Tag Archives: Anatomy

Yoga Tune Up® Level 1 Teacher Training – Irvine, CA 1/27 – 2/4

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Are you ready to take your teaching to the next level?

Join Maura Barclay at Equinox Fitness in Irvine, CA for a Yoga Tune Up® level 1 teacher training January 27th – February 4th!

Maura Barclay has the trainees de-construct Warrior II using directions of movement

This training will change the way you teach and the way you look at the bodies that show up to your class. With yoga being a healing practice, it is our responsibility as the teacher to “do no harm. Yoga Tune Up® breaks down the nuts and bolts of human movement by using a yogic lens of awareness, conscious relaxation, and proper breathing techniques. This new lens of awareness sets you apart from the average 200 hour graduate. During the 70 hour training you will dive deeply into integrated anatomy and body mechanics while discovering a fresh approach to Asana. Go beyond formulaic instruction and truly learn how to think and teach creatively within your classroom.

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The Yogi vs. CrossFit

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Lets go ahead and state the obvious – I LOVE YOGA!

With this love of the practice also comes a responsibility to keep my body safe. Something I often mention in classes (when we veer off from traditional flow to do some corrective exercise) is “I want us all to be able to practice yoga when we are 90 years old”! Since deciding to make my career all about yoga this is very important to me. In addition to using Yoga Tune Up® I have been looking for ways to keep from over-stretching with all of the yoga I do. Finally I had an epiphany…well actually I read an article about over-stretching  by Jill Miller, Creator of Yoga Tune Up®  YTU Takes You From Floppy To Fit

“Tissues are living; they can change and heal if given the right stimulation, a disciplined approach and the correct exercises to balance them. For some this could mean more stretching; for others it might mean more strengthening, but always a combination of the two.” -  Jill Miller

So many of us have come to accept that aches and pains and lack of mobility with aging as normal. Which brings another Jill Miller quote to mind – “we have to find a new normal”. Finding a new normal for me means how do I stay healthy enough to practice and teach yoga 10, 20, 30 years from now?

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A Little Bit of Anatomy Goes a Long Way…

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Check out Yoga Tune Up® instructor Maura Barclay’s new monthly column for Yoga Tune Up® anatomy tips, updates, and information!

Did You Know that the Sciatic Nerve is as Thick as Your Thumb?

“Why do Yogi’s and Yoga instructors need to know this?”

“Often times sciatic pain, generally referred to as “sciatica” is actually caused by a tight piriformis muscle compressing this large bore sciatic nerve.  So putting these types of students in a nice Kapotasana (pigeon) for example, may actually relieve some or all of their discomfort.”

“Teaching any kind of movement without understanding how it impacts the joints and tissues is like driving with your eyes closed.”

For the full article head on over to Yoganonymous

Namaste,

Jess

The Fuzz Speech: Do yoga…melt the Fuzz

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Incredible visual evidence showing the profound effects of inactivity in the body. The content is somewhat graphic (you may want to wait till after lunch).

Fascia (pronounced făsh′ · ē · ə,) is a layer of fibrous tissue that permeates the human body. Fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds muscles, groups of muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, binding those structures together in much the same manner as plastic wrap can be used to hold the contents of sandwiches together. It consists of several layers: a superficial fascia, a deep fascia, and a subserous (or visceral) fascia and extends uninterrupted from the head to the tip of the toes.

“Gil Hedley, Ph.D., of http://www.gilhedley.com gives a lesson on the importance of movement and stretching to maintain the sliding properties of tissues in the body, as well as the value of bodywork modalities and yoga when movement potential has become inhibited.”

Fascia and stretching: The Fuzz Speech

The Fuzz Melter,

Jess