English for Yoga: Key Phrases for Instructors and Practitioners

Teaching yoga in English can feel intimidating, especially when your students don’t speak it as their first language. But you don’t need perfect grammar to guide a good class. You just need the right phrases.

Over the years, I’ve watched instructors get stuck on words like inhale and exhale, fumbling while their students lose focus. That’s avoidable. With a handful of clear, repeatable expressions, you can lead a smooth session—and your students will actually understand you.

Here are the key phrases I recommend for English for yoga instructors, broken down by what you’re trying to do.

Giving Clear Movement Instructions

Yoga is physical. Your words need to match the body’s movements. Keep sentences short. Use the same verbs every time.

Action	Phrase
Lifting	"Lift your arms up."
Lowering	"Lower your hands to the floor."
Turning	"Turn your head to the right."
Stepping	"Step your left foot back."

Notice something? No complicated adjectives. Just lift, lower, turn, step. Your students will catch on fast if you stay consistent.

Sample Sequence

"Stand at the top of your mat. Inhale, lift your arms up. Exhale, fold forward. Step your right foot back. Lower your knee to the mat."

• Repeat this exact pattern for both sides.
• Pause between each instruction. Give them time to move.

Guiding the Breath

Breathing is where most non-native instructors stumble. They mix up inhale and exhale in the middle of a flow. It happens. Here’s a trick: always say the breath before the movement.

"Inhale… lift your chest."

"Exhale… twist to the right."

If you mess up the order, just say "sorry, let’s try that again." No big deal. Students appreciate honesty more than perfect English.

Correcting and Adjusting

You don’t need long sentences to fix alignment. Simple cues work better.

• "Soften your knees."
• "Relax your shoulders away from your ears."
• "Draw your belly in."
• "Press evenly through your feet."

Notice the verbs: soften, relax, draw, press. These are physical, direct, and easy to translate in your student’s head.

One Mistake to Avoid

Don’t say "Please try to relax your shoulders if you can." That’s too wordy and confusing. Just say "Relax your shoulders." Command form is clearer in yoga.

Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere

The most important English for yoga instructors isn’t about anatomy. It’s about tone. Simple phrases build trust.

• "Find what feels good for your body."
• "No need to force anything."
• "Take a break whenever you need to."

A student once told me she felt safe in my class because I said "you can rest anytime." That’s the power of clear, kind English.

Schema: Common Yoga Commands at a Glance

Here’s a quick visual breakdown of the main command types you’ll use.

A Quick Practice Exercise

Pick any pose—say, Warrior II. Write down four cues you’d give in English using the patterns above.

1. ---

2. ---

3. ---

4. ---

Example: Bend your front knee. Keep your back leg straight. Press through your back foot. Soften your shoulders.

That’s it. Four short sentences, clear instructions. Your students will feel the difference.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to be fluent to teach yoga in English. You need to be clear, consistent, and patient—with yourself and your students. The phrases I shared here have helped dozens of instructors I’ve worked with. They’ll help you too.

Now, put them into practice. The next time you teach, pick five phrases and repeat them until they feel natural. That’s how real progress happens—one pose at a time.

---

Ready to check your own English level? Take our free test at English Measure to measure your reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills. It takes about 15 minutes, and you’ll get instant results. No sign-up required.