In the beginning of our teaching journey, many teachers feel the need to fill every breathable space with words.
It’s natural to want to prove your knowledge by speaking through the entire class. After all, in our training we were taught how to speak alignment cues, how to use anatomical language, how to speak Sanskrit terms, how to remind students to breathe, etc.
And most often, it comes from a sincere place:
We want students to feel supported.
We want to prove we know what we’re doing.
We want to help students connect.
As YogaRenew explains: “It isn’t necessary to speak through-out the entire class, and in fact it can detract from the overall experience. Leave space for silence so students are able to find time to reflect and reap the benefits of the class. Silence gives people time to process information and absorb the experience.”
But few teachers are taught how to pause. How to allow for and hold that space. And, it may just be the most beneficial part of class and a time for your students to connect with themselves.
Silence Gives Students Something They Long for: Time and Space
In a world full of noise, instruction, stimulation, and constant input, silence becomes deeply regulating for our nervous system.
When a teacher leaves intentional pauses:
- Students can actually feel their breath
- Feel their heartbeat
- Sensations become clearer
- Interoception deepens
- Nervous systems soften
- Students begin experiencing yoga
This is especially important in:
- Somatic yoga
- Trauma-informed classes
- Meditation
- Restorative practices
- Yin Yoga
- Slow Flow styles
Sometimes the nervous system needs less input—not more.
Silence Is Not Absence
Silence does not mean the teacher has “checked out.” Conscious silence should be cued, is active, and requires:
- Awareness
- Trust
- Observation
- Regulation
- Confidence
Experienced teachers benefit from the silence too. They learn to feel the room without constantly managing it. They begin to understand that students do not need continuous instruction to stay connected.
In fact, too much active cueing can pull students out of their experience.
When to Cue Silence
There are several natural pauses in a yoga class where you can easily pause for silence:
- Beginning of class during grounding and centering
- Balasana (Child’s Pose)
- Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
- Adho Mukha Savasana (Downward Facing Dog)
- Supta Matsyendrasana (Supine Spinal Twist)
- Savasana (Corpse Pose)
In addition to these pauses, any asana that will be held for more than three breaths can be cued for silence.
How to Cue Silence
To avoid the awkward pause, it’s best to let students know that the space and silence is intentional. Here are a few of my favorite cues:
“Stay here and breathe”
“Pause and listen to your breath”
“Become aware of the quality of your breath”
“In this space, notice if you can feel your heart beating”
“Notice the sensations you feel in your body”
“Stay with this feeling for a few more breaths”
“In your mind’s eye, trace the outline of your body while in this posture”
“Feel the rise and fall of your chest/belly”
“Feel the expansion and contraction of your ribs”
“Become aware of the support beneath you and the places touching the support”
“Shift your awareness to your breath”
“Notice how your breath creates movement in your body”
“Draw your awareness inward”
“The next time you hear my voice will be to bring you out of this posture”
In addition to cueing for the pause, your body language can offer cues to what’s coming.
- Stop demonstrating the posture
- Slow the cadence of your voice
- Be still
- Breathe audibly with your students
- If cueing to feel their heartbeat, place your hand on your own heart
- Place your hand on your own belly
Try this in your next class:
After offering a cue, pause for one full breath before speaking again.
Just notice:
- What changes in the room?
- What changes in you?
- What becomes more noticeable?
You may discover that silence isn’t something to fear.
It may be one of the most compassionate teaching tools you have.
