Regularly students ask me:

⁠"Am I doing this right?"⁠

⁠It's a tricky question to tackle as I don't necessarily see a right or wrong version of shapes. Sure, I have strong opinions about how I'd like for folks to try a shape and there's a wide spectrum of how someone might explore a shape. ⁠

Early in my teaching career I felt like I needed to have all the answers. I don’t know was a scary phrase to utter to a student. But now, after almost 14 years of teaching yoga, it’s freeing to look at a student who has asked a question and respond with, “It depends.”

So if you’re a student who wonders if they’re doing something “right” or if the response of “it depends” doesn’t satisfy you, here's some questions you might consider beyond asking if something is "right":⁠

Can I breathe well in this shape? - If your breath is labored, consider changing something about the shape. Your version of "right" might allow you to breathe more fully without too much effort. ⁠
Do I feel stable? - Sometimes questions about a shape arise because a student feels like they're going to topple over. Experiment with your foundation. Can you create a base that allows you to feel more stable?⁠
What's the intention of the shape? - Step away from the shape itself and think about the concepts that live within the shape. Rather than trying to match the look of the shape, focus on the sensations that might arise in the shape. ⁠
Where do I feel limited? - Similar to your breath, if there's areas of your body that feel crunchy, constricted, or just plain gross, change something. Make adaptations that move you away from feeling stuck.⁠
How does the shape feel for me? - Set aside how you think the shape "should" look and consider how it feels. No two people will have the exact same experience in a shape. Turn into your experience and feel how the shape feels for you.⁠

Start asking different questions. You just might start receiving different answers. ⁠