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.
Yoga Teacher Lesson Plan Kit
