Consent matters throughout a class, not only during a physical adjustment. Consider it when introducing options, moving around the room, and preparing instructions that work without touch.
Plan Teaching Without Touch
Prepare clear verbal explanations and demonstrations for the main situations in your class. A sequence should remain complete and fulfilling even when a student does not want physical contact. A student’s participation preference does not need to be justified in front of the group.
Ask Specifically
Professional standards, such as the Yoga Alliance Code of Conduct, require explicit and informed consent before any physical adjustments. Agreement to one action on a specific day is not a blanket permission for the future. Explain the proposed assistance clearly. Make it possible to decline or change one’s mind at any point without pressure.
Prepare Your Response to a Refusal
Creasana · Workshop
Try it in your planning
- Check that your session works without physical touch.
- Write down a specific, clear request for any proposed hands-on assistance.
- Prepare a neutral, affirming response to a refusal.
- Review the professional commitments and consent guidelines relevant to your specific teaching environment.
References for further exploration
These planning examples should be adapted to your group and training. References provide context for the topics discussed; they do not validate every example sequence.
