Ep 108: Why Your Verbal Cues Aren’t Always Enough

We've all been there... we cue something that makes perfect sense in our own minds… but a student doesn’t quite understand. Maybe your students look confused, or move in completely different directions. It’s not that your cue was bad; it’s that language doesn’t always translate directly into movement.

In this episode, we’re unpacking why verbal cues alone aren’t enough and how different learning styles, nervous system states, and physical experiences shape how students receive your instructions. You’ll learn why some students need to see or feel what you’re describing, how nervous system regulation impacts comprehension, and how to diversify your teaching beyond words.

We’ll talk about the importance of demoing poses and transitions, the power of silence, and why your tone and pacing matter more than you realize. You’ll leave this episode with practical strategies to communicate more clearly, reach every student in the room, and teach with a deeper sense of presence and adaptability.

Whether you teach flow, restorative, or therapeutic yoga, this conversation will help you see cueing as more than words. It'll help you realize that your teaching is a form of communication that connects you more deeply with your students.

Transcript

Monica: 3:59

We've all had that moment when we cue something that makes perfect sense in our own minds, but then we notice that a student didn't follow it. Maybe students look confused or move in completely different directions. It's not that your cue was bad, it's that language doesn't always translate directly into movement. In this episode, we are unpacking why verbal cues alone aren't enough and how different learning styles, nervous system states and physical experiences shape how students receive your instructions. You'll learn why some students need to see or. Feel what you're describing. How nervous system regulation impacts comprehension and how to diversify your teaching beyond words. Whether you teach flow, restorative, or therapeutic yoga, this conversation will help you see queuing as more than words, and your teaching is a form of communication. That connects you with your students, and that goes well beyond verbal queuing. 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 are 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 wanna dive deep and set yourself up for success. I am 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'm so glad you're here. Here we talk about the anatomy, the injuries, the nervous system insights plus all the real life knowledge you wish had been included in your yoga teacher training. When we first start teaching yoga, we're taught that verbal cues are everything. If you were taught a cue formula like I was, then you know how important it was for you to master it, right? The ability to clearly describe what you want your students to do is one of the foundational skills of good teaching. This is true. Words are powerful. The way we cue, oppose can help students find stability, awareness, autonomy, and even emotional connection to their practice. Our language sets the tone for the experience in the room, but when you get really comfortable looking at your students, you may realize that verbal cues alone aren't always effective. If you're like me. You've probably had that moment where you said a cue. Maybe it's something you've said a hundred times and you have a new student in your class and they look confused. Or you see a student doing the complete opposite of what you just described. I've had this happen to me and I've literally said to the class, okay, I've gotta find a better way to communicate how I want you to move. I found that just admitting that the queue wasn't received, how I intended kept things light in class. Both students, and I kind of just laughed it off. But in this moment. You start wondering if you didn't say it clearly enough or if they weren't listening. But often it's neither of those things. It's that language doesn't always translate directly into your intended movement. Okay. Every student in your class has a different way of processing information. Some are auditory learners. They hear your words and can immediately translate them into physical action. Others are visual learners. They need to see what you mean. Either by watching you demonstrate or by observing another student, and then there are kinesthetic learners. People will learn best by feeling the movement in their own body for them. No amount of verbal explanation will replace the experience of physically exploring the movement and discovering what feels right. When we rely solely on verbal cues, We often unintentionally favor auditory learners. They're the ones who appear to get it quickly, but visual and kinesthetic learners can be left behind. They can be confused or self-conscious because they're not processing the information in the same way as teachers. Part of our job is to recognize that not every student will learn the same way, and to create an environment where all types of learners can feel successful. I learned about learning styles when I was in college and was enrolled in a few elementary education classes. It was vital that I understood how different students learn so that I could teach them effectively another layer to this conversation is the role of the nervous system. You know, I love the nervous system, and the truth is we didn't learn to teach students and consider their nervous systems in this way. Even the clearest verbal cue can fall flat when a student's nervous system isn't in a receptive state. If a student is feeling anxious, distracted, or in pain, their body might not be ready to follow your instructions. Their attention might be fragmented or hyper-focused on a particular sensation. Which makes it hard to interpret and act on language For someone with chronic pain, for example, verbal cues that emphasize alignment or precision might actually increase tension or worry in these moments. Simplicity. Tone and pacing matter more than perfection. Their nervous system has to feel safe before their brain can process and their physical body can respond. So if verbal cues aren't always enough, then what do we do? How can we make sure our students understand and feel supported without overwhelming them or overteaching? The first step is awareness. Start noticing how your students respond when you cue. Are they moving when you speak? Are they pausing to look around the room? Are they hesitating, unsure where to go next? These small moments of observation tell you a lot about how your language is landing. From there, you can begin to diversify your approach. One of the simplest tools is demonstration. It's not about demoing the entire class. It's about strategically using visual support. When it clarifies your instruction. For example, if you're teaching a movement that's complex or unfamiliar, briefly show the general shape or the action that you are trying to teach in the body. Then use your words to guide them through the feeling or refinement of the pose once they're there. This combination of visual and verbal input helps bridge the gap between understanding and embodiment. One way I teach this is to show the pose or the transition at the start of class. This way students can see it and I can speak on anything. I want them to be mindful of. While I have their full attention before we even start class, once we practice the pose or the transition in the sequence, students have already had a visual of what it looks like beforehand. This has been extremely effective for me, so try that out if you haven't already. Another effective tool is tactile feedback or physical assist. Though this must always be used with clear consent and awareness, sometimes a light touch or a directional cue can communicate what words can't. However, with the growing awareness of trauma-informed teaching, we know that touch must be optional and teachers need to prioritize creating psychological safety before offering it. For teachers who prefer not to use hands-on assist, props can serve as a tactile teaching tool. Using a block, a strap, or the wall gives the student physical feedback about where their body is in space and what you're asking them to engage or release. For kinesthetic learners, guided exploration can be transformative. Instead of giving them a list of instructions, try offering movement based questions. For example, what happens when you shift your weight slightly forward, or notice how your back leg feels when you turn your foot slightly in these cues, invite students to go internal and feel and discover rather than perform a position for you. They create internal awareness, which is ultimately what yoga is about, right? The student's awareness and connection between their body, mind, and their breath. Another thing to consider is the pace and tone of your voice. Sometimes students can't follow cues because they're said too quickly or with too much information at once. Try breaking down complex movements into smaller pieces. Give students time to integrate one cue before layering on the next. Silence can also be a powerful teaching tool. Leaving moments of quiet allows students to process what you've said, feel the movement and self-correct if needed. Now, let's not forget the actual language itself. A lot of yoga cues are metaphorical or poetic, which can be beautiful, but not always practical. While saying, shine your heart forward might feel inspiring to some students, others won't know what that means. Physically, make it your goal to balance imagery with clarity. Say what you mean in simple, accessible terms. Once students are familiar with the action, you can layer in more descriptive language to deepen their experience. When students don't respond to your cues, it doesn't mean you're doing something wrong. It may mean they need something a little bit different. The best teachers are the ones who adapt, who can sense when words aren't landing and are flexible enough to change their approach. This kind of adaptability is a skill that develops over time through observation, curiosity, and compassion for your students. I also wanna mention that as teachers, our nervous system plays a big role in how effectively we communicate. When we feel rushed, anxious, or uncertain, our cues tend to become more rigid or repetitive On the other hand, when we're grounded and regulated, our words are calmer, slower, and more connected. whether you know it or not, students pick up on that. Energetically. Teaching isn't just about delivering information, it's about co-regulating the space. When we model calm and presence, it invites our students into the same state. So as you continue to refine your teaching, start thinking of cues, not as commands, but as conversations your language. Your demonstrations, your pacing and your tone all work together to guide students into awareness. There's no single right way to communicate in yoga, but there is a clear goal and that's clarity and understanding. So if you are still teaching with a Q formula, you don't have to keep teaching Using that Q formula, try to venture out and use words a little bit differently. think about your words and what you use them for and how you use them, and the reason why. Okay. Our verbal cues are essential because they help students understand where you're guiding them, and it creates structure in class. But teaching is multi-dimensional. It's about using all the tools you have, visual, auditory, tactile, and energetic to reach the diverse student needs in your classes. Think of it this way. Yoga isn't just about movement. It's about communication, building relationships and awareness. Yours and students', awareness of themselves. And when you can meet your students in their language, whether that's through words, visual feedback, or a physical touch, that's when your teaching truly becomes transformational. Remember, clear queuing isn't just about speaking. Well, it's about teaching with awareness of how your students learn. Each student processes information through their own lens. Some need to hear it, others need to see it, and many need to feel it before it makes sense. Once you start teaching from that understanding, your cues naturally become more inclusive and effective. It is also worth remembering that comprehension depends on nervous system regulation. A student who is anxious in pain or dysregulated might not be able to process your words in real time. When you slow down, use a grounded tone and allow more space via silence. Your students' have the opportunity to respond instead of react. Over time, the most impactful teachers are the ones who move fluidly between queuing styles, blending language, demonstration, and maybe a light touch. These teachers observe, adapt, and meet their students where they are without judgment. If you take away one idea from this episode, let it be this great cueing is not about saying more. It's about saying what's necessary. Realizing when verbal cues aren't enough, and pivoting in real time to other methods that may be more helpful for your students. Understanding anatomy, biomechanics, and the effects yoga Asana have on the body helps you help your students. If you've been enjoying these episodes, I know that you're the yoga teacher who's ready to teach with more intention and less fear around injuries. Let's continue to raise the bar for how yoga supports real bodies in real life. It's so important for us to have this conversation so that you remember that students of all shapes, sizes, alignment, and abilities come to your classes and you can serve all of them. You know that my goal is for you to love the yoga teaching life. It's important to understand movement and the issues students come to your classes with. 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. And finally, thank you for helping to spread the word about this podcast. Alright, thank you for listening. That's it for now. Bye.