Ep 114: How to Teach Yoga to Students with Lower Back Pain

Ep 114: How to Teach Yoga to Students with Lower Back Pain

28:42 Mar 2, 2026
About this episode
Students with lower back pain is one of the most common complaints that yoga teachers encounter, yet most teachers feel completely unprepared to help students with back injuries. If you've ever felt like you're not sure how to respond when a student asks, "Will this pose hurt my back?" this episode is for you. Learn the essential conversation framework for talking with students about lower back pain, the core principles that will help guide your teaching decisions, and specific modifications for forward folds, Downward Facing Dog, Cat/Cow explorations, and Plank variations. This episode will help you feel more confident teaching students with lower back pain instead of avoiding them, and it offers specific cueing language for each modification.I'll also give you the exact questions to ask before class and discover how to create a collaborative relationship (between you and your student) instead of an anxious one.You'll leave with a clear understanding of what's within your role and what's not. Learn why teaching students with back pain is absolutely within your scope, plus when you should refer students to medical professionals.Download 10 Questions to Ask Injured Students (free) and get the exact framework for supportive conversations about pain. This tool removes guesswork and helps you approach injured students with confidence.Related Episodes:EP 84: Sciatica: What Yoga Teachers Should UnderstandEP 80: Why Is The Psoas Muscle So Important?Free Resources:Sequencing for Students with InjuriesHalf Pigeon Pose: Avoiding Pain & InjuryWant to Go Deeper?Within Your Scope WorkshopThe 1st Step to Teaching Students with PainTeaching Students with Injuries 6-Month MentorshipClick HERE to send me a text & let me know your thoughts on this episode! Support the showYouTube: Yoga with Monica BrightFreebie:
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