Bus Stop Method: Inclusive, Accessible Yoga Teaching Strategies
This week we talk about the ‘bus stop’ cueing method, an inclusive, accessible yoga teaching strategy.
The Bus Stop method is a teaching strategy that is commonly used in the accessible yoga community, but I think it’s useful for all yoga classes.
It’s particularly useful in those all-levels drop-in classes where you can have a really wide spectrum of students, from first time yogis to experienced students who attend your classes every week.
The Bus Stop Method helps us to provide clear, efficient guidance in teaching regressions, progressions, versions and props in a way that still allows for flow, reduces over-cuing, and, most importantly, provides a variety of options for all students to have a safe, effective, and joyful yoga class.
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Bus Stop Method: Inclusive, Accessible Yoga Teaching Strategies
I had a student mention recently that she found that offering a lot of options was a challenge to her class management, and I understand that sometimes offering a lot of versions can start to create a lot of talking, interrupt the flow, and can feel overwhelming to students.
First, let’s be clear that flow is not more important than providing the guidance that students need in a class in order to have a safe, effective, and joyful practice.
However, students can become overwhelmed with too many cues and options, and we want to have some space for students to experience yoga without the imposition of our voices.
So, how do we provide all the regressions, progressions, props and versions that our students need, without filling the space with talking, or constantly stopping the flow of the class to workshop a pose?
One strategy that I find very effective is the Bus Stop Method.
I first heard about this teaching strategy from our good friend Robyn Lewis, a chair yoga teacher and course provider, and since then I’ve learned a lot about how this strategy works not just for accessible-specific classes, but all yoga classes.
In simple terms, imagine everyone on a bus, they aren’t all going to the same location, so they get off the bus when it reaches the place they want to be today.
Imagine the same when we are teaching a pose, people can get off the bus at the point of the pose where they want to explore today, or whatever version matches their ability, needs, or goals – for example Side Angle Pose – bus stop 1 might be elbow to thigh, bus stop 2 is hand to a brick, bus stop 3 is hand to the ground, bus stop 4 is a bind.
In this way, you can introduce the concept at the start of class (a theme!) and then just call out bus stops as they come along. This is a simple way to make classes more accessible and inclusive, without having to pause a lot and introduce a lot of options/versions.
To me, one of the great benefits of this method is that it takes the implied ‘value’ of certain versions of poses away, and just allows people to go on a journey that is right for their body today.
So, let’s dig into the details.
What is the bus stop method?
The Bus Stop Method of teaching yoga is a progressive and inclusive approach designed to accommodate students of varying skill levels within the same class.
The Bus Stop Method is based on the idea that each student can get off the “bus” at the stop that matches their current ability. The yoga instructor guides the class through a series of progressive variations of a pose, starting from the simplest form and gradually moving to more advanced versions.
Students “get off the bus” at the point where they feel comfortable and challenged, but not overwhelmed.
1) Introduce the pose
Teach the introductory or basic version of the pose, suitable for beginners or those with limited flexibility or strength.
2) Teach progressive variations
Cue or demo progressively, offering props, versions, or more challenging or complex variations of the pose, each one building on the previous one.
3) Encourage self-assessment
Encourage students to listen to their bodies and stop at the variation that feels right for them. They might aim to be challenged but not in pain or discomfort. This is where education is important – teaching students to pay attention to their bodies, their breath, notice places of holding or excessive tension, notice where they are losing technique or beginning to struggle.
4) Reinforce and adjust
Throughout the process provide refining cues and adjustments to help students refine their alignment and safely explore their practice as they progress through the variations.
Benefits of the Bus Stop Method
- Inclusivity: This method allows students of all levels to participate in the same class without feeling left behind or holding back more advanced students.
- Personalized Practice: Each student can tailor their practice to their own needs, promoting a sense of autonomy and self-awareness.
- Progress Tracking: Students can easily track their progress by noticing when they are able to move to the next “bus stop” variation.
- Safety: By emphasizing personal limits and gradual progression, this method reduces the risk of injury.
- Confidence Building: Students build confidence as they master each level before progressing to the next.
Let’s put the Bus Stop Cueing Method into practice:
Let’s look at some poses together and see if we can’t map out a bus route for a few different poses.
Example 1: Tree Pose
- Bus Stop 1: stand on the left leg, turn the right knee out and bring right heel to left ankle to balance on the toes of the right foot.
- Bus Stop 2: lift the right foot off the ground and press into the ankle, now you are standing on one foot (you might hold a chair or the wall here)
- Bus Stop 3: bring the right foot to the knee or above to anchor the foot. Press palms together at the heart.
- Bus Stop 4: bring the right foot to the crease of the hip, send the bent knee towards the ground to anchor.
- Bus Stop 5: take arms overhead
Example 2: Bound Angle
- Bus Stop 1: In a seated position on a folded blanket, bend knees and allow them to drop out to the sides. Bring soles of the feet together. Place hands on the blanket/ground behind you and shift your hips a bit closer to your heels. Press into your hands to lift tall from your pelvis through your whole spine.
- Bus Stop 2: bring your hands forward to scoop up your feet. Use your thumbs to turn the inner foot up towards the ceiling. If your pelvis rolls back or your spine is rounding, return to Bus Stop 1.
- Bus Stop 3: slowly move your knees up and down, like your legs are butterfly wings and you are slowly warming up your wings. If you have knee pain here, tuck some bricks under your knees.
- Bus Stop 4: Steady your wings, and bend through your elbows to draw your chest towards your feet.
How to build your bus stop routes
The last thing I’ll say about the Bus Stop Method is that, as yogis and teachers, we are only familiar with the routes that we take into a pose, and the pose versions or options that we have been exposed to. So, we need to get exposed to more options.
It’s really valuable as a teacher to continue to explore different routes and bus stops so that you have lots of options to offer to your students. Take classes, watch videos, and connect with your yoga friends to keep collaborating and creating ideas together.
This is of use especially when you have students in your class who have different bodies to yours and might need different options. If you have long arms, find out how shorter-armed people use blocks, straps, and versions that meet their bodies. If you have really flexible hamstrings, find out how people with tighter hamstrings choose options that give their hammy’s a little room. If you are in a rounder or smaller or taller body, find out how people in different bodies accommodate their unique shapes in poses.
The more bus stops you explore, the more you’ll be able to offer.
The Bus Stop method: inclusive, accessible yoga teaching strategies
I hope this has given you an introduction into the Bus Stop Method, and perhaps some ideas about how you can use this teaching technique in your yoga classes. If you’d like to see more discussions on yoga teaching strategies, find more podcasts and videos on our YouTube channel.
By using the Bus Stop Method, yoga teachers can create an inclusive and supportive environment that fosters growth, safety, and personal development for all students. And that’s what yoga is all about!
If you’d like to learn more about teaching yoga, learn with us! Explore introductory, graduate, and postgraduate yoga teacher trainings with Yoga Trinity, or check out online, on-demand professional development courses to upgrade, upskill, and update your yoga teaching.