Yoga Alignment : Myths, Misconceptions, and Missed Opportunities - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Aug 10, 2023 1.5k likes •1.64k views

Yoga Alignment : Myths, Misconceptions, and Missed Opportunities Instead of using your body to perform poses, use poses to explore embodiment Alignment cues are never absolute or universal, but we can try our best Alignment cues can be

SLIDE 1

Yoga Alignment:

Myths, Misconceptions, and Missed Opportunities

SLIDE 2

Instead of using your body to perform poses, use poses to explore embodiment

SLIDE 3

Alignment Re-Thinks

Alignment cues are never absolute or universal, but we can try our best Alignment cues can be questions rather than answers Alignment cues create possibilities more than prevent hidden dangers Alignment cues can create a meditative focus Alignment cues travel both ways: brain to body and body to brain

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Ten Alignment Cues to Question

1. Tuck your tailbone 2. Draw your shoulders down 3. Align the front heel to the centre of the back arch 4. Keep your feet parallel 5. Draw your navel in towards your spine 6. Turn your hand [any] way 7. Don’t let your hips move in the twist/move your hips in the twist 8. Spread the weight across the four corners of your feet 9. Hug your elbows in towards your waist in chaturanga

10. Tilt your pelvis forward for forward bend/back for

backbend

SLIDE 5

Structural Variation: Hip Socket

Source: Paul Grilley

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Structural Variation: Femur

Shape, length, angle of femur and shape, direction, and depth of hip socket will affect hip alignment

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Structural Variation: Scapula

Acromion process variation will affect shoulder abduction

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What is the intention?

Physical or Nervous System? What is being strengthened? What is being stretched? What are the obstacles? What is the goal: Internal or External?

SLIDE 9

Troublemakers

Leverage
Adjustment from teacher
Gravity + Body Weight + Time
Wall, Floor, Mat
Bone to bone
Momentum and Speed
High Repetition and Lack of Variability
Lack of load/weight
Ignoring warning signs
Ignoring average ROM

SLIDE 10

Pain vs. discomfort

Pain

Hurts during and after
Sharp
Tension in whole body
Cannot breathe
Feeling of electricity or

numbness (nerves)

Radiating
Feel like screaming or crying
ut
In the joint

Discomfort

Less pain after
Slight soreness
A bit of heat
Heavy breathing
Feeling of

release/catharsis

Tension subsides
Improved ROM after
In the soft tissue

SLIDE 11

Practice and teaching techniques

Task-based inquiry based on intention “Today we will try this…” Old way vs. New Way

Internal
Core
Breath
Regional awareness
External
Weight bearing
Outside objects or focal points

Establish some anchors