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THE ART OF STUDENT-CENTRED ASSISTS

Compassion, Props, Touch & Trust in Yoga Teaching
Have you ever felt stuck on how to help a student navigate yoga asanas?

 

You've likely been here many, many times while teaching:

 

You're mid-class. You see a student wincing, wobbling, or clearly checked out. Something’s not landing. You want to help. But you're not quite sure what to do — or if you should do anything at all. Your mind spirals: "Do I step in? Offer a cue? Touch? Would that help or just make it worse?"

And so, like so many of us, you brush past the moment and keep teaching — knowing deep down this was a missed opportunity to offer meaningful support.

This is the gap this training is here to close.

You don’t need to become a hyper hands-on teacher. But you do need a toolkit for helping your students feel stronger, steadier, and more at home in their bodies — in ways that are clear, consensual, and rooted in care.

 

Because when students feel deeply supported, everything changes.

 

They become more present in their bodies.

 

More willing to explore.

 

More trusting of the space — and of themselves.

 

And far more likely to want to keep coming back to your class again and again.

 

This is what we’re really doing when we offer an assist. Whether through touch, props, or presence, we’re saying: I see you. I’ve got you. You’re not alone in this.

This training is for you if you:

  • Want your teaching to meet real people — not idealized alignment models

  • Are craving more clarity around how and when to use props and assists effectively

  • Have been taught hands-on techniques that felt mechanical (or a little murky ethically) and have yet to figure out a better way so you just... don't

  • Know how much power a teacher can hold — and want to use yours with care

  • Are ready to deepen trust with your students and with yourself

What You'll Learn

In this two-day, in-person training, we’ll explore:

🧠 Anatomy-informed alignment

Because we don’t all need to — or can — look the same in a pose.

👐 Empowered, respectful hands-on assists
Practice touch that’s grounded in consent, clarity, and presence — not performance.

🪑 Skillful prop usage
Learn how to both support accessibility and increase challenge using props creatively.

🗣 Real-time problem-solving
You’ll build the confidence to troubleshoot common issues on the spot — because no two bodies are the same, and no pose is ever “one-size-fits-all.”

💬 The subtler side of support
We’ll talk about nervous system regulation, compassion, power dynamics, and non-violent communication — all essential for building safer, braver containers.

And yes, we’ll get tactile: you’ll give and receive deeply nourishing assists, especially in our Yin + Restorative modules and empowering and fun assists in our inversions and arm balances modules (optional, of course!)

Why This Matters

This isn’t about “fixing” people’s alignment or recreating an ideal shape.

It’s about empowering students to feel more confident, stable, and curious in their own practice.


It’s about earning their trust — and knowing what to do with it.


It’s about becoming the kind of teacher who holds space with both skill and soul.

This is the kind of teaching that fills your classes, books your privates, and keeps students coming back — not just for the poses, but for the way you make them feel.

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What to Expect

You’ll be learning in a collaborative, lab-style environment — think less lecture, more experiential learning.

 

You'll be encouraged to collaborate with your fellow trainees to problem-solve on the spot and craft solutions to challenges you students face that you could not have come up with without the time and space to experiment.


You'll learn how to support all kinds of bodies across a range of asanas — from foundational postures to inversions and dynamic flows to Yin and Restorative style classes. 


Expect a blend of hands-on practice, thoughtful discussion, and joyful experimentation. This is a training like no other when it comes to learning how to think critically, communicate effectively, and truly become the trusted teacher resource and guide you know you are.

You'll Leave With

  • A powerful library of adaptable, inclusive assists you can draw from with confidence

  • Trust in your own discernment — the ability to know exactly when and how to step in (or not)

  • A practical skill set to serve diverse, mixed-level students with clarity and care

  • Fresh inspiration to design classes that feel exciting, engaging, and deeply transformative

  • A renewed sense of purpose and leadership in your teaching — one rooted in presence, equity, and true student-centred support

Kat is a knowledgeable instructor that made our training fun and insightful. I appreciated the way the class was organized, giving us lots of opportunities to practice, discuss and share opinions.  I was very hesitant and unsure before this training.  Katarina gave me back the confidence and skill to introduce hands on assists safely into my classes.

- A.G-H, 2023 Art of Assists Trainee

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Key Details

Date & Time:

 

Saturday, October 25, 9 - 5PM
Sunday, October 26, 9 - 5PM

 

Location:

 

YYoga Downtown Flow, 888 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 0A4

Schedule

Saturday, October 25

 

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Check-In

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Intro + Basic Hatha Assists + Props

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch Break

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Intermediate Hatha Assists + Props

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Yin Practice with Assists + Props

Sunday, October 26

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Check-In

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Flow Assists + Props

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Break

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Inversions and Arm Balances Assists + Props

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Yin Practice with Assists + Props

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Close

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Your Investment

$350 + HST

Includes 12+ hours of immersive, in-person learning, hands-on feedback, and ongoing access to a supportive peer group.

Limited to 20 participants to ensure individualized attention and plenty of practice time. This is an intimate learning space where your voice matters, and your questions are welcome.


There are two sliding scale spots available for folks in the LGBTQ + BIPOC communities.

Payment plans are also available.

Please email Katarina directly at hello@katarinayoga.com to inquire.

Location

YYoga Downtown Flow, 888 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 0A4

PARKING: There is street parking available and plenty of parking lots in the area. Check Google Maps for more details.

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