// Understanding Shoulder Flexion: A Biomechanics Guide for Yoga Teachers //
As yoga teachers, one of the most powerful tools we can develop is a deeper understanding of biomechanics. When we know how the body is designed to move, we’re better equipped to guide our students safely, offer more targeted cues, and provide modifications that will support their practice.
In this example below we will look at shoulder flexion.
The Phases of Shoulder Flexion
When we lift the arm forward and up (flexion), it might look like a simple movement—but in reality, it’s a coordinated action between multiple joints and muscle groups.
0–60 degrees: The initial phase of lifting the arm is primarily driven by the muscles at the front of the shoulder. Here, the anterior deltoid and biceps are doing much of the work.
60–120 degrees: To continue raising the arm, the scapula (shoulder blade) must rotate upward. Without this scapular movement, the shoulder joint runs out of room and the range of motion becomes restricted.
120 degrees and beyond: At the end range, the body often brings in a small amount of spinal extension to accommodate the movement and allow the arm to reach fully overhead.
Why This Matters in Your Teaching
When you understand these phases, you can look more closely at what’s happening in your students’ bodies. For example:
If a student struggles to lift beyond 60 degrees, it may not be a “tight shoulder” issue—it could be a lack of scapular movement so you may want to incorporate more poses that help articulate the shoulder blade, such as cat/cow, melting heart and eagle pose.
If you see there is a limited end range of shoulder flexion it might not be because of the shoulder, perhaps the student is struggling with spinal extension instead, so you could incorporate more back bending/ spinal articulation poses to help.
With this knowledge, your cues can become more specific—guiding students to engage certain muscles, refine alignment, or explore modifications that make the pose safer and more effective.
Bringing It Into Your Classes
Biomechanics isn’t about overwhelming your students with technical terms—it’s about developing awareness. The more you know about what should be happening in a movement, the more skilled you become at recognising when something isn’t.
That awareness helps you:
Teach safer classes.
Support students with different body types and abilities.
Build confidence in your cueing and sequencing choices.
Ultimately, a solid foundation in biomechanics allows you to teach not just poses, but movement patterns that support your students’ long-term practice and wellbeing.
I hope these tips inspire you to explore your practice with more curiosity and care.
If you have any questions, or if you’d like more resources feel free to reach out ~ I’d love to hear from you!