Yoga for Posture Improvement – Focus on Core Strengthening and Axial Extension

Back Health

A recent study published by Surgical Technology International concludes that when you look down at your cell phone to text, check email, or play a game the force applied to the neck is the equivalent of four adult-sized bowling balls, or 60 pounds. In fact, some are now calling this body position an iPosture, or iHunch, since most of us fold into it when we use our mobile devices. The forces are similar when you displace your head forward (the way you do when you look at your computer). Now think about how much time you spend in those positions every day. This kind of habitual movement patterns can lead to early wear, tear and degeneration.

Since our electronic devices are not going anywhere, all we can do is be mindful about our body positioning when we use them. We can also try to counteract the iHunch by strengthening the muscles that support the body in the upright position, relieve neck tension and realign the spinal curves to improve the posture. In yoga we use axial extension poses to do just that. The most important aspect of all axial extension postures is to bring the spine into maximum vertical alignment while integrating all the spinal curves without strain.

In this two hour workshop writer and yoga therapist Olga Kabel will teach you how to use axial extension poses to build strength and elasticity in the postural muscles, strengthen the core and promote overall structural integration. She will zoom in on potential alignment mistakes that can compromise your student’s safety and diminish the effectiveness of those poses.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

In the first part of the workshop you will discover why sometimes a “good posture” is not so good for your body. You will learn:

  • Three types of posture and how each impacts the body
  • Problems with self-correcting the posture
  • Four steps to minimize the stress placed on the intervertebral discs
  • How to lengthen the spine without strain
  • How to align your spine properly in seated poses like Virasana (Hero pose) and Sukhasana (Easy Pose)
  • How to modify your instructions based on the spinal shape of your students.

In the second part of the workshop you will focus on the “core players” – the muscles that move your trunk. You will learn:

  • Four main functions of your core muscles
  • How to protect your lower back while strengthening your core
  • How to avoid stressing your shoulders in poses like Downward Facing Dog and Chaturanga Dandasana
  • Four types of axial extension poses and how to position the body to get the most out of each
  • How to identify the misalignments that might strain the student’s neck, shoulders and back while attempting axial extension poses, and how to troubleshoot the

This Course Also Includes:

  • Yoga Practice Video: Enjoy a 40-minute exploratory yoga practice with Olga that will show you how to help your students strengthen the core and encourage better posture without stressing their necks, shoulders and backs.
  • Recordings of All Webinar Sessions: It’s generally acknowledged that many people only retain 10-20 percent of what they learn in a workshop. You will get access to the recordings of all webinar sessions – both MP3 (downloadable) and MP4 (streaming online), enabling you to go back and listen to the workshop as many times as you like.
  • Transcripts of All Sessions: Ever wanted to refer to a certain part of a course? Even the best note takers miss a point every so often. With the transcripts of the webinar sessions, you can go back and refer to particularly important passages or clarify sections you were in doubt about.

This course qualifies for 2.5 CEs with Yoga Alliance.

 

Educated as a school teacher, Olga Kabel, C-IAYT, has been teaching yoga for over 20 years and practicing yoga therapy for the past 12 years. Olga is a founder of Sequence Wiz—a membership-based electronic health records system (EHR) for yoga teachers and yoga therapists.

$127/ Lifetime Access

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