name? It’s so lovely to be seen. Nonetheless, it’s been suggested that it’s an excellent idea to get permission to make use of someone’s name, as some students may not wish to draw attention to themselves in the category.

5. Body references

Consider moving away from using body parts or clothing as reference points, as these can prove to be confusing for college students and can be gendered. One example is telling people to position their hands according to their bra strap. As a substitute of those landmarks, use other reference points as alignment cues—the mat (long or short side) or places within the room (front of the room or ceiling). We frequently cue the feet to be hip distance apart, but I wish to say, “place your feet to whatever distance feels comfortable,” or alternatively “have the feet at the very least two fists’ distance apart” (which will be demonstrated) to assist with awareness. I’ve found that using such alternatives eliminates a few of the confused expressions that I used to see in school.

6. Body size

Altering the language we use to speak about weight can reduce stigma. While many persons are uncomfortable with certain terms, others may select to make use of them. This will be seen as an act of revolt or a solution to neutralize a word that has previously been wielded against them—or they might simply feel that it’s probably the most appropriate word to explain their body. Some examples are chubby, fat, curvy, plus size, straight size, skinny.

7. Gendered cues

I’ve heard teachers say, “Men may find Chaturanga easier as they’ve greater upper body strength.” Although this may occasionally be true for some men, we will’t assume this to be the case for everybody, and there are many women who’re in a position to do Chaturanga (4-Limbed Staff Pose) with ease. This sort of phrasing is unhelpful and will make students feel uncomfortable. A substitute for make this statement less gendered is “You could find Chaturanga easier when you are likely to have more strength in your upper body.”

8. Othering

Othering is a phenomenon by which some individuals or groups are defined and labeled as not fitting in throughout the norms of a social group.  This happens in statements like, “I wish I had a booty like yours!” Or “I’m the identical color as you are actually.” (The latter normally occurs when someone returns from a vacation and desires to spotlight their tan.) This just isn’t the most effective solution to try to attach with students. Othering Black and Brown people in wellness spaces takes away the protection of those spaces and serves to keep up the white wellness establishment that has long been prevalent.

Adapted from Teaching Body Positive Yoga: A Guide to Inclusivity, Language and Props (Singing Dragon) by Donna Noble. Yoga Journal readers can receive a 15% discount after they order the book directly from Singing Dragon.

Donna Noble is a author, educator, wellbeing coach, and founding father of Curvesomeyoga based within the U.K. She advocates for social justice, diversity, and inclusion in yoga and wellbeing spaces.