hands-on assists for yoga teachers
1-Day Course: Wednesday 7th October 2026, 9am – 4.30pm
YOGA CPD: 7 hrs Yoga Alliance CE points
This immersive session is tailored to elevate your skills, boost confidence, and deepen your connection with your students.
Super Early bird until 7th July – Coupon: YOGAASSIST40
Delve into the nuances, benefits and the art of mindful touch, hone your observational skills, and understand the ethical considerations surrounding hands-on assists. Acknowledging the impact of genuine 2-way connection, we will explore how to create a more holistic and personalised experience for your students whilst respecting both physical and energetic boundaries.
We will cover:
Ethics, Consent, and Safety:
– Understand the ethical considerations around the use of touch in yoga teaching.
– Learn how to gain consent from students both before and during the offering of hands-on assists.
– Understand safety considerations related to touch and hands-on assists.
When to use hands-on assists and how to communicate
– Understand the purpose and intention behind using touch in a yoga class.
– Recognize situations when touch might not be the best approach.
– Understand the importance of verbal and non-verbal communication when assisting with touch.
– Emphasise the role of observation, intuition, grounding, breath, and feedback during assists.
Types of touch:
Distinguish between:
– touch for relaxation/massage,
– touch to assist alignment/find space/increase ease,
– and touch to guide someone deeper into a pose.
Anatomy & Nervous System
– Review anatomy, core engagement, alignment principles and posture analysis.
– Learn how to incorporate this knowledge when using touch in assisting yoga postures.
– Explore the relationship between the nervous system and hands-on assists. Where is your gauge set?
– Understand the appropriate level of pressure and touch sensitivity based on individual student needs.
Practise and Confidence Building:
– Engage in practical exercises: giving and receiving assists, with feedback, to enhance confidence.
– Understand personal limits and boundaries when offering hands-on assists.
– Receive a detailed manual with images and explanations of a multitude of assists
– Leave the workshop with the confidence to start using hands-on-assists straight away
about your tutor
Clare Francis has over 23 years industry experience and has always been ‘hands on’ in her approach! She is Yoga Alliance E-500 RYT, a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (CEP).
Clare is qualified in sports, deep tissue and remedial massage with LSSM, completed a 10-day moving fascia embodied anatomy course in 2018, has a 200hr YAP somatic yoga for healing and recovery certification, holds reiki 1, and is intuitive in her approach.
She has been successfully delivering teacher trainings for over a decade and is a qualified adult tutor and assessor. Clare is looking forward to bringing together all of her knowledge and teaching experience with the intention of delivering courses and workshops that inform, inspire and grow your confidence in observing and offering hands on assists where appropriate.
When? Wednesday 7th October 2026, 9am – 4.30pm
Where? at Revitalise, Brighton & Hove
Who? This workshop is aimed at Yoga teachers
Certification: All attendees will receive a 7 hours CE points with Yoga Alliance and a Certificate from Harmonise Training Academy.
Investment:
£125 Super Early Bird – discount available until 7th July. Use coupon code YOGAASSIST40 at checkout.
£145 Early Bird – discount available until 26th August. Use coupon code YOGAASSIST20 at checkout.
£165 full price
Equipment required: Yoga mat (available to borrow or bring your own).
Got questions? Contact: clare@harmonisetrainingacademy.com
