Refining the
Art of Assists
January 25, 2025
Being of service
In the Jivamukti tradition, hands-on guidance during the practice is referred to as "assists" rather than "adjustments" or "corrections." This term is used intentionally so as not to imply that something is flawed or in need of fixing. Instead, it evokes a sense of partnership and support. To assist is to be of service — to accompany the practitioner with presence and intention, offering guidance that encourages them to explore their practice in a fresh and expansive way.
In this workshop we will:
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Discuss and define the Principles of Assists.
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Explore and refine assists for the āsanas (postures) of Sūrya Namaskāra A & B.
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Learn and pronounce the names of the āsanas in Sanskrit.
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Practice assisting āsanas across various categories, including standing poses, balancing poses, forward bends, twists, seated poses, backbends, and inversions.
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Develop the skills to assess and provide optimal support for yoga students in specific poses.
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Hone the skill of assisting a vinyasa sequence in a fluid, seamless way.
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AboutFrances’s passion for yoga encompasses the physical to the subtle. Through her teaching she endeavours to share as many of these aspects and benefits the practice has to offer, honour her teachers and the knowledge they have so generously shared with her, and uplift and inspire others.
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BackgroundRaised in a family that valued physical activity as essential for overall well-being, Frances practiced many styles of dance throughout her life, focusing mainly on hip hop and competing in Sport Aerobics during her teens. Her love for movement eventually led her to yoga, which she discovered when she started working for lululemon athletica in 2006. She found the practice of yoga complementary, balancing the performative quality of competitive dance with its introspection and self-reflection. Throughout the years she studied with several teachers, completing various trainings, and mentoring and teaching both the Luna Yoga Teacher Training and Jivamukti Teacher Training. During Jivamukti training with her gurus Sharon Gannon and David Life, Frances discovered her love for Sanskrit and chanting, which led her to deepen her knowledge by continuing her studies with Manorama D’Alvia and completing Sanskrit Teacher Training with Zoe Mai. Most recently her interest in Biomechanics, Anatomy and helping to heal and recover from injury led her to take ThreesPhysiyoga’s Advanced Teacher Training.
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Trainings & Certifications200-hr Hatha Vinyasa Yoga Training with Yasmin Fudakowska-Gow (2009) 20-hr Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training with Janice Clarfield (2010) 300-hr Jivamukti Yoga Training with Sharon Gannon and David Life (2011) Luna Yoga Teacher Training Faculty (2011-2023) Advanced Jivamukti Certified (2013) Jivamukti Teacher Training Mentor (2015) Sanskrit Level 1 with Manorama D’Alvia (2017) Sanskrit Teacher Training with Zoe Mai (2022) 250-hr ThreesPhysiyoga Advanced Teacher Training (2023) E-RYT 500 & YACEP
