By Gingi Lee

When Derek Ireland started teaching me the art of yoga adjustments in the early 90s I was overly confident. I had nearly finished the 3rd ashtanga series, had made up my mind that yoga was my whole life, had no family obligations, no job to get back to, no strings attached. I was a free agent soaking up the rays in Goa and not a worry in my life except to get up the next morning and get on my mat. Life was a colourful Indian sarong wrapped around my mid-drift. 

Learning yoga adjustments was fascinating, and I was complete immersed in the process. What I hadn’t realised and what was about to rock my loosely hanging sarong was how it was going to change my own practice and bring a deeper respect to the yoga. I soon realised that the understanding of giving a good adjustment was a whole new frontier. We all appreciate a great adjustment, but to understand the knowledge and transmission of energy that takes place is truly an awesome journey. A journey that all serious yoga students/teachers must eventually take. I’ve been teaching for many years now and have been adjusted in all the second series postures by the late Pattabhi Jois and all the 3rd series postures by Derek Ireland who gave the most delicious strong and precise adjustments (pictured above) that I’ve ever experienced. 

As part of our teacher training programme, I now offer a 4-day Yoga Adjusts & Assists Teacher Training module, at the Shala where I share the years of knowledge and experience I have gained.

The training is specifically aimed towards teachers and trainee teachers. Receiving hands-on yoga adjustments can be powerful and integral part of developing an advanced physical yoga practice and this practical course will focus on that essential process.