Ep 62: How to Teach A Student with An Injury

You want to create a safe and inclusive space for everyone who walks into your classes. But when a student is dealing with an injury, it can feel overwhelming to know how to support them. Do you resort to telling them, “Do what feels right for you”? This is a valid suggestion to offer, but have you ever yearned to actually help them or address their needs in your class?

Questions like:

• How do I assess their needs? 
• What questions should I ask? and
• How do I know when to refer them to a healthcare professional?

In this episode, I’ll share part of my framework for teaching students with injuries, from asking the right questions to offering modifications and knowing when to refer out. Whether you’re a new teacher or a seasoned one, this conversation will give you practical tools to confidently support your students. 

Transcript

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Today, we're diving into a topic that is near and dear to my heart, and we've discussed it on the podcast before, but we're going to go back into it again in this episode. It is teaching students with injuries. I know that you want to create a safe and inclusive space for everyone who walks into your classes, but when a student is dealing with an injury, it can feel overwhelming to know how to support them. So you resort to telling them, just do what feels right for you, which is a valid suggestion to offer. But have you ever yearned to actually help them or address their needs in your class? Have you asked yourself questions like, how do I assess their needs? What questions should I ask? And how do I know when to refer them to a healthcare professional? In this episode, I'll share a part of my framework for teaching students with injuries from asking the right questions to offering modifications and knowing when to refer. Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned one, this conversation will give you practical tools to confidently support your students. Welcome to the Essential Conversations for Yoga Teachers podcast with me. I'm Monica Bright, and I've been teaching yoga and running my yoga business for over a decade. This is the podcast for you. If you're a yoga teacher, you're looking for support. You love to be in conversation and you're a lifelong student. In this podcast, I'll share with you. My life as a yoga teacher, the lessons I've learned, my process for building my business and helpful ideas, tools, strategies, and systems I use, and you can use so that your business thrives. We'll cover a diverse range of topics that will help you whether you're just starting out or you've got years under your belt and you want to dive deep and set yourself up for success. I'm so glad you're here. Listen, I don't take myself too seriously, so expect to hear some laughs along the way. Now, let's do this. Together. Welcome back to the podcast. I'm Monica and I just returned from hosting another international yoga retreat and oh my God, retreats are one of my favorite offerings. Think about it a week away from everyday life, all your responsibilities and time to be held and taken care of by me. It's just so nourishing. And the feeling that retreaters leave with. Can not be accomplished by just attending weekly yoga classes. I've got upcoming retreat information coming soon. So if you're interested, consider joining my email list. The link is in the show notes below. Okay, today we are diving into a topic that is so near and dear to my heart. It is teaching students with injuries. I know that you want to create a safe and inclusive space for everyone who walks into your classes. But when a student is dealing with an injury, it can feel overwhelming to know how to even begin to support them. How do you even assess their needs? What questions should you ask them and how do you know when it's the right time to refer them to a healthcare professional? In this episode, I'll share part of my framework for teaching students with injuries from asking the right questions to offering modifications and knowing when to refer out Whether you're a new yoga teacher or a seasoned one, this conversation will give you practical tools to confidently support your students. So let's get started. First, let's talk about asking questions. Why do the questions you ask your students Asking the right questions helps you understand the student's injury, their pain levels and their movement limitations. The first step in meeting and teaching a student with an injury is to ask questions and not just any questions, but thoughtful, specific questions that help you understand their unique situation. Always start by asking, has your injury been diagnosed? This is crucial because it tells you whether the student has seen a healthcare professional and received guidance on what they can and can't do. If the injury hasn't been diagnosed, that's a red flag, and we'll talk more about that later. But here are some key questions to ask. Always start with, has your injury been diagnosed? This is information for you. Yes, but it's information your student needs instead of guessing what's going on in their body, knowing for sure what the injury is will be extremely helpful in finding the right treatments. to recover from it. For example, a torn rotator cuff is very different than bursitis where one injury is tissue damage and the other is bursa inflammation. Next, ask about their pain levels. You can ask, what are your pain levels on a scale of one to 10. I like to use a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being no pain and 10 being unbearable pain. This gives you a sense of how much discomfort they're in and whether they should even be practicing yoga right now. This is one measurement of pain, but there are so many different ways to measure and understand their pain experience. The scale of one to 10 is common, but you also have to be mindful of their level of pain tolerance as well. A four for you might be an eight for me. It's important to ask what movements or positions make the pain feel better or worse. This helps you understand their limitations and what to avoid in class. For example, if a student says forward folds aggravate their lower back pain, you'll know to offer alternatives. You may feel comfortable altering your sequence to accommodate an injured student, but that comes as you teach more and gain more and more knowledge about injuries. If you're not comfortable changing your sequence, then tell your student that you're working on something specific in class and that it might irritate their injury. Then offer them something else to do in the meantime. Are there any specific limitations or areas to avoid? This is an especially good question to ask, especially if you're not familiar with the injury that the student has. Let them tell you what movements bother them or that they don't want to take. This is an opportunity for you to learn. So lean into asking more and more. questions. Finally, ask them, what does your doctor or physical therapist recommend? This goes back to the first question. Have you been diagnosed? This gives you insight into any specific guidelines or restrictions they've been given by a medical professional. Again, another chance to learn more about how they're coping with their movement while being injured. It's so important to practice active. Listening and create a safe space for your students to share. Have you ever been in a class and the teacher stood at the front of the room and asked everyone at once if there was anyone with injuries present and to share with them? I have, and honestly, I would never share my injuries with the whole group for a number of reasons. So try to have as many one on one conversations with your students as possible and let them know that you're there to support them, not judge them. Next, you need to assess whether the class they showed up for is appropriate. Once you've asked your questions, the next step is to assess whether this class is the right fit for the student. Here are some factors to consider. the intensity and focus of the class. For example, power yoga versus restorative yoga. A power yoga class might not be the best choice for someone recovering from a knee injury or a shoulder injury while a gentle or restorative class could be perfect. Next is the student's pain levels and movement capabilities. If they're in a lot of pain or have significant limitations, they might benefit from private sessions, slow moving classes, and classes free from strict alignment rules. Another factor is whether the student has medical clearance to practice yoga. So don't forget to ask them if they have clearance. If they don't, or if their injury is severe, it might be best to refer them to a doctor or a physical therapist before they join a class. Most people will not come to classes with severe injuries, but you always want to be mindful of what stage they're in in their injury journey, from acute, recovery, or chronic stages, it's important to know. Here are a few options you can offer. You could modify the class for the student, make it less twisty or slow the pace of the sequence or make it a little bit more gentle. You can and should suggest a different class that's better suited for their needs. Or you could refer them to a doctor or a physical therapist if the injury is severe. severe or undiagnosed. I've suggested all of these depending on the student, and I'm confident in what I suggest. Do remember that you can't force. anyone to do anything, but you're smart and the more you educate yourself on injuries, the more your students will trust what you have to suggest. The number one goal is to meet them where they are and help them stay safe. If a student does decide to stay, you need to create a safe and supportive environment for them. So, set expectations. Once you've determined that the class is appropriate or that they're going to stay, it's time to create a safe and supportive environment. For them. Let them know it's perfectly fine to take breaks, to skip poses, or to use props. Encourage them to listen to their own body and avoid pushing into pain. Talk about modifications and props. Start class by saying, we're going to use props in class today. For example, if a student has knee pain, suggest a block. under their hip in pigeon pose, along with a pose variation. I like to teach prop use to the entire class instead of singling students out. If they have shoulder issues, offer alternatives for plank and chaturanga. Props like blocks. Straps and bolsters can be game changers for students with injuries. Offer specific modifications for common injuries like knee, shoulder, or back pain, as well as demonstrating how props like blocks, straps, and bolsters can support their practice You should always be working on cueing mindfully. So use inclusive language that allows students to opt out or modify without feeling singled out. For example, instead of saying, if you have knee pain, do this. You could say today, we're using a block under your hip. Or today, let's experience supine pigeon pose instead. You can explain why a supine pigeon might feel better on their knee because of the change in orientation of the pose with gravity. Remember to use inclusive language. That's going to allow students to opt out or modify Without feeling singled out. And offer alternatives. for these poses that might aggravate their injury if you're not planning to teach the option to the entire class. The goal is to make your student feel supported and empowered to practice in a way that works for them. Finally, sometimes you can't help your students, so you need to know when to refer out. So when should you refer out? When your students have undiagnosed pain or injuries, severe or worsening pain during movement, or they don't have a medical clearance for physical activity. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, a student's injury is beyond our scope as a yoga teacher. That's when you know it's time to refer out. how can you refer out with grace and not alarm your student? You can acknowledge the limits of your expertise as a yoga teacher. You could say something like, I'm so glad you're here. And I think it would be a good idea for you to check in with a doctor before continuing with yoga. You could remind them that you're there to teach them yoga or suggest that they consult a doctor, physical therapist, or other health care professional, and reassure them that you're here to support their healing journey, but you think it would be wise For them to see a doctor or a medical professional before I finish, I'll leave you with some practical tips to consider teaching students with injuries can feel daunting, but with the right tools, it becomes much more manageable. Here are some practical tips that will help you feel confident and prepared. First, build a toolkit. Learn basic anatomy and common injuries and familiarize yourself with modifications for different injuries and keep props on hand to support your students. Second, stay curious and compassionate. Every student and injury is unique. Ask questions and adapt. As needed, approach each student with empathy and a willingness to learn. Remember when you ask them questions, you're learning too. You could even say, I've never heard of that. Would you tell me more? I've asked students to tell me about their experience with the injury, how it affects their life, including what they can and can't do. I ask about all of this information and I love it because I'm learning so much more in the process. Finally, remember to keep up with your continuing education. Invest in taking workshops or courses on yoga for injuries or trauma informed teaching. The more you learn, the better equipped you'll be to support your students. I teach teachers all the time about injuries, pain, and the nervous system, whether it's in a One on one setting or in a group setting, I have options for you. Remember, you don't have to have all the answers. What matters is that you approach each student with empathy and a willingness to learn. Teaching students with injuries is both challenging and it's an opportunity. It challenges you to think creatively, communicate clearly, and stay grounded in your role as teachers of movement and awareness. It's also an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the human body, build trust with your students, and create a truly inclusive space. So the next time a student with an injury walks into your class, Take a deep breath, ask the right questions and trust in your ability to support them. You've got this. If you can't tell already, this is one of the subjects that lights me up and I want all teachers of movement to understand how a working knowledge of the human body affects your teaching. I don't think we talk about the importance of injury awareness and education enough. And if this conversation feels uncomfortable, don't worry. This is exactly where change is. happens. I hope that this episode sparked some deeper thought around getting more comfortable and confident with your knowledge of anatomy and injuries is so important as a movement educator. Don't forget to download the ebook for different injuries. The link is in the show notes. I promise you, it will help you form a foundation for teaching students with injuries. And it'll be a great resource for you to return to again and again. When you download the ebook, you'll be joining my newsletter that's just for yoga teachers. And I promise I don't spam my email list. I've got more exciting teachings coming soon, so I want to tell you all about them. The link is in the show notes below and I would love for you to join it so we can always stay connected. I've added a link in the show notes for you to also send me a quick text message about your thoughts on this episode. I love reading your messages. I won't know your phone number. Don't worry. It's just a neat addition to the platform that I use that allows for this easy way for you to communicate with me. Once you click on it, it will take you to your messages, but don't delete the code because that's how your message will get to me. And I would love to know your thoughts. Subscribe to the podcast so you're always in the know when a new episode drops and share it with another yoga teacher who you think would love to be in on these conversations. Thank you for helping to spread the word about this podcast. And if you've been taking notes in your journal, as you listen to these episodes, I'm so glad you are and I would love to hear about it. All right, that's it for now. Bye. Mhm.