Fluidity & Isolation Drills
This really is a fun workshop that you can easily follow along with. I think this one was my favorite of the three workshops we did with Deepika. Mark Robberds and I are led through some great loosening up drills by Deepika and then Mark shows how this can be related to the postures. We also spend some time looking at opening and strength drills for postures like handstand. Sorry the sound isn’t as good as usual we had a…
From Specialists to Humans
Yoga is a state of being in which we experience ourselves as whole and present. To train ourselves in the state of yoga, we include the practice of physical movements for we are physical beings. We experience and express ourselves through a physical body, therefore, every so called spiritual practice must include the body in one way or another to be truly wholesome.
Julie Martin Interview
Vinyasa Flow teacher Julie Martin is director of Brahmani Yoga and leads workshops and trainings around the world. In this interview we talk about the importance of sequencing, non linear movement and how her own teaching practices have changed over the years to reflect new understandings of human anatomy and injury.
What Is ‘Functional’ in Yoga?
Functional is the buzz word at the moment in the exercise, movement and especially the physical rehabilitation scene. Movements or exercises are considered ‘functional’ if they support the movement patterns that are necessary for us to function in our daily lives. There are seven primal, functional movement patterns: bending, squatting, lunging, twisting, pulling, pushing and gait.
Movement Habits and their Effect on Yoga Practice
There are three particular movement habits in asana practice that either cause or indicate problems with the hips: These will be covered in detail in separate posts, to keep posts shorter 1. Allowing the hip to push out to the side and not maintaining a level pelvis in the horizontal plane – lateral pelvic tilt 2. Hinging from the hips when folding forwards from a standing position or returning to an upright stance from a forward fold. 3. Arching the…
Assessing Range of Motion in Squatting Poses
Students who struggle with squatting poses may have limited range of motion (ROM) in one or more of three important joints. Learn how to assess your students’ ROM and help them modify their poses. There are three major joints to consider when teaching a Squat: the hip, the knee, and the ankle. If any one of these three joints is limited in its range of motion (ROM), then any of the squatting poses will be awkward and uncomfortable. You can…