Why I No Longer Say “Advanced Poses” - and Why You Shouldn’t Either

Written by Abbe Ciulla, Owner of Troy City Yoga, Wonderland Yoga Studio and the Solar Flow Yoga School

Somewhere along the way, the phrase advanced poses became shorthand for impressive shapes... deeper backbends, bigger inversions, or longer holds. It sounds aspirational, but it quietly reinforces the wrong idea: that depth equals difficulty, and that difficulty equals advancement.
But that’s not how the body, or the practice, actually works.

When we label something an “advanced pose,” we imply a hierarchy: beginners do this, advanced practitioners do that. The problem is, that hierarchy often measures flexibility and risk tolerance, not awareness or integration.

So instead, I now use the word complex.

Complexity is not the same as difficulty

A complex pose requires more variables to manage- there are multiple moving parts, more coordination, and complicated neuromuscular control. It’s not about how far you can go, but how many systems you can organize simultaneously: breath, strength, balance, rhythm, and presence.

A pose can be simple and still advanced if it’s executed with clarity and precision. Conversely, a “big” pose can be completely basic if it’s sloppy, disconnected, or driven by ego.

And here’s the key: complexity implies skill.

When something is skill-based in nature, it’s learnable. It’s not reserved for the flexible, the strong, or the genetically gifted. It’s accessible to anyone willing to practice.

Think of it like riding a bike: at first, it feels impossible. Then, with time, rhythm, and repetition, it becomes second nature. The same is true for the poses we often label as “advanced.” They’re not impossible, just unfamiliar.

Why language matters

The words we use as teachers shape how our students perceive success.

When we call a posture “advanced,” we unintentionally teach people that the goal is to progress toward a shape rather than through awareness. It feeds comparison, performance, and ego, all the things yoga is meant to unravel.
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“Complex” shifts the focus. It invites curiosity instead of competition.

It asks, Can you organize your breath and your body in harmony? Can you stay grounded while moving through instability? Can you feel the subtleties instead of chasing the extremes?

That’s the work of mastery.

The evolution of language = the evolution of teaching

As yoga teachers, our language needs evolve with our understanding of the human experience.

We now know that sustainable practice is less about flexibility or brute strength and more about adaptability- less about end range, more about control and awareness within range.

By framing movement as complex rather than advanced, we acknowledge that depth is individual, not a universal standard.

We remind students that the goal isn’t to look impressive- it’s to move mindfully.

The takeaway

It's long overdue that we retire the myth that “advanced” means harder, deeper, or prettier.

True advancement is the capacity to move with awareness, to organize effort and ease, structure and freedom, stillness and flow.

When we teach complexity over hierarchy, we empower our students to explore their practice with curiosity rather than comparison.
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Because at the end of the day, the most advanced thing you can do is move well, with grace, power, and presence.