We all take in the world through our senses, and we describe it through them too. Some people respond most to what they can see, some to what they hear, some to what they feel. Most of us lean on one more than the others in the moment. Give every cue in all three, and everyone in the room, or reading your message, gets a way in.
Tip: print this page or save it as a PDF from your browser, and keep it next to your class plan or session notes.
105 words to cue with
See (visual)
see · look · watch · view · notice · observe · glimpse · focus · picture · imagine · visualise · clear · bright · dim · shine · sparkle · light · shadow · outline · shape · line · colour · frame · horizon · perspective · image · vision · reflect · mirror · spot · gaze · point · sharp · illuminate · appear
Hear (auditory)
hear · listen · say · tell · speak · ask · sound · tone · voice · rhythm · tempo · volume · silence · quiet · loud · echo · hum · ring · whisper · sigh · click · buzz · resonate · harmony · melody · tune · cadence · chant · count · beat · call · rustle · rings a bell · loud and clear · in tune with
Feel (kinesthetic)
feel · touch · press · push · pull · hold · grip · release · soften · melt · sink · root · ground · lift · lengthen · reach · spread · squeeze · stretch · twist · balance · steady · firm · solid · heavy · light (weight) · warm · cool · tension · ease · flow · pulse · shift · weight · contact
One cue, three ways
| Moment | See | Hear | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yoga: Warrior II | “See a straight line from your back heel to your front fingertips.” | “Let your breath sound slow and even, like waves on the shore.” | “Feel your back foot press into the floor as your arms reach long.” |
| PT: squat | “See your knees track in line with your toes.” | “Listen for one long, steady exhale on the way up.” | “Feel your weight sink into your heels.” |
| Breathing | “Picture your ribs opening like an umbrella.” | “Count four in, and hear the breath slow down.” | “Feel your belly rise under your hands.” |
| Relaxation or savasana | “Imagine a soft light spreading through your body.” | “Notice how quiet the room has become.” | “Let your body grow heavy and warm.” |
| Online coaching check-in | “Picture your week: three short walks marked in your calendar.” | “Tell yourself each morning: ‘Ten minutes is enough.'” | “Notice how your body feels after each walk, and send me one word for it.” |
Listen first, then match
People show you which words land by the words they use. Answer in the same kind of language, and they feel understood.
| If they say | They are leaning on | Answer with |
|---|---|---|
| “I see what you mean”, “That looks right”, “It’s not clear to me” | See | “Let me show you”, “Picture it like this” |
| “That sounds good”, “It rings a bell”, “Something tells me” | Hear | “Let me explain”, “Listen to how this works” |
| “That feels off”, “I can’t get a grip on it”, “I’m stuck” | Feel | “Let’s get a feel for it”, “Try it in your body first” |
How to use it this week
- Pick the one cue or instruction you use most.
- Rewrite it three ways, using one word from each column.
- Give all three in your next class or session, and watch who responds to which.
Want five tools like this?
This cheat sheet is part of The Language That Moves People, a free 5-day email challenge for yoga teachers, personal trainers, online coaches and wellness professionals. One NLP tool a day, one small mission to try in your next class or session.
Created by Asbjorn Bjaanes, ICF PCC coach and Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500, The Yoga Nest.
