Hands-on Yoga Assists : A Teacher's Guide to the Rubber Band Method®

Empower yoga teaching with the Rubber Band Method® that offers 15 adaptable assists to elevate student practice. This guide teaches safe, ethics-based, anatomy-informed touch techniques, helping instructors read tissues, adapt contact, and build dynamic, consent-driven classes while protecting teacher wellness.

Are you a yoga instructor seeking the confidence and skills to offer hands-on assists-safely, ethically, and with clarity?

Are you looking to build a stronger student following by offering impactful assists that elevate the practice and set your teaching apart?

Developed through more than a decade of refinement, student feedback, and classroom application, Hands-On Yoga Assists introduces the Rubber Band Method®-a structured, accessible system that removes the guesswork and teaches yoga instructors how to offer assists with skill, safety, and consistency.

Developed by yoga educator and massage therapist Kiara Armstrong, the Rubber Band Method® offers a consent-based, anatomy-informed approach to providing hands-on assists. You will learn how to read tissues, adapt your touch to each student, and apply contact to enhance the asana practice. The method also emphasizes physical safety and longevity for teachers, helping you assist sustainably for years to come.

You’ll gain tools to

• enhance your teaching with 15 assists adaptable to group or one-on-one settings;
• assist with skill through techniques for reading tissues and adapting touch for each unique body;
• learn with confidence through anatomical diagrams that highlight key touch points and affected structures;
• move with longevity using six foundational stances that protect your body and support long-term teaching;
• enhance the practice by understanding the benefits of touch and how it can support the asana experience;
• support agency with consent-driven assists and guidance on tactfully asking permission;
• understand trauma with trauma sensitivity and specific suggestions for bringing safe, purposeful assists into trauma-informed yoga classrooms; and
• apply what you learn through step-by-step instructions, teaching tips, and easy-to-follow photo guidance.

Perfect for 200- or 300-hour yoga teacher trainings and a trusted resource for teachers at any level, Hands-On Yoga Assists is the book that makes hands-on assisting clear, safe, and deeply effective while helping elevate the standards for safe touch across the yoga profession.