Why Yin Yoga Is So Powerful for Students

From a student perspective, Yin Yoga offers benefits on multiple levels:

Physically, it can: 

• Improve joint mobility
• Hydrate connective tissue
• Supports healthy fascia
• Balance more dynamic or yang-style practices
• Help prevent burnout and overtraining

Mentally & emotionally, it can:

• Calm the nervous system
• Help to reduce stress and anxiety
• Build emotional resilience
• Teach students to stay present with discomfort instead of avoiding it

Many students don’t realise how much tension they are holding until they finally stop moving.

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2. You Deepen Your Understanding of Anatomy and Fascia

Our comprehensive Yin trainings explore:

• Fascia lines and connective tissue
• Joint health and compression vs. tension
• Skeletal variations and why poses look different in different bodies
• The nervous system and how to calm it
• This knowledge doesn’t just make you a better Yin teacher — it makes you a better teacher in every style of yoga

In Yin Yoga, you stop forcing shapes and start respecting structures.

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3. You Learn How to Hold Space, Not Fill It

One of the biggest shifts for many teachers in Yin training is learning to:

• Talk less
• Allow silence
• Trust the process

Instead of constantly “doing,” you learn how to hold a container for students’ experiences. 

This skill translates into:

• A calm present class atmosphere
• Deeper student trust
• More emotionally safe spaces

Theming Creates Coherence and Depth

A themed class answers an unspoken question students often carry with them:

“Why am I here today, really?”

Instead of feeling like a collection of unrelated postures, a themed practice feels like a story—with a beginning, middle, and end. Every pose, breath, cue, and moment of stillness points in the same direction.

This creates:

A sense of purpose and meaning.

Better mental engagement and presence.

A deeper emotional and energetic resonance.

A feeling of being held in a journey, not just guided through exercises.

Especially in workshops and retreats, theming helps participants feel they are stepping into a sacred, intentional space rather than just attending another event.

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Working with the Chakras: A Map for Transformation

The chakra system is one of the most powerful and intuitive ways to theme a class, workshop, or retreat. Each chakra represents a dimension of human experience:

Root (Muladhara) – Safety, grounding, belonging

Sacral (Svadhisthana) – Flow, creativity, emotions

Solar Plexus (Manipura) – Confidence, will, empowerment

Heart (Anahata) – Love, connection, compassion

Throat (Vishuddha) – Expression, truth, communication

Third Eye (Ajna) – Intuition, clarity, perception

Crown (Sahasrara) – Meaning, unity, consciousness

When you theme a class around a chakra, you’re not only choosing physical actions. You’re also exploring a theme of life. Over a full workshop series or retreat, moving through the chakras creates a beautiful arc of personal development and integration.

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Tuning into the Elements: Connecting to Nature and Life’s Ever Changing Flow

Each element represents a state of energy and consciousness:

Earth – Stability, grounding, support, structure

Water – Flow, adaptability, emotion, creativity

Fire – Transformation, clarity, power, digestion (physical & mental)

Air – Lightness, movement, breath, openness

Space (Ether) – Stillness, awareness, spaciousness, possibility

When a class is themed around an element, students don’t just understand it intellectually. They feel it in their nervous system, breath, and body. The beauty of working with the elements is that, when we step away from our Yoga mat, we can continue our practice into the present by consciously connecting with what surrounds us. Whether it’s a walk in the woods or along the beach, gazing up at the sky, or feeling our feet rooted on the earth, each moment becomes an opportunity for practice.

From Profit to Purpose: a shift in perspective

Recently, I watched the Netflix documentary Buy Now! on the recommendation of a friend who described it as “shocking — everyone needs to watch this.” I completely agree that if everyone saw it, or if its key concepts were taught in schools and business settings, our collective world view could change for the greater good. Perhaps our conditioned beliefs about business, capitalism, profits, and core values would evolve. Perhaps the veils would be lifted, giving way for more mindful choices and communication – although BIG shifts at the top would be needed for that to ever manifest.

Sadly, I didn’t find the documentary particularly shocking. The main contributors, ex-employees of Amazon and Adidas, were highly informative and extremely interesting. They highlighted many of the pitfalls of capitalism and it’s profit-at-all-costs culture, with real-life examples. The speakers were self-reflective about the morals and ethics tied to their roles, and both have since moved on to new projects with the aim of “giving back” and living more in alignment with their core values and beliefs.

You could call this yoga in practice: a move away from separation and towards union. Veils had been lifted, a bigger picture observed. Their mindsets and inner world had changed, and as a result, so too did what they wished to bring into their outer world.

When I was around 15, a cover teacher wrote in my end-of-year journal:

“Pursue those things in life that you enjoy and the money will come.”

I never forgot that message. It still makes me tingle as I write this. I am SO grateful to her, it has stuck with me throughout my entire life. Put JOY first.

We’ve just completed this year’s 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, and we celebrated by dancing to Flashdance with a small tweak to the lyrics: “Take your passion, and make it happen. You will come alive as you dance and flow through life.”

It came back to me earlier as I read one of the course feedback comments that stood out:

“Clare has a phenomenal range of knowledge and extraordinary passion and enthusiasm for her subjects.”

Reading it made every hair on my body stand on end. And it’s true, I am passionate. However, it isn’t only the subject matter that I am enthusiastic about. I am equally passionate about the personal growth and transformations I witness on every course, whether Yoga or Pilates; about being able to support that journey; and about the difference our graduates go on to make in the community and beyond.

Now, when I need to make decisions, my questions look different:

1. Is this helping me to learn and grow?
   
2. Is this how I want to spend my time? Does it bring me joy, or lead me towards more joy and freedom in my life?
   
3. Is this in alignment with my core values and beliefs?
   
4. Which choice benefits the greatest number of people?
   
5. Will this decision bring me closer to nature or further from it?
   
6. Do I need to make a change to help me maintain, or come back into balance?
   (This is key to be able to give and receive in equal measure, and something I need to keep a close eye on!)
   
7. Am I making time for my personal practice?
   (If not, I know I need to make a change! Maintaining a personal practice is the foundation of what I share, when I teach, and keeps me on an authentic path.)

A Heartfelt Thank You

As countless e-mails have been bombarding our in-boxes with black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, I personally don’t feel called to participate as a business owner. It simply doesn’t feel it is in my alignment. On the flip side, I am feeling called to unconditionally GIVE NOW, so I’m following that calling.

When I shared the launch of our new Harmonise Pilates Teacher Training Manual, which took me two years to write (with NO AI involvement, I hasten to add!), several graduates reached out asking if they could access a copy. I initially thought I would sell it, however on reflection, I am feeling drawn to giving a copy to ALL Harmonise Pilates graduates.

I’ve also added 34 short videos of me teaching the original Pilates repertoire, filmed on the suggestion of a recent graduate. These are now all available in the Harmonise Pilates Teacher Training Online Portal. If you’re a graduate and don’t yet have access, please email me at clare@harmonisetrainingacademy.com and I’ll send the link.

I would very much like to take this opportunity to thank every single Harmonise student and graduate for finding Harmonise and being a part of this special community that I feel so blessed to be a part of. I also wish to acknowledge my deep respect and gratitude to everyone who supports me in being able to run and manage the business including Stacey, Louise, Dani, Jay, Bex, Siofra, Hannah and Revitalise.

What are the roots of Yoga Nidra?

The ancient yogis were on a quest to find the true nature of reality, our true selves and our connection with Spirit. They believed that we are not separate beings, but part of the Whole, the Divine, the same universal Source. In their search, they explored methods to help attain this state of consciounsess, where we can be free from all conditioning of the past, the senses and the mind.

They identified four primary states. Three of which we experience daily: waking, dreaming and deep sleep. But they also described a fourth state which they called Turiya. This fourth state was similar to deep sleep (stage 3 non REM sleep), but with awareness. A state of pure presence; of awakening to the reality of the infinite, beyond thought, beyond the senses and beyond identity. It is here, in this state where we can experience connection to the infinite, the essence of who we really are.

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What is the difference between Yoga Nidra and Savasana?

Savasana is the final relaxation at the end of a Yoga class, where you rest fully. It’s purpose is to allow the body to integrate the effects of the practice you have just done. It’s a balance of doing and being.

Sometimes the teacher may guide you into physical relaxation by guiding you to systematically take your awareness around the body and invite release. This is similar to the body rotation stage in Yoga Nidra and the body scan used in some meditation practices, but Savasana is not Yoga Nidra.

Yoga Nidra is a structured practice with different stages, for example: gentle breath practices, visualiation of images and exploration of opposites. Not all Nidras include every stage, and different schools teach different approaches. Yoga Nidra can also have different intentions, for example: to inspire creativity, tune into the chakras, or help you get to sleep. While every Yoga Nidra is different, the practise is designed to guide awareness through different layers of being, allowing you to achieve deeper states of consciousness.

A Yoga Nidra works beautifully at the end of a longer yoga session, but it is not simply the systematic guidance around the body you may have experienced in Savasana. There is much more to it. Savasana is, essentially, a posture; Yoga Nidra is a systematic method for accessing deeper states of consciousness.

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What is the difference between Yoga Nidra and Meditation?

Yoga Nidra is actually a form of meditation, although it is often mistaken for a relaxation practice. And yes, a Sleep Nidra can be very good for that, but the practice goes far beyond that. Yoga Nidra is a spiritual practice that helps you connect to “the Seer”, the part of you that is always aware of the comings and goings of the mind and emotions, observing from a place of neutrality.

The aim of Yoga Nidra is to remain aware while the body moves into a state similar to sleep, a space between wakefulness and dreaming known as the hypnagogic state. Unlike meditation which is traditionally practised in a seated posture, Yoga Nidra is usually practised lying down. However, the intention is the same: to cultivate awareness and access deeper states of consciousness.

Teaching Yoga Nidra requires more than reading from a script. Because the practice can guide someone into a very deep state of relaxation, it is important that they feel safe in the practice. This begins from the moment a person enters the space, in how you as the teacher, guide the experience – from creating the right environment, describing the practice and how and what you share. With trauma awareness Yoga Nidra has evolved over the years to help us as teacher share it as sensitively as possible.

On my Yoga Nidra Teacher Training (CPD) Course, you will learn what is happening in each stage and how to be mindful of what to teach. Once you have a deep understand of each stage you will be able to create your own Nidras based on your theme and students. A Nidra that flows from the heart rather than being read from a script in a book often has a different tone and quality to it.

1. Connect with nature

Take some time to walk or sit outdoors, notice what is happening in nature right now and reflect on how that relates to you too. Even if it’s raining, create space in your day to pause, to breathe, to feel the ground beneath you and notice how you are feeling within. Fresh air and breath practices will help to take care of the lungs, and mindful reflection can allow you to process anything that has been going on for you.

2. Reflect and Release

Once you have created some space and settled your nervous system, ask yourself: “What do I need to let go of this season?”

Notice the feelings that arise, honour them, feel them and take care of yourself as you make the choice to learn and let go. Journalling might help this process or taking some action, such as having conversations with others.

3. Check your boundaries

The Lung Qi* is also connected to our skin which is a boundary between the external world and the inner world. How are your boundaries in life? Do you always say yes to everything and then end up doing things you really don’t want to do?

This is a time for assessing your boundaries and saying no to what does not align with you, staying strong in your inner power and authority.

Learning about the Five Element System of Chinese Medicine is a wonderful way to live mindfully throughout the year. For teachers, it also provides rich themes to weave into classes, workshops, and retreats. Yin Yoga, rooted in Taoist philosophy, aligns beautifully with seasonal practices.

In Yin CPD Training, you’ll discover how to bring the Five Element System to life in your teaching; from theming classes and selecting poses, to working with acupressure points and using reflective journaling prompts. Not only will this enrich your students’ experience in class, you’ll also deepen your own practice and mindful development.

I absolutely love teaching the Yin Level 1 and 2 CPD Courses for this very reason. As well as deep learning, the courses are a retreat like experience with plenty of opportunity to experience the practices. Yin gives us the space to slow down, tune into the body, and explore the subtle energies that flow through us. In my Yin CPD courses, I guide teachers to bring this mindful approach into your classes safely and confidently.

As teachers, there are already so many things to remember and consider. So it’s only natural that some skills will be crafted and refined the further along your teaching journey you travel.

Recently, I’ve observed something while attending classes: many teachers stay rooted on their mats at the front of the space, facing forward for the entire session. This happens in both Pilates and Yoga, even when students are turned to the side or back of the room.

It’s something I’ve seen in our teacher training courses too. In those early stages, as people first start teaching, there is often an element of fear present and the mat can easily become a security blanket. It feels safe to stay put. But as confidence grows, trainees learn to step away from the mat, observe their students, and cue based on what they notice in the room. Something as simple as moving to face your students can make such a big difference to the class experience.

2. Set up the room to support visibility

Arrive at your class with enough time to allow you to arrange the mats in a format that helps students see you clearly, this can also enable you to maximise space. Some studios even mark mat positions with tape, which can be a helpful option depending on your teaching setting.

3. Stagger mats for better sightlines

If you have multiple rows, stagger the mats to maximise the potential for the students in the middle and back of the space to still see the front – this can help avoid someone directly in front blocking their view.
Sidenote: If the class involves large movements (like arm circles), ask students to stagger themselves on their mats prior to teaching the exercise, to ensure they have plenty of space.

5. Experiment with a circle layout

This non-hierarchal set up helps to foster a sense of inclusivity, it also gives you options on where to place your mat and yourself.

Your mat could be placed as part of the circle alongside your students, or you could have your mat in the middle of the circle. The first makes cueing easier as you won’t need to mirror; the second gives you the option to demonstrate more easily, be easily visible to all, and move around to face students when the whole class turns to face the same way.

Even better – if you have the space, lay out a mat for yourself in the middle AND as part of the circle and move between the two. This allows you to achieve everything above, and this setup can also remind and encourage you to move around more.

6. Choose mat orientation wisely

If the space or class genre means you’re better off teaching from the front, decide whether lengthways or widthways mats work best for your students. Lengthways is often more practical, depending on the size of space and number of students. However, consider the style and sequence itself carefully, and how it may lend itself more to one or the other.

7. Add a side mat for lateral exercises

For poses or sequences facing the side (like open hip postures or side leg series), you could even lay a mat at the side of the room ready. Again, this encourages you to reposition and face your students, and makes demonstation easier.

8. Use a cross-mat set-up

Laying two mats in a cross formation allows you to teach face-on or side-on depending on what you are teaching. When teaching side-on, you won’t need to mirror your students. When switching to the second side, simply move to the opposite end of the mat. This way, even if you rotate or turn, you’ll still be facing your students.

Think of it as teaching into a mirror: as you face your students, you are cuing the opposite side to that which you yourself are moving. So, if you move your right arm, cue their left, and it appears as if you are doing the same movements. I often open and close my hands or wiggle my feet to reinforce left and right when mirroring.

If you get confused, rather than left and right, you can use “front foot/back foot” or use features in the room / space to help direction e.g “face the clock, plant, windows, trees, sea” etc. Once you’ve done one side, you can simply cue students to “do the other side”. When I mix things up, I just correct myself, brush it off and carry on. Students are usually far less aware of them than you are! There are also occasions when I forget to mirror on one side; if that happens, I’ll simply carry on and mirror correctly on the second side to get back on track.

If you sense that fear is holding you back, remember: it’s normal. Take it slowly, and set the intention to take small steps towards towards integrating the above into your classes. Each time you step out of your comfort zone, you grow as a teacher – and your students reap the benefits.

If you’re ready to begin your teaching journey with the right tools to start applying these skills from day one, our yoga and Pilates teacher trainings are the perfect place to start.

For teachers, continuous professional development is key. These approaches are woven throughout our further training courses and workshops, helping you to refine and expand your teaching skills over time. This autumn, you may be interested in our Yin Yoga Level 2 training or Pilates equipment workshops, which will deepen your practice and confidence in guiding your students. Or check out our website for plenty more courses coming up in the new year.

Before we share how we work at Harmonise, it’s helpful to understand the distinction between Classical and Contemporary Pilates:

Classical Pilates stays true to Joseph Pilates’ original 34 mat exercises, taught in a set sequence. It prioritises flow, control, and precision, with an emphasis on consistent structure and seamless transitions. Proponents of this approach view the sequence as the gold standard, encouraging mastery of the original method.

“Contrology is designed to give you suppleness, natural grace, and skill that will be unmistakably reflected in the way you walk, in the way you play, and in the way you work.”

Joseph Pilates

Credit: Clip Art Desenho Pilates – @kindpng.com

The Harmonise Approach: The Best of Both

At Harmonise, we believe the most effective teachers are those who understand the roots of the method and know how to adapt and respond intelligently to the bodies in front of them.

We introduce you to the full classical mat repertoire in its original order, so you’ll learn and experience the flow just as Joseph Pilates intended. These exercises offer an incredible foundation for building strength, alignment, and control. Understanding the classical sequence is important not only from a historical perspective, but because it provides valuable insights into movement progression, patterning, and the intelligent design of the method itself.

While we respect the classical framework, we also recognise that every body is different.

Not everyone who walks into a class will be ready to perform the original exercises in their original form. That’s why we place strong emphasis on how to assess, adapt to, and support students of all levels and abilities. This includes learning how to break down and modify complex exercises, cue progressively, and understand common postural patterns and health considerations.

We teach a variety of foundational principles and preparatory exercises to help students build towards the classical 34, if and when that’s appropriate for them. For some, these foundations alone may be exactly what they need.

Flow Is a Goal, Not a Starting Point

Pilates is often associated with fluid, graceful transitions, and we agree that the classical style of movement is a beautiful and powerful part of the practice. However, jumping straight into the full 34-exercise sequence, which includes advanced postures, can compromise form and potentially be unsafe.

It takes time to develop the body awareness and control needed to move seamlessly through these more complex exercises. At Harmonise, we help our trainees build towards flow progressively, starting with more accessible movements to develop confidence and precision. We view the full classical sequence as a more advanced layer of practice, which may be introduced when the fundamentals are strong, depending on the teacher, the student, and the setting.

The Fascial System: Our Inner Cosmos

Fascia is far more than connective tissue — it’s a responsive and adaptive system that mirrors how we move, touch, think, feel, breathe and interact with the world, including how we hold and present ourselves. Often called the ‘listening tissues’, fascia adapts to both inner and outer stimuli (and the way we react to these), reflecting the complexity of our lived experience.

As John Sharkey describes it, fascia forms part of our ‘inner cosmos’. When we become consciously aware of this internal landscape, we unlock the ability to work with the fascia-and therefore the body’s-natural adaptability.

By inviting and encouraging your students to connect with the ‘watcher’, ‘observer’, or ‘witness’ during postures, we can guide them towards a deeper experience of self-awareness. This benefits not only the physical, but also the mental and emotional bodies.

Energy and Nature: The Wisdom of Chinese Medicine

In Eastern traditions, the doctor is seen less as a mechanic and more as a gardener — one who supports the conditions in which health can flourish. All life unfolds within the cycles of nature, which is in constant motion, following cyclical patterns that reflect the process of transformation. We humans are integrated and interconnected — active participants in this ever-evolving system of change.

Over millennia, doctors observed cycles in nature and conceptualised the body in these terms. A person both embodies and interacts with cycles — daily, monthly, seasonal, and lifelong.

During our Level 2 Yin course, Anne-Marie will spend 1.5 days with us bringing this philosophy to life, sharing her extensive experience in Chinese Medicine and its’ philosophy. She will guide participants in how to integrate key foundational principles — such as meridian theory, seasonal cycles, and the five elements — into a Yin Yoga practice.

With a deep understanding of the body’s energetic systems, she offers a grounded and accessible approach to this ancient wisdom.

Grilley groups Yin (and Yang) poses into seven Archetypes based on their functional intention. This approach centres on target areas — for example, stretching the glutes or gently stressing the hip joint — and encourages practitioners to explore the variation that best suits them.

This approach moves away from the Aesthetic style, which often attempts to fit the body into a ‘perfect’ or ‘textbook’ pose, overlooking the reality that anatomical variation means some shapes may not be accessible — or even beneficial — for everyone.

Louise weaves these Functional Yoga principles and Grilley’s 7 Archetypes throughout the Level 2 Yin course, guiding you to create mindful, adaptable classes that are both safer and more effective for the individual. As well as fostering a more inclusive yoga experience, this approach empowers your students to understand and embrace their unique body.

1. Build confidence in working with the meridian lines and learn how to theme classes around them — aligning with the seasons, the five elements, and supporting organ health
2. Learn specific acupressure points and their physical and energetic benefits
3. Expand your understanding of fascia and how to work with it in practice
4. Incorporate simple Qi Gong practices, somatic yoga and tapping into your classes
5. Bring fresh energy and diversity to your classes by theming them around energy centres, the five elements, the koshas, and for fascial release.
6. Empower your students to understand and tune into their own bodies and respond to their needs by sharpening your cuing and observation skills – also enhancing emotional well-being and self-awareness
7. Create inclusive, non-judgemental spaces by developing the language that helps all students feel welcome, safe, and supported
8. Expand your workshop and retreat offerings by incorporating the new tools and techniques learned, to create richer, more engaging experiences for your students
9. Spend time in community, connecting with like-minded people, exchanging insights and upskilling through shared experience during this immersive 5 days together
10. Reflect, restore and reconnect with yourself and your practice

1. Increased Resistance and Challenge

Adding in small equipment gives you an opportunity to add resistance to exercises, which in turn:

• Increases the challenge
• Enhances strength training
• Improves balance and stability
• Supports better joint function
• Helps reduce the risk of injury and osteoporosis

2. Targeted Muscle Activation

Using small equipment can help target and engage specific muscles or muscle groups, allowing your clients to work with greater precision. It’s particularly useful when focused support or attention is needed in certain areas, especially if there’s a muscle imbalance or weakness.

3. Improved Body Awareness

Small equipment gives valuable feedback to the user, helping them tune into their own alignment and control. This helps improve exercise technique and overall practice, builds proprioception, and leads to better movement quality over time.

4. Supported and Accessible Movement

For students who would benefit from support, equipment such as flex bands or magic circles can assist with alignment and make movements more accessible. This creates a more inclusive class environment where everyone can participate safely and confidently.

5. Enhanced Flexibility

Equipment can be used to assist stretching, allowing students to go deeper than they might otherwise be able to without assistance. Tools like the flex band, magic circle, or even the foam roller can be especially effective, and when used appropriately, they can improve flexibility and help bring balance to the body.

Join Our Next Pilates CPD Small Equipment Workshops

Ready to add small equipment to your teaching toolkit? Join us at our upcoming CPD workshops to gain practical skills and renewed inspiration.

If you’re ready to bring more creativity and variety into your teaching, I’d love to see you at one (or more!) of our small equipment CPD workshops. Whether you’re just getting started or want to deepen your knowledge, these sessions are designed to be practical, inspiring, and full of ideas you can use straight away.

Sunday 1st June
Flex Band Workshop – 9.30am–12.30pm
Overball (Soft Ball) Workshop – 1.30–4.30pm

Sunday 22nd June
Foam Roller Workshop – 9.30am–12.30pm
Magic Circle Workshop – 1.30–4.30pm

Ready to book your spot? I’d love to practise with you.

1. Know your limitations and respond with care

Being clear on what you’re trained and insured to teach is essential — for your students’ safety and your own confidence. When something falls outside your scope, handle it with sensitivity and professionalism.

For example, if you’re not trained in prenatal Pilates or Yoga, it’s unsafe and unethical to include someone past their first trimester. Gently explain that a pregnancy-specific class will better meet their needs. Do your research and have a local recommendation ready. Speak with sensitivity, focusing on their safety and wellbeing.

If you feel pressured to include them—by the student or the studio/club/gym—stay strong in your truth. You’re prioritising safety and the best interests of both parties, which is the right thing to do. Even if you are qualified, referring on can still be the best choice in mixed group classes.

You can pre-empt issues like this by suggesting/ensuring that the class listing states it’s not suitable for pregnancy beyond 12 weeks. Or, if you’re covering a class, ask in advance if any pregnant students attend, let them know if you’re not qualified.

As well as attending accredited workshops and courses, your continuing professional development (CPD) can include watching YouTube videos, listening to podcasts, reading books, and teaching or attending classes. Ongoing learning boosts your confidence, helps tailor classes to students’ needs helping build trust, and can protect you if ever a claim is made against you. 

Balancing safety with meeting student expectations can be tricky. Whilst movement is generally beneficial for most health conditions and ailments, it’s important to show due diligence. Always refer students to specialists when needed and signpost them to the most appropriate classes.