Am I Doing This Right?

The Two Questions Every Student Should Ask

"Am I doing this right?"

It comes up in consultations. In emails. In phone calls. Students want to know if their form is correct, if they're getting the benefit, if they're moving in a way that's actually helping, or if they're unknowingly causing harm.

It's a fair question. And it deserves a thoughtful answer.

The Two Questions That Matter More

Instead of asking, "Am I doing this right?" I want you to ask:

1. Does this feel safe and stable in my body?

2. Am I honoring the intention of this movement?

These two questions shift the focus from external validation to internal awareness—and that's where real progress happens.

Allow me to explain.

Question 1: Does This Feel Safe and Stable?

"Safe" doesn't mean easy. It doesn't mean comfortable. It means: Can I breathe here? Do I feel supported? Am I in control?

If you're holding a plank and your lower back is sagging, your breath is shallow, and you're gripping with tension? Not safe. Even if it "looks" like a plank.

But if you're in a modified plank—knees down, core engaged, breath steady—and you feel strong and stable, that's safe. That's effective. That's exactly where you should be.

Safety isn't about the shape of the pose. It's about how your body is organizing itself within the pose.

(To remember: the breath can often tell us long before the mind can. Notice, can I maintain a steady, smooth breath here? If not, slowly come out of the pose or exercise and reevaluate)

Question 2: Am I Honoring the Intention?

I know, this sounds woo woo, but hear me out. Every movement has a purpose. If you're doing a cat-cow pose, the intention is spinal mobility—moving fluidly through flexion and extension. If you're doing a bridge, the intention is glute and core engagement with posterior chain strengthening.

When you understand the "why" behind a movement, you can assess whether you're actually doing it.

Let's say you're in a bridge pose, but your lower back is arching excessively and your glutes aren't engaged. The shape might look right, but you're missing the intention. You're not getting the benefit, and likely creating strain.

But if you start over, place a block in between your thighs to recruit your adductors, peel the tailbone up then lift vertebra by vertebra, engage your glutes intentionally, and feel your core stabilize—you're honoring the intention. You're doing it right, even if it looks different from someone else's version.

The Myth of "Perfect" Form

There's no such thing as one perfect way to do a pose.

Bodies are different. Proportions vary. Range of motion differs. Someone with long legs and short arms will look different in a downward dog than someone with long arms and short legs—and both can be doing it “correctly”.

What matters is that the movement serves your body, not some idealized version of what it "should" look like.

This is especially true if you're working with pain, injury, or structural limitations. The goal isn't to match the picture. The goal is to move in a way that supports your healing and builds your strength. And that is precisely what SAAL Yoga is all about.

Self-Assessment Tools: How to Know You're On Track

Since you can't always have a teacher standing next to you, here are some ways to assess yourself:

Check your breath: If you can't breathe smoothly and deeply, you're either working too hard or misaligned. Breath is your body's feedback system—use it.

Notice where you feel it: If a movement is supposed to target your glutes but you feel it in your lower back, something's off. Adjust your position, engage different muscles, or modify the movement.

Film yourself (occasionally): Sometimes seeing yourself from the outside helps. But don't obsess—video is a tool, not a judge.

Ask yourself: "What's different today?" Your body changes day to day. Some days you'll have more range, more strength, more ease. Other days, less. Both are okay. The practice is noticing without judgment.

When to Modify—And Why It's Not "Doing Less"

Modification is not a consolation prize. It's intelligent movement.

Some of us recoil at the word “modify”. It’s seen as the metaphorical waving of the white flag, as if signaling “I can’t do the full pose so I need a lesser/easier option”. I get it, trust me. If this is you, let’s find another word: alternatives, variations, pathways, tailored variations, adaptations, or maybe another way to practice this")

If your hamstrings are tight and you're in a forward fold, forcing yourself to touch the ground with straight legs might look impressive—but it's not effective. You're likely compensating by rounding your spine, which defeats the purpose (more on this here).

But if you bend your knees, you can actually fold at the hips, lengthen your spine, and feel the stretch where it belongs. That's not "easier"—that's smarter.

Modifying means you're listening to your body instead of imposing an agenda on it. That's advanced practice, not beginner behavior.

Personalization: The Poses That Matter for You

Not every pose is for every body. And that's okay.

If you have a history of disc issues, deep forward folds are not your friend right now—or ever. If you have shoulder impingement, downward facing dog and certain arm positions might be off the table.

This doesn't mean you can't practice yoga. It means you practice your yoga—the version that respects your history, honors your limitations, and builds you up instead of breaking you down.

The SAAL Yoga Fundamentals program is designed with this in mind. Every movement includes modifications and progressions, so you can meet yourself where you are—not where you think you "should" be.

You're Doing It Right If...

You're moving with awareness.

You're breathing.

You're asking questions.

You're adjusting when something doesn't feel right.

You're showing up.

That's it. That's the standard.

You don't need to look like anyone else. You don't need to achieve some mythical "perfect" form. You need to practice in a way that serves your body, supports your healing, and builds your confidence.

And if you're doing that—even imperfectly, even uncertainly—you're doing it right.

Progress isn't about perfection. It's about presence.

If you're ready to build a practice with guidance, support, and clear instruction that helps you move with confidence, the SAAL Yoga Fundamentals program is here. Explore it here.

And if you want personalized feedback on your specific concerns—your form, your modifications, your questions—schedule a complimentary consultation. Let's make sure your practice is working for you, not against you.