Say Whaaaaa?!?!

​As yoga instructors or yoga therapists, we often use Yoga Nidra or meditation “scripts”.  And just like you, I too find some of the wording cumbersome and I stumble quite often over the language.  There are certain scripts that resonant with me like those created by iRest experts but even those don’t roll off my tongue naturally.

I like language that is clear and concise.  Language that is easy to understand and that anyone participating in my classes can relate to and gain benefit.  I steer away from loaded language and use more Western terminology in my group meditation and Yoga Nidra classes since some students are not coming to class for spiritual or philosophical reasons-they just might be trying to sleep better at night.

A good way to find out how you sound reading one of these pre-written scripts is to record yourself.  It will help you develop an authentic voice as a yoga instructor and/or therapist.  You’ll instantly pick up on those parts of the language that sound “fake”.  You know those parts..."like there is no way in the world I would normally talk like that."

So what do I do?  I change it up!

Some Common Script Language and How I Change It

• Heartfelt Mission: I use “Heartfelt path-the path that makes you feel in harmony with your place in the world.  That motivation to get out of bed in the morning.” WHY:  Heartfelt Mission...that’s not setting students up for failure at alllllll….what if I don’t have something so grand as a MISSION??

 

• Inner Resource: I use “inner place of refuge”.  WHY: You know how many times I’ve been asked to explain "Inner Resource"?  Obviously people don’t have a clue what the hell it means!

 

• Affirm: I use “acknowledge”    WHY: This isn’t a court room.  It’s yoga.  No one but a Judge will ask someone to “Affirm”.

 

• Note: I use “Notice”. WHY: I have never said to anyone anywhere at any time, “Have you noted…”.  Because I don’t live in a Jane Austin novel.

 

• The feeling of life living you with purpose, meaning and value: I use “The feeling of a life lived with purpose, meaning and value.”   WHY: This phrase just sounds like flipping new-age woowoo.  Does anyone understand this? It doesn't sound enlightened...it sounds grammatically fucked up.

What are some ways you, as a yoga instructor, change language to be more authentic?

As a student, what language have you heard an instructor use that sounded odd?