Functional Yoga Anatomy

functional yoga variations

Notice any difference between these two femurs, our thigh bones?

This image (compliments to Paul Grilley) shows very natural variations that can appear within our physical bone structures & helps to explain WHY no two people can ever do yoga poses the exact same way.

If our bones are different, then this also means our joints can have VARYING ranges of movement.

In the Yin yoga practice, we embrace a functional approach considering skeletal differences, & often ask students, ‘how does it feel?’, rather than focusing on the aesthetical alignment & how a pose may look. We may ask where you feel the stress within a pose to know how better to support you.

This means we can see many variations of one pose occurring simultaneously within the teaching studio.

In our Yin yoga teaching, we focus on the target of each pose, how to access that target, & what the pose intends to stress, rather than how it looks, using variations for each student’s unique bone structure.

An example is the hip sockets, which can vary in placement, orientation, depth & size, affecting a range of movement & show up in poses such as Straddle/Dragonfly. How far you come into a wide-leg splits position can depend on your hip sockets. Some will access a deeper wide-leg position if their hip sockets are at the side of the pelvis compared to the front.

Folding forward to access the groin also depends on the femur/hip socket; you may experience ‘a catching’ at the back edge of the hip affecting how far you can fold forward.

We can look at the feet to determine what the femurs are doing, but the feet themselves are not important they express the movement from the hip. We can move the feet to affect the femur to see if this creates more space, as the target area here is the Groin, so it doesn’t matter what angle the legs are in. For some people, a variation like Frog may be better.

It’s all about which hand & foot position supports the pose & this varies because of the individuality in our bones. If we don’t recognize this, it’s easy to make incorrect assumptions & “adjust” someone to look a certain way which could hurt or eventually cause injury.

The more we focus on where we place our fingers & toes, the more we potentially compromise the bigger joints of the body. Applying a functional approach, we use both the hands & feet in our own unique way that helps to access & stress the target area of our focus.

Our primary objective as Yin yoga teachers is to reach the FUNCTIONALITY of the pose; this means the Target & purpose of the pose we are asking you to perform. The Yin yoga ‘shape’ you take will depend on your own body mechanics & bone structure to achieve these goals.

Your bone structure is unique, & this includes its movement, & also includes how one side of your body may differ from the other side.

As we are all beautifully different, even as teachers, we may not always know what is best for your individual body.

Our role is to GUIDE you with optional ‘variations’, & to provide a safe space that allows you to try out what works best for your body, to tune into what you are feeling, to develop trust in your own ability to know how best to access a ‘target’, & to learn how to honor the messages your body offers; EMPOWERING YOU as the practitioner.

Love your body the healthy way.

Dive deeper into functional yoga principles & the Yin yoga practice.

THE 5 DIMENSIONS OF YIN YOGA

THE 5 DIMENSIONS OF YIN YOGA

Want to share your passion for Yoga with others & now feel ready to begin your teaching career? We offer a Yoga Alliance 200-hr Vinyasa & Yin Yoga ‘equally balanced’ Training with three experienced lead teachers in Vinyasa, Yin Yoga & Anatomy. Following Yoga Alliance ethos for both styles with Training & Techniques, Philosophy, Subtle body, Anatomy, Teaching Tools, & practicums. Our 200-hr training is a sure way to begin your teaching in confidence.

THE yin yoga PRACTICE

THE 5 DIMENSIONS OF YIN YOGA

Or maybe your focus is more on all the aspects of Yin Yoga? Including our role as teachers, practice teaching all seven archetypes, & explore the vast creative variations we can incorporate. Different anatomy is also included, where we further explore the Fascia system, particularly in relation to pain, & the Autonomic Nervous system. Also,both Spine & Shoulder anatomy & how this affects functional movement, together with diving deeper into Chinese Medicine.

THE yin yoga PRACTICE

THE 5 DIMENSIONS OF YIN YOGA

Maybe teaching isn’t so important for you, but you still wish to learn more about Yin Yoga. This one-week program includes all the fundamentals: philosophy, meridians, principal Chinese Medicine & our well-being. We explore all 7 archetypes, have twice daily practices, & complimentary fascia techniques. Anatomy is also explored: fascia layers, holding patterns, Hip anatomy & effects on movement, functional yoga, & apply this to your body.

the yin yoga practice

THE 5 DIMENSIONS OF YIN YOGA

Prefer to study an accredited Yin Yoga & Chinese Medicine training entirely at your own pace & in the comfort of your home, returning to your study as often as required. This online TTC  gently guides you through all the fundamental aspects of the Yin yoga practice, including essential philosophical & physiological aspects, the meridians, how to place the theory into your Yin yoga with full class practices, & reflection on difficult emotions.

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akirayogaLTD 13569397

akirayogaLTD 13569397

Copyright © Akira Yoga 2019. All Rights Reserved.