Using imagery words to describe yoga postures will make your classes a lot more enjoyable and interesting for your students. Below are 25 imagery phrases for a yoga class. Use them to engage and inspire your students.

Balloon
Chair Pose

Image a large balloon under your bottom as you ascend from (e.g. chair pose). Feel light.

Bones
Relaxation

Relax and let your bones find their own way home.

Cape
Mountain Pose

Wear a heavy chain mail cape and let your shoulders surrender.

Empty
Exhalation

Empty your mind into your exhalation.

Fan
Any hip opening pose

Imagine your pelvis (e.g. in Pigeon Pose) becoming a fan that opens.

Feet
Breathing

Imagine your feet growing bigger and bigger with each exhalation.

Flower
Opening Feet & Toes

When you open your feet and toes feel as if they are a flower opening.
Feel the individual vertebrae saying goodbye to each other.

Lake
Relaxation

Imagine becoming the lake.

Melting
Relaxation

Observe the tension melting like butter.

Parachute
Breathing

Think of your diaphragm as a parachute that deflates on inhalation.

Picture
Breathing

As you breathe out picture the air leaving your lungs.

Pillars
Mountain Pose

Observe your legs becoming two heavy pillars.

Puppy
Attention

Think of attention as if is a puppy that wants to run ahead of you.

Puppy
Attention

Tell your puppy mind to sit and become aware of the moment.

Roots
Mountain (any standing poses)

Imagine your feet growing roots like a tree.

Sand
Chair Pose

Imagine sand pouring out of the knees in the same plane as the toes (e.g.chair pose).

Sinking
Chair Pose

Sit bones sinking to the earth.

Sliding
Warrior III

Scapulas sliding down your back as you raise your arms.

Smile
Breathing

As you breathe in, picture your lungs receiving the air with a smile.

Snake
Spine

Think of spine moving like a snake, rippling up/down the spine.

Soap
Kneecaps

Kneecaps sliding forwards like a bar of wet soap.

Tornado
Breathing

Imagine the breath spiralling up your spine like a mini tornado.

Thread
Mountain Pose

Imagine a golden thread pulling you up towards the ceiling.

Train
Warrior Poses

Lift your arms like a train barrier at a crossing.