In the first 4 videos I gave a bit of a background as to why someone would have difficulty finding a down dog position. In the previous videos you can start connecting with the concept of the pose conforms to you. That everyone's pose will have similarities and differences based off genetics, life experience that made these bodies, and available strength. The next set of videos will be covering why the hamstrings aren't the only muscle group that would be restricting this mov

Down Dog and Shoulder Pain Part 2 --Thoracic Extension In part one of this series I went over briefly the three things I look for in the upper quarter of the body for not only down dog, but this holds true for any time the arms are going over your head. This will be especially important when the upper body is loaded such as table tops, planks but more so for down dog and certain arm and forearm balance postures. In a group setting I am not able to do one-on-one assessments. S

Down dog is one of yoga's signature poses. It is also a deceptive pose as it is one of the hardest poses to master. We have people who find it very easy to get into and it feels like a rest pose to them. While others struggle and it's hard and it hurts. They get frustrated and want to quit. You also have instructors that leave their class in down dog for an unusually long time. Whether you find it hard or easy to be in, down dog is NOT a rest pose. Down dog requires a bit of

How can you begin to minimize the load being placed onto the wrist, the passive structures of the shoulders and the neck? There is a concept called ‘Spreading the Floor’. This is a concept not only used in powerlifting and strength conditioning, but I have seen references in yoga books (very few but I have found them). I use this concept all the time and is game changer for people! Especially when taught the intricacies of spreading the floor or in this the mat. You will get

In this video I will be going over technique work for side plank. Side plank is one where students feel they have to be on the razors edge of their feet--this is untrue. Without the peripheral core strength when the hips to hang low and place excessive weight into the wrist; hang off the passive structures of the shoulder and then the neck has to take a bigger load as well. There are many options other than the hardest one. It's challenging in a group setting to do what our b

When people are just starting either a yoga program or a fitness program the push up position can be very hard on the wrists, shoulders, neck and low back. When people start in the setup of the high plank or high push up position they may have the strength for the static setup but when it’s time to descend they may lose that stability and do full body sag. This sag at the shoulder places extra stress or the extra load to the wrists, passive structures of the shoulder, the nec

In this short video you will not only see but feel that when you lean forward it begins increases compressive type forces going into the wrist. This is a cue typically given when going from a Hi-lo chaturanga. This is an advanced option and is not ideal to be used in class as the only option. There are too many strength abilities in class for this to be the only option. Why is this cue given? The idea of stacking your joints is the safest place to start. While this is safe wa

What yoga instructors don't teach you in stretches and what they don't know about glute max. You go to yoga to help with your back pain, knee pain or shoulder pain and you do all these stretches and some strength oriented poses. Yet there seems to be no relief or you feel worse. The stretches and the strength poses feel nice or horrible and you can't figure out why b/c yoga is suppose to help you feel better. This is true, if and only if you are activating the the right mus

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