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Yoga Teacher Training Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of Yoga Teacher Training distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

PiqCue — piqcue.com/yoga-teacher-training/cheatsheet

Quick Reference

Eight Limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga)

The eight-fold path outlined by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras that provides a comprehensive framework for ethical living and spiritual development. The limbs are yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi.

Asana

The physical postures practiced in yoga, originally intended to prepare the body for extended meditation. In teacher training, students learn to perform, teach, sequence, and modify hundreds of asanas for different skill levels and body types.

Pranayama

Yogic breathing techniques designed to control and expand life force energy (prana) through conscious regulation of inhalation, exhalation, and breath retention. Pranayama practices affect the nervous system, mental clarity, and emotional regulation.

Sequencing

The art and science of ordering yoga postures within a class to create a safe, logical progression that warms the body, builds toward peak postures, and provides appropriate cool-down and integration. Effective sequencing considers anatomical principles and energetic flow.

Anatomy for Yoga

The study of the musculoskeletal, nervous, and respiratory systems as they relate to yoga practice. Understanding anatomy allows teachers to explain why postures work, offer safe alignment cues, and recognize contraindications for injuries or conditions.

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

A foundational yogic text composed around 400 CE consisting of 196 aphorisms that define yoga as the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind and lay out the eight-limbed path. It is the primary philosophical text studied in most yoga teacher training programs.

Modifications and Props

Adjustments to standard postures and the use of supportive equipment (blocks, straps, bolsters, blankets) to make yoga accessible to students with different levels of flexibility, strength, injuries, or physical limitations.

Trauma-Informed Teaching

An approach to yoga instruction that recognizes the prevalence of trauma and prioritizes student safety, choice, and autonomy. Trauma-informed teachers use invitational language, avoid unexpected physical contact, and create an environment where students feel in control.

Alignment

The precise arrangement of body parts in a yoga posture to maximize safety, effectiveness, and energetic flow. Proper alignment reduces injury risk, distributes effort evenly, and allows the body to experience the full benefit of each posture.

Savasana

The final resting posture (Corpse Pose) at the end of a yoga class where students lie still and allow the body and nervous system to integrate the benefits of practice. Despite its simplicity, it is considered one of the most important and challenging postures.

Key Terms at a Glance

Ahimsa:Non-violence or non-harming; the first and most fundamental of the five yamas in yoga philosophy.
Alignment:The precise positioning of body parts in a yoga posture for safety, effectiveness, and optimal energy flow.
Asana:A physical posture in yoga; the third limb of Patanjali's eight-limbed path.
Ashtanga:Meaning 'eight limbs,' referring both to Patanjali's eightfold path and to a specific vigorous yoga style developed by K. Pattabhi Jois.
Bandha:An energy lock in the body used to direct and contain prana (life force) during practice.
Bhagavad Gita:A sacred Hindu text presenting a dialogue on duty, devotion, and the paths of yoga.
Chakra:An energy center in the subtle body; seven main chakras are identified along the spine from root to crown.
Contraindication:A condition making a specific yoga posture or practice inadvisable due to injury or health risk.
Dharana:Concentration or single-pointed focus; the sixth limb of yoga, practiced as a precursor to meditation.
Dhyana:Meditation; the seventh limb of yoga, involving sustained, uninterrupted focus leading toward absorption.
Drishti:A focused gaze point used during asana to cultivate concentration and balance.
Hatha Yoga:A branch of yoga emphasizing physical practices (asana, pranayama, purification) as a path to spiritual awakening.
Mantra:A sacred word, phrase, or sound repeated during meditation or chanting to focus the mind and cultivate spiritual energy.
Modification:An adjustment to a standard posture to accommodate different bodies, abilities, or conditions.
Mudra:A symbolic hand gesture or body seal used in yoga and meditation to direct energy and deepen practice.

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Yoga Teacher Training Cheat Sheet - Quick Reference Guide | PiqCue