As the creator of Freestyle Yoga (FY), I have spent decades evolving this programme into what it is today, a seamless blend of yoga inspired movement, strength, and flexibility training, designed specifically for the fitness environment. One of the questions I am most often asked is: “Why don’t you use traditional yoga philosophy or Sanskrit in your classes?”

The answer is simple: because our participants come to us for fitness knowledge, not philosophy.

Use What You Know – Evidence Over Tradition

Every fitness instructor already has the most powerful toolkit at their disposal – evidence-based knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics, this is the foundation of our industry and the reason we are trusted professionals. In Freestyle Yoga, it is not only appropriate but absolutely essential to use this knowledge when teaching.

Why rely on vague concepts like energy lines or prana when you can explain posture through muscle activation, joint alignment, and breath control? Why lean on tradition when you have clear, scientific language that participants understand instantly? Our industry has moved forward because it is rooted in research and evidence  and that is what gives our classes credibility.

Speaking the Language of Fitness

When you cue a posture by explaining which muscles should fire, how to stabilise the joints, or how to breathe for efficiency, you are not just filling space with words you are teaching with authority. You are empowering participants with knowledge they can apply beyond the studio.

For example, instead of saying “open your heart centre,” you can say “lift the sternum, retract the shoulder blades, and engage the upper back.” This doesn’t just sound clearer it helps participants understand what their bodies are doing and why. It keeps them safe, helps them progress, and removes the intimidation that can sometimes come with traditional yoga language.

Fitness First, Always

Freestyle Yoga is not about dismissing yoga, it’s about adapting yoga inspired movement into a modern, results driven fitness programme. We respect yoga’s heritage, but our responsibility is to our clients. They trust us to use our fitness training to deliver safe, effective, and measurable results. This is why I urge every instructor to lean into what you know. You have studied, trained, and earned qualifications based on science and research, that knowledge is your strength. Use it. When you explain a pose through evidence based principles, you are not only teaching movement  you are teaching understanding.

The FY Difference

Freestyle Yoga empowers instructors to strip away the barriers of philosophy and tradition and replace them with clarity, inclusivity, and results. By using the language of fitness, you ensure your classes are accessible to everyone, whether it’s their first time in a yoga-inspired class or their hundredth. When you teach from a place of knowledge, not mystique, you connect directly with your participants’ goals, you give them what they came for, better strength, mobility, flexibility, and peace of mind delivered in a way that makes sense to them.

In summary for you to use in your marketing: The absolute importance of using fitness knowledge in Freestyle Yoga cannot be overstated. Evidence trumps tradition. Science beats mystique. Results beat ritual. Your expertise is what sets you apart and when you use it, you elevate both yourself and your participants.

Jayne Nicholls
Creator of Freestyle Yoga

Jayne Nicholls

Jayne Nicholls, multi award winning owner and director of GXT.