‘ It is through the alignment of the body that I discovered the alignment of my mind self and intelligence’ B K S Iyengar.

The role of alignment in yoga has been first emphasized by BKS Iyangar. BKS ji not only stressed upon the importance of correct alignment and its many benefits through yoga, but also made it globally popular which attracted wellness enthusiasts and fitness lovers from various corners of the globe. Today, people worldwide visit India for learning this ancient wisdom of yoga and seek therapy and healing through physical postures and accuracy in performing the asanas.

One such yoga destination which has become an all-time favourite and one of the most loved global yoga destinations is Goa. People from diverse backgrounds and various walks of life come as yoga tourists not only to enjoy the right way of performing yoga, but also to immerse in teacher training courses and various other specializations in yoga. This helps them elevate in their yoga journey and learn the right way of performing yoga. Additionally, they also receive certifications upon the completion of their course which helps them become professionally able to practice and share their knowledge of yoga worldwide across platforms. In this guide, we shall be learning about the types of alignment in yoga, its importance in yoga teacher training courses, and how do yoga schools in Goa inculcate the right way of doing yoga in their teacher training modules.

Types of Yoga alignment

Physical alignment – the foundation of physical postures

One of the primary and the basic methods of alignment in yoga is done through the physical correction, which is the foundation of all the Yoga asanas. To put in the simplest words, alignment basically refers to the accurate positioning of the body in each of the asanas. Correct alignment ensures that the joints are safe, the muscles are correctly engaged, and the purpose of the posture is rendered correctly leaving therapeutic benefits behind, so that you as a practitioner can experience the purpose behind the posture and benefit not only physically but also mentally. Correct alignment is called the foundation of all physical postures because it creates strength, safety, and stability. All of these three elements are required in the long term asana practice, because performing yoga the correct way can render benefits but performing yoga the wrong way can also render disadvantages to the body. So, it is important to find your alignment in the postures so that your functional harmony is not disrupted.

Energetic alignment – channelling the Prana energy

Beyond the physical body lies the Prana energy or the subtle body. When the body is in a correct alignment, the energy, or the Prana, or the vital life force moves effortlessly through the Nadis (energy channels). Any kind of wrong holdings or misalignments in your yoga practice can not only result in discomfort and fatigue, but also majorly affect your energy channels, thereby creating blockages. There is a reason that students who are enrolled in yoga teacher training courses get to practice Pranayama and Bandha work simultaneously along with physical asana practice, so that they can understand the correct flow of energy and how they can relate mentally to the physical practice.

Mental alignment – staying in the present

The word yoga is a Sanskrit term which basically means to join or come together. So yoga indicates the union of the body, mind, and the soul. When you inculcate correct alignment in your practice, you not only channelize the connection between your body, mind, and spirit, but also move in harmony through your thoughts, emotions, and physical presence through a schedule that includes asana practice, meditation, and introspection. Students enrolled in yoga teacher training courses, learn to align their consciousness through their movements and cultivate mindfulness.

Importance of alignment in Yoga TTC

Avoids injuries and promotes safe practice

Usually, students push themselves into various yoga postures which are generally driven by visual goals or sometimes the idea that a certain posture can be attempted in the first attempt. But it is important to realize that this could lead to major joint issues or even muscle strains. In a yoga teacher training course, students are taught the alignment principles not only to be able to conduct a safe practice, but also to learn the modifications, props, and the anatomy based knowledge. So that these students can make able teachers who can then responsibly educate their students.

Deepens body awareness

There is a term in yoga which is called as Proprioception. It is basically referred to the enhanced state of mind or consciousness, where the awareness of the position and the movement of the body is realized. When the students are shown and taught the right way of performing an asana, they not only learn the correct alignment, but also mimic it. This correct application of the principles results in intuitive understanding of the yoga postures and how and when can the students accordingly correct and adjust their postures so that they grow organically in their practice.

Improves teaching skills

Another major aspect of alignment in yoga teacher training courses is that a good teacher will not only show the poses, but they will also observe the alignment queues in their students and then teach them safely and show them the adapt sequences to suit the various needs of students. Usually these students come from varied cultures and age groups, also some of whom would be coming from a certain medical condition. So, learning the correct way of performing a certain yoga posture majorly improves the teaching skills of a yoga teacher.

Renders therapeutic benefits

The entire point of practicing and learning yoga, especially correct alignment in yoga is to observe and benefit from the postures that you are performing. When you perform yoga correctly, not only do you give yourself the chance to experience relaxation and in depth engagement physically and mentally, but also benefit from the correct method of carrying out that particular asana. Iyangar Yoga is therefore popular worldwide, because not only do people from various age groups can benefit from the yoga postures by using props and modifications such as chairs, tools, bolsters etc. but also patients who are recovering from a certain health condition can use the yoga props and perform the asanas correctly to take therapeutic benefits from it.

How do yoga schools in Goa inculcate alignment in yoga TTC

There are credible yoga schools who offer yoga teacher training in Goa, such as AdiYogam which is located in Arambol, in North Goa. It includes alignment in its courses through –

• Daily asana practice sessions
• Teaching anatomy and the biomechanics
• Hands on correction and training
• Creating discipline and accuracy

Conclusion

Alignment in yoga is more than about precision. It is about learning the right way of performing a certain posture and engaging yourself physically as well as mentally in it. Practicing yoga the correct way allows you to experience bliss, therapy, and healing. When your body, breath work, and mental state are in alignment, you truly experience yoga and that is the ultimate lesson of any yoga class.