Appetite for destruction

I believe that the mind has an appetite for destruction. Chaos is easier to maintain than order. Wrong is easier to attain that right. Structure, order, right takes concentration, directed and pointed direction, practice, discipline.

As much as I try to do right, my mind leans to do wrong. Wrong takes less energy for me and more energy for others to clean up my wrongs.

Arlene Bjork
Free class downloads and newsletter at http://mygraceyoga.com
abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Staying on top of things

With a large yoga studio and foot traffic, I spend a lot of time caring for the hardwood floors.

I have a few vacuums and a great hardwood floor cleaner that keeps the floors debris free. This is a daily task that I fit in between the mounds of responsibilities in my care.

And the dusting, the pruning of plants, the watering, the replenishing. It does not end. Dirt abounds. Cobwebs and bugs abound. They want to enroach on the clean corners and tiny crevices. And I with a keen ey continually seek them out to eradicate them, if only for that day.

Cleaning the building is easy. Cleaning my flesh, my soul-nature is not.
Arlene Bjork
Free class downloads and newsletter at http://mygraceyoga.com
abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Moving Energy

Change requires the movement of energy. The natural world is built upon this simple principle. It encompasses laws of physics, chemistry, biology, but fundamentally nature follows patterns that rest on structure. When the structure falls apart, destruction or chaos occurs. Although this too is change, it is not a change that involves mindfulness or order.

We want change that rests on order. Order follows nature's patterns and rules. Boundaries are given in order to provide safety in the midst of change. When change occurs, energy is moved. This movement must happen in an orderly fashion so that destruction is eliminated.

To consider change consider yourself at rest and consider yourself in motion. Consider your energy at rest and in motion. At rest and in motion, consider structure and chaos. What differences do you notice?

Tomorrow begins a significant journey towards change which envelops concepts of rest, motion, energy, structure and chaos. The intention is to explore these concepts using myself as an example to understand our role in the movement of our own energy in order to stimulate positive change.

I decided to record this journey openly in order to maintain my private motivation. When I encounter obstacles alone I can lose heart too early in the race. If I am accountable to others then the focus shifts away from me and toward the higher goal or aim or purpose.

As I let go of certain strongholds that sap energy from my life, I deduce that the movement of that energy toward areas that need my attention would magnify positive change in my life. Those strongholds include: dead relationships, attachments to dead relationships, attachments to comfortable habits that bring destruction versus structure, attachments to destructive thought patterns, attachments to some material items.

What kind of positive change can take place within the next 40 days? How does the movement of energy in positive directions encourage a greater degree of wisdom and courage?
Arlene Bjork
Free class downloads and newsletter at http://mygraceyoga.com
abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Ann Marie's and Arlene's Big NYC Adventure

Here are just a few photos from Ann Marie Lewis' and Arlene Bjork's trip to NYC this past weekend. We had a great time. Here, the beautiful yogini Ann Marie connects with the earth in Central Park! We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, argued with a drug addict in the East Village, stepped over horse poop in Central Park, almost got car sick in the cab ride from the airport, tasted a piece of cheesecake from a stranger in a restaurant, shared a "piercing" experience, rode the subway, people watched in Union Square, practiced sweaty yoga at Jivamukti, gawked at the Naked Cowboy in Times Square, bustled through Chinatown and Little Italy . . . all in 2 1/2 days! Proud of Ann Marie for keeping up with swifty native New Yorker Arlene.

Breakdancer in Columbus Circle. All mula bandha, he's really a yogi!

Ann Marie enjoyed that rich, decadent NY style cheesecake!

A practice room at Jivamukti Yoga School in Union Square.

Arlene really was Ann Marie's bodyguard for the weekend!

Ann Marie fits right in on the subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan. SJP is in the house!

Ann Marie on the left, after dinner in Little Italy. On the right, the happy city girls smile after our shared rite of passage! Photo taken on Astor Place in a very busy tattoo and piercing parlor. Whew! We did it!

I Love Anatomy Ezine: The SI Joints and The Pelvic Floor

Anatomy and Asana:
I love Anatomy Ezine
Principles of anatomy for your yoga practice.
Easy to understand. Simple to apply.

By Susi Hately Aldous, Founder
Functional Synergy and Anatomy and Asana

feeling the flow of body, mind and soul
Sent to a global audience every month.
To leave list or change email address, scroll to bottom

www.functionalsynergy.com

www.anatomyandasana.com

The SI Joints and the Pelvic Floor

This SI joint ezine continues the exploration I began two months ago with the pelvic floor. In the previous ezines, the pelvic floor has been explored with the following exercises:
 
1. Become aware of the pelvic floor, its muscles, its orifices, and possibly the energy swirling or building as your attention rests here.

2. Breathe. As you breathe, can you feel the pelvic floor movement working with the respiratory diaphragm? Can you feel each orifice? Can you feel the natural spreading and release as you breathe?
 
3. Move into Cat and Cow, focusing on the pelvic floor. What do you feel as you move from extension to flexion?

4. Isolate orifice contractions in sitting, standing, and lying down (on your back and front). Notice what it is that you feel.
 
With this ezine we'll take it a bit deeper as we delve into the impact of the pelvic floor on the sacroiliac joints.
 
To begin, we need to understand sacroiliac joint function.  Specifically:
 

• The structural and muscular connection between the sacrum and the ilia
• What stability means in the context of SI joint function
• How the pelvic floor contributes to this context

Structural and Muscular Connection between the Sacrum and Ilia:

The sacrum and ilia are connected via their bone formation and ligamentous support (form closure) and the power of muscle stabilization (force closure) of the transversus abdominis, multifidi, pelvic floor, and respiratory diaphragm.

What Stability Means in the Context of SI Joint Function:

Stability essentially means effective load transfer from the upper to the lower body, and from the lower to the upper body. If form or force closure are not effective, if there is emotional overload, or if the motor patterns are inadequate, effective load transfer will not occur, and pain or poor function can result.
 
How the Pelvic floor Contributes to This Context:

Here are a couple of ways the pelvic floor contributes:
 

• The pelvic floor connects the base of the pelvis – pubic bone, coccyx, sitting bones – forming a diamond shape. In combination with the other inner core muscles, it contributes to a foundational stability. Without this foundational stability, strengthening outer core and other more superficial muscles may not have as positive an impact as is desired.
• If the posterior side of the pelvic floor is tight – this often happens with butt or anal sphincter gripping – a pulling down of the sacrum can occur, which can contribute to SI joint issues. If you think of releasing the posterior side of the pelvic floor, in combination with basic core stabilizing techniques and grounding through the feet, the gripping sensation can release and the posterior pelvic floor can become more functional.

Next Steps
 
These past few ezines have offered some ideas of how to bring your awareness to your pelvic floor and its impact on your body and movement. I encourage you to explore these exercises and see what happens to your practice. What you may find is that the experience is very quieting. You may even experience boredom. If you keep with it the quietness will expand, the boredom will fade, and you will feel more lightness and ease. In time, this practice will make way for an amazingly gentle power that pervades both on and off the mat.
 
If you would like more, there are three recordings that may interest you – "Is Core Training Leading to Injuries?"; "The Sacroiliac Joints"; and "Exploration of the Spine." All three are phone recordings that are accessed online. To listen to these, you can go directly to the Functional Synergy e-store at http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/category/48/6174/0/0

Wishing you strength, stillness, support, and suppleness.

Happy exploring,
Susi

***********************************************
Copyright 2008 Functional Synergy, inc and Anatomy and Asana. All rights reserved. You are free to post these articles on your website so long as you post Anatomy and Asana contact information. I do not sell, rent or share this list of subscribers to anyone. You have trusted me with your email address -- for the sole purpose of sending your "I Love Anatomy", workshop and occasional new service/product updates. This is the only use of your email address I make. To remove your name and email from this list, or to change your email address, please forward an email to iloveanatomy@functionalsynergy.com

___________________________________

Re: My Podcast: New comment on "Grace Yoga Podcast by Arlene Bjork"

Today, I received the following feedback from - Anonymous, [5:00 AM] on my podcast page:

"Overall, the routine is nice, but you fail to state which posture I'm supposed to be in, in particular in the standing section in the middle. There are some very vague instructions about having parallel feet, "spreading your wings" (in what direction?), and bending and unbending your knees. Somewhere between prayer twist (I think that's what it was) and triangle pose, I got very lost whereas I don't think I would have in a class with you. I felt this way a few times, so I wonder if this particular recording is good for remote instruction."

Arlene's reply: Perhaps my verbal cueing skills were not up to par that day. I need to listen to that podcast again. Due to the fact that I seldom demonstrate postures in class, I hope that students in class and those that practice remotely listen intently to the cues for what they should do exactly at that moment. Great feedback "Anonymous" that it would be helpful to name the pose before I cue the instructions. It is not my intention for anyone to get lost during class. But I am so grateful that "Anonymous" had the courage to give me this honest feedback.

"I don't know if you realized, but you were laughing at someone's having a metal rod in her back."

Arlene's comment: I was laughing at myself or alluding to the metal rod I have in my back. If I assumed that everyone knew about that, I apologize. At this time in my life, I could laugh about it because I cried a lot about it in 1985 when I had the surgery. Yoga opened a once impossible avenue for me. I laughed because it is amazing how life takes you to success through adversity.

"If we're supposed to put our issues away on a shelf for practice, I'm not sure why you needed to bring up your email rage, even if it's about how you successfully managed it. It's not helpful to highlight our negative tendencies and ask "How many of us have...?" It's distracting at best."

Arlene's reply: If these moments of "thinking out loud" distract you, I apologize but I won't say that it won't happen again. Just speaking for myself, when I practice a challenging Vinyasa it is comforting to hear my teacher drop in and say "have you ever felt?, have you ever experienced?, "well we can deal with that like we deal with our practice, using the breath, etc.". Knowing that I'm not the "only one" in whatever struggle I face is comforting. I have more negative tendencies than positive ones, so I try to work through the negative ones one at a time on the mat. Sharing the fact that I don't have the mind of a saint may help someone.

Thank you "Anonymous" for your feedback and taking the time to write to me. If you are a yoga teacher or hope to be one, these are great notes to keep to remind yourself of what you yourself will not want to do as a teacher. This is part of "finding your own voice" as a teacher. You gather what you like, what you dislike, and craft a way of teaching that is your very own. What matters most is that you create a beautiful connection for and with your students. If you are a student and my style doesn't appeal to you, now you know that a different podcast may be appropriate. It is becoming more apparent to me that I reach students, most of whom I don't see because they are remote, so it is important for me to be more sensitive to their needs.

Perhaps "Anonymous" you can reply back so we can continue this dialogue.

Arlene Bjork
Free class downloads and newsletter at http://mygraceyoga.com

abjork@mygraceyoga.com

Arlene's April Teaching Schedule (group classes)

American Family Fitness (Arboretum location)

Monday, April 7, 7:30pm Yogaflex

Monday, April 21, 7:30pm Power Yoga

American Family Fitness (Swift Creek location)

Sunday, April 13, 9:30am Gentle Yoga

Monday, April 14, 7:30pm Yogaflex

Sunday, April 20, 10:45am Yogaflex

Monday, April 28, 7:30pm Yogaflex

 

Spotlight Studio of Dance - Woodlake (All classes Beginner Vinyasa, 9:30am)

Saturday, April 5

Saturday, April 19

Saturday, April 26

I Love Anatomy Ezine: The Pelvic Floor Part 2

Anatomy and Asana:
I love Anatomy Ezine

Principles of anatomy for your yoga practice.
Easy to understand. Simple to apply.

By Susi Hately Aldous, Founder
Functional Synergy and Anatomy and Asana

feeling the flow of body, mind and soul
Sent to a global audience every month.
To leave list or change email address, scroll to bottom

www.functionalsynergy.com

www.anatomyandasana.com

The Pelvic Floor Part 2

In last month's ezine, I left you with exploring the pelvic floor with your breath. The exercise went like this:

1. Begin by just becoming aware of the pelvic floor. Bring your mind's eye to the muscles and orifices of the pelvic floor between the pubic bone, sitting bones, and coccyx. You may even feel a sense of subtle energy swirling or building as your attention rests here.

2. Breathe. As you breathe, can you feel the pelvic floor movement working with the respiratory diaphragm? Can you feel each orifice? Can you feel the natural spreading and release as you breathe?

Remember that the pelvic floor needs to provide both strength and openness. Quite literally, it is the floor of the pelvis, providing support for the organs above. The pelvic floor also needs to be open, as fluid needs to pass through its orifices. This is a great example of softness and strength, relaxed resilience, strong openness, and open strength.

Let's continue with the following exercises.

3. Come onto your hands and knees. Move into Cat and Cow, where you move your spine into flexion (Cat) and extension (Cow) in unison with your breath (exhaling with flexion, inhaling with extension). After a few repetitions, bring your mind's eye to your pelvic floor. Imagine the movement beginning there - imagine that both the flexion of Cat and the extension of Cow initiate from the pelvic floor. Can you feel the movement of the pelvic bones and the upper part of your femurs? Move slowly and mindfully. (Tip: As you practice this, you may want to move your spine only as much as you feel movement in your pelvic floor. Your range will be smaller, but your connection will be heightened. As you continue, you may find your range improving and discover a whole new experience of your pelvic floor.)

4. This next exercise was taught to me by the physiotherapists at the Pelvic Floor Clinic in Calgary. Do each in sitting, standing, and lying down. Become aware of your breath, and take a moment to settle. Next, begin to contract only your anal orifice. Contract and release. After several repetitions, move forward - women contract and release only your vaginal orifice; men contract and release only your urinary area. Then, women, move forward and contract and release only your urinary muscles. Keep in mind that the urinary orifice is much smaller, so the feeling won't be as great. Nonetheless, notice what it is that you feel. Then switch positions. Don't forget to breathe.

If you are having difficulty isolating each of the orifices, and you are thinking that this is impossible, don't worry. This is subtle movement. Find a time when you feel quiet and still, and try it then. There is much written about the orifices of the pelvic floor in Eastern texts and their relationship with the cultivation of energy in the pelvic floor and the first and second chakras.

As you continue to explore with these four exercises, I encourage you to apply them to the more traditional asanas and notice what you feel. From my experience - both as a teacher and student - the pelvic floor holds a very gentle power that impacts the hips, knees, and feet as well as the SI joints, back, neck, chest, shoulders, and arms. As you explore, please email me with your a-has!

In the May ezine, we'll explore how this relates to SI joint function. However, if you want to explore this topic more now, you can listen to two recent teleclass recordings: "Is Core Training Leading to Injuries" and "The Sacroiliac Joints." To purchase these recordings, you can visit the Functional Synergy e-store at http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/category/48/6174/0/0

Wishing you strength, stillness, support, and suppleness.

Happy exploring,
Susi

***********************************************
Copyright 2008 Functional Synergy, inc and Anatomy and Asana. All rights reserved. You are free to post these articles on your website so long as you post Anatomy and Asana contact information. I do not sell, rent or share this list of subscribers to anyone. You have trusted me with your email address -- for the sole purpose of sending your "I Love Anatomy", workshop and occasional new service/product updates. This is the only use of your email address I make. To remove your name and email from this list, or to change your email address, please forward an email to iloveanatomy@functionalsynergy.com

 

Fwd: First Annual NIH Yoga Week, May 19-23 - How you can help!

<>
March 19, 2008

To: Prospective partners for NIH Yoga Week

From: The Yoga Week Team

Re:  How You Can Help with NIH Yoga Week 2008

Dear Fellow Yogis,

By now, you have heard about some of the exciting events for NIH Yoga Week 2008!  The events will take place from Monday, May 19 through Friday, May 23 at the NIH Campus in Bethesda, MD and the nearby satellite offices.  We have invited speakers from around the country to speak on the science and practice of Yoga.  We are looking forward to celebrating the benefits of Yoga and sharing them with NIH employees and members of the public, alike! A full schedule will be announced next week.  All events are open to the public.

The following are meaningful ways in which you or your organization can participate in making Yoga Week a success.  If you have additional ideas, please contact me. 

��       Donation of Yoga Mats- to be used during Yoga practice session and preferably kept by participants - these can be from your lost and found.

1       Donation of canned goods for Wednesday 5/21 and Thursday 5/22 philanthropy
2       Volunteers- to help before and during Yoga Week events

��       Stuffing gift bags for participants

1       Organizing canned goods and helping to donate them to selected charities

��       Send emails to your organization to publicize Yoga Week (i.e. Use of listservs)

1       Signing you and friends up for the NIH Yoga Week listserv

��       Email ���SUBSCIBE NIHYOGAWEEKMAY08��� (without quotes) to listserv@list.nih.gov
��       Publishing articles or other press to get the word out
Please stay in touch with me about how you might want to contribute.  If you���re on the Yoga Week listserv, you will be receiving periodic updates on Yoga Week. 

We appreciate your generosity and commitment to Yoga Week!  I look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

The Yoga Week Team
CONTACT: (301) 496-9845

Fwd: Anatomy and Asana: Upcoming Workshops, Trainings, and Teleclasses

Hi Yogi Anatomist,

I am in the midst of writing your April I Love Anatomy ezine. In the meantime, here is your February 2008 Workshop Update.

I'have also included:

• an update on the therapeutic yoga certification training. You can scroll down to the bottom for more on that.
• how to get previously recorded teleclasses – you'll find those at the end of the teleclass class section
• how to check out the free sample of "Ask Susi" that was recorded on March 18.

Have a terrific month.

All the best,

Susi

Here are the locations for my upcoming 1 day and 2 day workshops:
Vancouver, BC; Toronto Yoga Conference; Invermere, BC; Calgary, AB; Smithville, NJ; Red Deer, AB

Scheduled 4 Day Trainings
Minnesota
Colorado
Wisconsin

The Therapeutic Yoga Intensive (formerly called 4 Days of Therapeutic Yoga)
Toronto, ON

Scheduled teleclasses:
Finding Ease in Seated Meditation
Rotator Cuff
Exploring the Spine

"Ask Susi":
Month-to-Month and Annual Memberships to explore your questions and experience some answers. Includes teleclasses related to Anatomy and Asana and its practical applications.

Please scroll down for descriptions and more information about our workshops, trainings and teleclasses.
You can also visit our website at http://www.anatomyandasana.com/workshops.htm for a complete list of planned events.

If you think someone would benefit from this email, please pass it along.

What Shiva Rea is saying:
I really enjoyed I love the clarity and insight of Susi's applied anatomy. She goes right to the key areas of relevance for yoga practitioners and offers her years of skilled knowledge in potent synthesized & visual material that will benefit students and teachers from all backgrounds. Highly recommended!"

What Brenda, registered yoga instructor is saying:
"I really enjoyed and appreciated the teleclass on the hips and shoulders. The information was clear, concise and helpful. You are a great teacher! One day I will attend one of your face-to-face classes."

What Laurie, registered yoga instructor is saying:
"This is the first yoga workshop that I've attended where I wasn't in pain when I left. No pain, no tightness. I feel great. Thanks!"

Upcoming Workshops, Trainings, & Teleclasses

WORKSHOPS

A Series of Topics at the Toronto Yoga Conference with Susi Hately Aldous
The Yoga Conference in Toronto is a great conference to meet and learn from many great yoga teachers in a period of 4 days. If you want to grab classes with Seane Corn, Rodney Yee, Rama Birch, Richard Rosen, Lilias Folan, Todd Norian and Ann Green, Swami Lalitananda and so many more, you've got a great basket of options. I will be contributing 5 sessions – a 6 hour Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders and Hips; along with shorter sessions including The Spine, The Knees, Deepening Core Stability, and Applying Therapeutic Yoga to Advanced Yoga Asanas (I'll be teaching this with Leo Mowry).
Location: Toronto, ON
Date: Thursday April 24-Sunday April 27
To register or for more information visit the Yoga Conference's website.
Online Registration: www.theyogaconference.com

Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders and Hips
In my over 13 years designing customized therapeutic programs, the 2 most common limitations I have seen are in the shoulders and hips. Even for people with back, neck or knee pain – if they are able to improve the functioning of their shoulders and hips, their levels of pain become much more manageable and/or resolved. This 3-hour workshop will introduce you to therapeutic yoga for the shoulders and hips. You will leave feeling taller, lighter, stronger and more stable.   
  Location: Invermere, BC

Date: Friday May 9, 2008

Times: 5:00 – 8:00 PM
To register or for more information contact Cara at Functional Synergy.
Phone: 403.229.2617 or toll free at 866.229.2645
Email: iloveanatomy@anatomyandasana.com

 Online Registration: http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/6173/266565/0/0

Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders and Hips, &

Advancing your Yoga Practice: The Art of Slowing Down:
A Two-Day Training
There are days you look into the room of students and you wonder, how do I teach all these different bodies? What do I do with the person whose shoulders are really tight, or a back that has a tendency to act up. How do I give those people ease, and yet, give others a challenge without over-extending them? This 2-day training will engage these questions and give you tools that will help.

On day 1, we'll explore the Shoulders and Hips and specific yoga asanas that help bring balance and function to these areas of the body. Then, on day 2, we'll take it the next step and explore poses like Downward Dog, Triangle and Camel.  We'll apply the therapeutic principles so that you truly feel settled in your asana, so that you can feel what is going on in your body. As a result, you will learn many modifications to help students get a good sense of how their body moves in different asanas. It will also give you some suggestions and ideas on how to progress a student from a therapeutic practice into a regular yoga practice.

This is a practice session that will weave in anatomy so that you can blend intellectual knowledge with what you are feeling. In the end, you will leave feeling lighter, stronger, more stable and quite at ease.
Location: Yoga Nine, Smithville New Jersey
Date: Saturday and Sunday May 17 and 18, 2008
To register or for more information contact Laurie at Yoga Nine
Phone: 609.404.0999
Email: info@yoganine.com

Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders and Hips
 Ever since I began teaching yoga, the two most common physical limitations I have seen are in the shoulders and hips. Even for people with back, neck, or knee pain - if they are able to improve the functioning of their shoulders and hips, their back or neck pain becomes much more manageable or even resolved.

In this workshop you will learn the biomechanics of the shoulders and hips, and how they impact each other; how they influence energy flow through the spine, and affect transfer of force and load from the upper body to the lower body and lower body to upper body. You'll learn therapeutic yoga asanas that improve the functioning of the shoulders and hips and improve the balance in and between your neck, mid back, lower back. The result is less pain, less strain, and more freedom, stability and ease.

This workshop will be based off of my new book and online video: Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders and Hips.
 Location: Y.A.A Annual General Meeting, Red Deer, AB
Date: Saturday, May 24th, 2008
To register or for more information, contact Debbie at Yoga Association of Alberta
Email: yogaab@telusplanet.net

Private Customized Yoga Sessions in Red Deer
with Susi Hately Aldous
Following the Red Deer YAA Training, I will be staying on Sunday to lead private therapeutic sessions. These sessions are each one-hour long and at the end you will receive a customized home program.
 Location: Best Western Inn & Suites – Meeting Room

Date: Sunday, May 25th, 2008
To register or for more information, contact Cara in Calgary at 229-2617 or toll free at 866-229-2645
Email: iloveanatomy@anatomyandasana.com

Deepening Core Stability
Core stability is one of those hot topics that carries much mis-information leaving many confused, unsure and uncertain of what is accurate. Questions arise like – how do I apply this?; what is the best way for me to help my students find their core? This 3 hour training will help you delve more deeply – deeper into understanding the pieces that make up the core, the yoga asanas that help engage the core, and others that hinder its true stabilizing nature. By the end of the day, you'll have an excellent sense of what makes up a good core stabilizing exercise in different individuals; and you'll leave feeling taller, lighter, more stable and strong.
Location: Bodhi Tree Yoga Studio, Calgary
Date: Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Time: 2-5 pm
To register or for more information, contact Cara in Calgary at 229-2617 or toll free at 866-229-2645
Email: iloveanatomy@anatomyandasana.com

Online Registration: http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/6173/266568/0/0

Explore Your Feet
I still remember, way back when, my yoga teacher telling me to soften my feet. The look that must have been on my face...oh my! It was the look that was in response to the thought "....huh? What the heck is she talking about...." Years later, and I am a little wiser with my feet.

In this afternoon session, we'll explore the anatomy of the feet and how they can (quite literally) engage core stability, activate mula bandha, shift the breath, and improve hip function. We'll also look at how the hips and knees impact the feet and explore a series of yoga exercises and sequences to bring life to the feet and to your whole being.
Location: Bodhi Tree Yoga Studio, Calgary
Date: Saturday, July 12, 2008
Time: 2-5 pm
To register or for more information, contact Cara in Calgary at 229-2617 or toll free at 866-229-2645
Email: iloveanatomy@anatomyandasana.com

Online Registration: http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/6173/266569/0/0

Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders and Hips
Ever since I began teaching yoga, the two most common physical limitations I have seen are in the shoulders and hips. Even for people with back, neck, or knee pain - if they are able to improve the functioning of their shoulders and hips, their back or neck pain becomes much more manageable or even resolved.

In this workshop you will learn the biomechanics of the shoulders and hips, and how they impact each other; how they influence energy flow through the spine, and affect transfer of force and load from the upper body to the lower body and lower body to upper body. You'll learn therapeutic yoga asanas that improve the functioning of the shoulders and hips and improve the balance in and between your neck, mid back, lower back. The result is less pain, less strain, and more freedom, stability and ease.

This workshop will be based off of my new book and online video: Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders and Hips.  Location: TBA – New York City
Cost: Early Bird $159 prior to May 20; Regular price $199 May 21 onward
Date: Late August/September
To register or for more information contact Cara at iloveanatomy@anatomyandasana.com

Phone: 403-229-2617 or toll free 866-229-2645

Online Registration: http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/6173/266570/0/0

Deepening Core Stability
Core stability is one of those hot topics that carries much mis-information leaving many confused, unsure and uncertain of what is accurate. Questions arise like – how do I apply this?; what is the best way for me to help my students find their core? This one day training will help you to delve more deeply – deeper into understanding the pieces that make up the core, the yoga asanas that help engage the core, and others that hinder its true stabilizing nature. By the end of the day, you'll have an excellent sense of what makes up a good core stabilizing exercise in different individuals; AND, you will have a series of sequences that you can apply in a Hatha, Vinyasa or private class setting.
Location: Toronto, Studio 585
Cost: Early Bird $139 prior to June 29; Regular price $159 June 30 onward
Date: September 14
To register or for more information contact Cara at iloveanatomy@anatomyandasana.com

Phone: 403-229-2617 or toll free 866-229-2645

REGISTER ONLINE: http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/6173/265851/0/0

3 and 4 DAY TRAININGS IN 2008
For more information and details on these 4 Day trainings, please contact the hosts.

Location: Academy of Yoga - Grand Junction, Colorado
Dates: April 8-13, 2008
This 4 day has more of a "yoga therapy theme" and will give you the essential pre-requisites needed for The Therapeutic Yoga Intensive in Toronto in September. For more information on the sessions included in this training, contact Monica.
Phone: 970-255-8029
Email: info@academyofyoga.com

Location: Lakewood's Resort – Cable, Wisconsin
Dates: April 30-May 6, 2008
This 4 day has more of a "regular class" theme. It will also give you the essential pre-requisites needed for The Therapeutic Yoga Intensive in Toronto in September. For more information on the sessions included in this training, contact Laurie.
Phone: 715-794-2561 ext. 633
Email: yoga@lakewoodsresort.com

Location: Yoga North – Duluth, Minnesota
Dates: July 17-20, 2008
This 4 day training begins at Day 1 with private sessions. Book one for yourself, or bring a student and you can sit in on the session. Day 2 consists of Therapeutic Yoga for the Shoulders and Hips, followed by Days 3 and 4 when you will learn Advancing Your Yoga Practice: The Art of Slowing Down. Develop strength, create ease, feel freedom! Contact Ann Maxwell for more information. This will give you the essential pre-requisites needed for The Therapeutic Yoga Intensive in Toronto in September.
Phone: 715-794-2561 ext. 633
Email: info@yoganorthduluth.com

The Therapeutic Yoga Intensive

(Formerly 4-Days of Therapeutic Yoga)

At this training you will become eligible to enter a certification program which will enable you to become a certified Functional Synergy therapeutic yoga teacher. More details on the certification program are below.

This training is designed for yoga teachers who want to understand and teach therapeutic yoga using techniques that are time tested over the past 10 years, have been utilized in mainstream research programs, and are being used effectively by yoga teachers across the globe. The pre-requisite to this training is at least 12 hours of training with, me and a solid desire to teach therapeutic yoga classes. I am limiting the numbers to 14 participants to enable you to go DEEP, to truly learn and fundamentally understand the important pieces that create successful therapeutic yoga programs, and to have the unique opportunity to address your specific therapeutic needs.

In this training, you will explore the therapeutic approach I have been using successfully for the past 10 years. This approach combines a modern understanding of anatomy, kinesiology and physiology with the ancient wisdom of yoga to restore function, increase vitality and enhance wellbeing. We will be working with structural and physiological issues.  

Here is a portion of what you will learn:

1. Understand the typical body patterns, which cause injury and inhibit recovery.
2. Questions to ask in order to gather information about a student's condition and situation.
3. How to "read" the person who has the condition or injury, and how to program for the person first, then the condition/injury.
4. Understand and apply the principles of Better Body Balance as they relate to: improving the functioning of the neck, shoulder, elbows, wrists, back, hips, knees; extreme fatigue; post cancer-treatment recovery.
5. Based on the principles of Better Body Balance, learn how to create a program for recovery and rehabilitation.
6. How to work with emotional holding patterns.
7. Understand psychological interactions between student and teacher and set a framework for boundaries.  
8. How to successfully create therapeutic yoga programs for people with pain and injury.

Location: Toronto, ON
Dates: Monday – Thursday September 15-18, 2008
Price:$1365.00 Maximum 14 people, installment payments are available.
To register or for more information contact Cara at iloveanatomy@anatomyandasana.com

Phone: 403-229-2617 or toll free 866-229-2645
Online Registration: You can also visit our e-store at http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/6173/262648/0/0

TELECLASSES

Anatomy and Asana Teleclass: Finding Ease in your Seated Meditation
with Susi Hately Aldous
This teleclass explores the nature of sitting – particularly in reference to seated meditation. Do you wonder if the discomfort in your seated position is perhaps creating physical trauma? This call will explore ideas on how to experience less pain or strain in the ankles, knees, pelvis, low back, upper back and neck. The aim will be to help you find more ease so that you can focus entirely on the act of concentration, contemplation and stillness.
This class will be recorded so if you are unable to make the session, you will be able to access the recording. All you need to do is register for the class and we'll send you details.
Here are the Details:
Date: Thursday March 27, 2008
Price: $29
11:00 am Calgary, AB Canada time (MST)
To register, call Cara toll free at 866-229-2645
REGISTER ONLINE at http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/6174/264418/0/0

Anatomy and Asana Teleclass: The Rotator Cuff
with Susi Hately Aldous
This teleclass explores the rotator cuff, and shares considerations for your practice as a teacher or a student. You'll be surprised with what you will learn on this call. There are many simple things you can do to improve chronic issues related to your rotator cuff.  
This class will be recorded so if you are unable to make the session, you will be able to access the recording. All you need to do is register for the class and we'll send you details.
Here are the Details:
Date: Tuesday April 22, 2008
Price: $29
6:00 pm Calgary, AB Canada time (MST)
To register, call Cara toll free at 866-229-2645
REGISTER ONLINE at http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/6174/266566/0/0

Anatomy and Asana Teleclass: Exploring Your Spine
with Susi Hately Aldous
The Spine is a system of skeletal, neurological, electrical, vascular and chemical input that when balanced and connected creates magically fluid movement. In this teleclass, we'll explore the biomechanical pieces of the spine and its relationship to forward bends, back bends, twists, and standing poses. We'll discuss where and how the spine gets stuck and snagged, and what can be done to increase freedom and space.   
This class will be recorded so if you are unable to make the session, you will be able to access the recording. All you need to do is register for the class and we'll send you details.
Here are the Details:
Date: Tuesday April 29, 2008
Price: $29
6:00 pm Calgary, AB Canada time (MST)
To register, call Cara toll free at 866-229-2645
REGISTER ONLINE at http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/6174/266567/0/0

TELECLASS Recordings

These one-hour recordings are from my recent teleclasses, and can be purchased at our E-store.

Anatomy and Asana Teleclass: Is "Core Training" Leading to Injuries?
with Susi Hately Aldous
Quite regularly, I receive emails from people telling me "I do core exercises, and my core is strong, but my back is still bugging me". A few months ago, I wrote about the Ultimate Core Exercise as a response to the misinformation that is being distributed by yoga magazines, which can lead to injuries, tension and pain. In this teleclass, I'll share the key features of good core exercises and ways you can determine if your students are actually engaging their core or compensating elsewhere. At the end of the hour, you'll be able at choose appropriate and highly functional yoga exercises that will build balance, function, stability and ease.

Buy Online at: http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/6174/265874/0/0

Anatomy and Asana Teleclass: Yoga for Cancer Survivors
with Susi Hately Aldous
Over the past 7 years I have been working with the University of Calgary and the Tom Baker Cancer Center studying the impact of yoga on people who have survived cancer. The results are significant and bode well for future research. I've recently trained 5 instructors to lead classes in Calgary as well as filmed a DVD series that will be studied through 2008.

In this class I will share the research to date and what this means for the people that you teach who have been through a cancer experience.

Buy Online at: http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/6174/265875/0/0

 

Anatomy and Asana Teleclass: The Sacro-Iliac Joints
with Susi Hately Aldous
Are you a teacher with students who have Sacro-Iliac Issues? Do you yourself have a sacro-iliac issues? This class explores the anatomy and mechanics of the sacro-iliac joints and what you can explore to help regain balance – for yourself or your students. We'll discuss the nature of twists, back bends, forward bends, upper thigh rotation and the concepts of nutation and counternutation. This will be an interactive discussion on the nature of the sacro-iliac joints.

Buy Online at: http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/product/48/6174/264417/0/0

"ASK SUSI"

"Ask Susi" has is in its third month. The calls have been terrific with lots of discussion. I've posted a sample introductory class for you to listen to. To get the link, please email Cara at iloveanatomy@anatomyandasana.com For more information on how "Ask Susi" works, please read below.

What people are saying:
I just wanted to say thanks for the call this week. I sent in general questions that I had just been wondering about but came away from the call with some amazing tools that I can tell are going to make a difference for my husband and my students.

Thanks for offering this service and sharing your knowledge.

A little update on my husband's knee. We did the block and strap tests and he could not get any movement at all without employing the hip flexors! WOW! He is going to work on this. It was very eye opening. This all started bothering him when he added the prostrations before his meditation sitting (Zen). So he is going to lay off those for a couple weeks and focus on this exercise and see what happens with his knee.

Thanks again- I look forward to the next call.
Karen

How it works: Send me your questions. Twice a month, I will host a teleclass to explore the questions asked. All calls are recorded so if you miss the call, you can tune in online. Calls are 1 hour in length. You will also have unlimited access to the exclusive "Ask Susi" website for the length of your subscription.
Location: Your phone
Price:$9.99 per month or $99 for the year (and you'll receive 2 months for free)
To register you can email Cara at iloveanatomy@anatomyandasana.com or call 403.229.2617 or Toll Free at 866-229-2645)
Register online at http://www.functionalsynergy.com/qs/category/48/6175/0/0

THERAPEUTIC YOGA CERTIFICATION

Beginning this fall, I will be leading a therapeutic yoga certification program. This has arisen from the many yoga teachers who have completed training with me in Preventing Yoga Injuries, Therapeutic Yoga for Shoulders and Hips, the SI joints, Shoulder Girdle, and the myriad other programs I offer through Anatomy and Asana. They have each said to me that they like the personal style I offer – the simple to understand and easy to apply nature of Anatomy and Asana – and the fact that what I teach has worked for them both in their practice as a student and a teacher.

If you are interested in this program, please know that my goal is to not pump out a bunch of therapeutic yoga teachers. Instead, I am particularly keen on enabling you to be great. To date, I have trained many different teachers in therapeutic yoga – teachers with previous experience in personal training and kinesiology, others with absolutely none. Throughout the spectrum, the stories remain the same, what I have taught them has transformed the way they view a person with pain. They now can see that pain can be reduced and/or resolved no matter what the age. They see that Yes!, age does not matter, nor do the limitations that trouble or impact an individual. The key is the type of stimulus, the kind of exercise, or whether they focus on breathing and rest or whether they focus on movement. They have learned how to apply this to developing and enhancing a program toward developing better body balance. They have seen first hand for themselves, that this way of teaching works.

This certification program will enable you to work your way through a process of determining what is best for your client - the individual in front of you. It will heighten your skill set, develop your ability to see, and enrich your yoga practice.

It is purposefully a small program. I will continue to develop my own customized yoga therapy practice, continue to teach the continuing education training I offer through Anatomy and Asana as well as developing the books, CDs, DVDS, and streaming audio/video I am so fond of creating. It is small in order that I give you the best I've got. You will learn from me and some of my mentors. You will get the goods from the smartest and most experienced people I know. My aim is to bring my world to you. Yes, there is an application and interview process. Yes, you will need to travel to Calgary for parts of the training. Yes, you will be able to complete a portion of the program in your home town. Yes, you will need to complete The Therapeutic Yoga Intensive (formerly the 4 Days of Therapeutic Yoga), before you are formerly considered for the program.  

I invite you to view more on the context of this program at http://www.anatomyandasana.com/certification.htm

You can also email me at iloveanatomy@anatomyandasana.com

All the best,
Susi

___________________________________
Re-establishing the equilibrium in your body, 
both mentally and physically, enabling you to 
experience the feeling of relaxation, of wellbeing
and to connect to what is important to you. 

www.functionalsynergy.com

www.anatomyandasana.com

www.yogaforthedeskjockey.com

Anusara Monthly Heartbeat

Monthly Heartbeat http://anusara.com/newsletters/Currents_Winter2008/Monthly_Heartbeat.html

Anusara Yoga^® invites us to constantly stay open to Grace, so as to deepen our connection to our own hearts, as well as to the world around us. If we stay sensitively aware of the fullness, possibilities, and blessings that surround us, we become able to fill up with a sense of profound gratitude, which leads to a natural desire to serve the world and other beings as a show of our appreciation and intrinsic love.
When we open to Grace and are filled up with Grace, it is natural for Grace to come pouring out.

In Anusara Yoga classes, we're often reminded to remember our connection to our breath and to the various parts of our physical body. With our muscles hugging to bone, our hands firmly clawing the ground, or our shins drawing toward the midline, we strive to connect all parts of the body into a unified and balanced place of integrity. However, it is our First Principle that reminds us of our inextricable connection with something greater than just our individual selves, and begins to bring the spirit of seva alive in our hearts. Seva, or selfless service, is a way to show honor, gratitude and devotion for the Supreme, the Divine and Universal essence that unifies us all. By acting on behalf of others and offering actions that help enhance life, we effectively remember the connection to the Divine Grace at the core of our being.

We start where we are, and do what we can. Helping someone get deeper into a pose can empower them as much as simply praising the beauty of their pose as it is. With small steps can come big changes, both in the community we serve and in our own hearts. Efforts like volunteering at a community level or practicing kindness may seem small, but to make a difference in the life of just one person might create a miraculous shift.

I know this because I consider myself a bit of a miracle. It is precisely because of the action of compassionate, giving people that I am alive to write these words. I've always longed for connection to something greater, but I didn't always know how to go about finding it in a life-enhancing way. Earlier in my life, I made a lot of bad choices and ended up using drugs as a way to find the meaningful connection I longed for. Unfortunately, any sort of substantive spiritual connection eluded me and what was once experimental became a habit. Eventually, I gave up hope that I could ever change and my life became a sad and sometimes dangerous existence. Thankfully, I ended up in a detox program where people who were once as hopeless as I was shared with me how they had changed their lives. They spoke about joy and faith and experiencing a spiritual awakening. They seemed genuinely happy, and it had been a long time since I'd felt like that. I opened my heart to the grace of recovery, supported every step of the way by people who gave unselfishly of their time as they held the space for me, listened and shared their wisdom. I felt a deep well of gratitude springing up inside of me for this chance at a new way of life. But – how could I repay them? They taught me a simple paradox: I had to give freely and selflessly the blessings I'd been given in order to honor and maintain this precious gift. By serving others, I became established in the connection to profound Grace.

Grace is a gift that you don't ask for, you can't buy, and you can't give back. By offering my experience, strength, and hope to someone else struggling with addiction, I am able to serve the Divine in another person. The more I share with others, the more joy and freedom I am blessed with. When I found Anusara Yoga in 2003, I was delighted to discover that it's emphasis on cultivating, celebrating, and honoring community aligned perfectly with my path of recovery. My gratitude for my new life is strongly apparent when I share from my heart about where I was then and where I am now. And maybe, just maybe, I can connect with one other heart and watch their true essence unfold in the light of Grace.

 

 

Leadership Through Service

by Tom Terwilliger

As studio owners and managers, we understand that part of being a leader is knowing the system, following and enforcing the rules, and providing support and guidance for those we manage or supervise. If we're good managers, we think incrementally; recognize that a faltering "cog in the wheel" will affect the system as a whole; and know how important it is to "fix" that one bit to keep the whole system running smoothly. In his popular book, The E Myth Revisited, Michael Gerber refers to this systematizing as "the turnkey revolution or business development process."

Although systematizing is an important part of running a business, there is an inherent risk associated with any "semiautomated system" that deals with and depends on human interaction (a main aspect of any mind-body facility). The risk is the potential loss of the human touch and spirit. If we lose sight of, or fail to recognize, what our primary role as wellness industry leaders should be in a people-oriented business, it may be the very systems we rely on that ultimately limit our success.

We know as business owners and managers that we must always keep one eye on the bottom line or we may not be here tomorrow. But a true visionary uses two eyes for full vision, and our desire and ability to serve others should be the focus of the other eye at all times. Serving others should and must be our primary role. Albert Schweitzer wrote, "One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve."

Service = Leadership = Success
For many of us, it may seem counterintuitive to think that we can lead better by serving those we lead. But let's take a look at the true essence of many traditional leadership roles as examples of that truth. In any war, there are generals and there are soldiers. The generals lead the soldiers, but they serve the people they wish to liberate or save. A great surgeon can certainly be a leader in the medical community by using his skills to serve the needs of his patients. If and when he puts his own needs ahead of those of his patients, he no longer leads. The president of the United States is a perfect example of someone at the highest level of leadership who is also in a constant state of service to the very people he leads. He leads by serving. The truly great Level 5 chief executive officers (CEOs) in history have had a sense of humility and a true desire to serve their stockholders and the companies they were charged with leading. A great yoga or Pilates professional must be perceived as a leader by his or her clients, but the clients must also know that it is their needs the instructor serves. You can only be a leader if there are people willing to follow you. Your clients will loyally follow and stick with you once they trust that you are leading them to a place they want to be.

We should be asking ourselves, "Can I be a truly great community, team or business leader if I leave out the service component and lead with only my own needs or interests in mind?" Or conversely, "Can I ever be fully successful if I do not take a leadership role, and act only as a servant?" It has been my experience that when you can meld leadership and service into a single, cohesive sense of purpose, you are on your way to running a successful career or business.

As Joseph Jaworski, author of Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership, said, "Today's effective leader has an attitude of servitude." The leader who has the wisdom to ask, "How can I serve you?" has an understanding of how we are all connected. Few of us can claim such mastery. What we must have is the desire and ability to model those who do. By emulating those individuals who have the attributes of leadership through service, I have created a successful career. More important, I have had the honor of mentoring numerous young professionals who continue to bring value to the wellness community today.

In his book Good to Great, author Jim Collins writes that the best Level 5 leaders always set up or cultivate their successors for success. Isn't it also our responsibility to the wellness industry to cultivate our successors? Collins quotes one CEO who stated, "I want to look out from my porch someday at one of the truly great companies and be proud to say, 'I was a part of that.'"

In essence, we serve not only our members, employees, company and industry but also the future generations of wellness professionals. By mentoring those we employ and work with and serving their needs for growth and development, we are laying the groundwork for even greater success in the future. Would you be comfortable with no one ever knowing that the roots of that success traced back to you? Let's be honest—most of us want our fair share of recognition. Like proud parents, we see our protégés as our creations. When they succeed, we take pride in it and want everyone to know we helped them get where they are today. There's nothing particularly wrong with that, as long as our motivation for helping them in the first place is sound. Remember the surgeon: "If and when he puts his own needs ahead of those of his patients, he no longer leads."

That is not to say we should never consider our own needs; they are, after all, "needs" as opposed to "wants." We can, however, serve our own needs by serving the needs of others. In fact, some of our most compelling emotional needs—like significance, contribution, growth and even love—are met by serving others.

As a coach, I work with many top executives who, on the surface, seem to have it all, yet lack direction outside their careers. Many struggle with the challenge of not knowing their purpose. For years they have been serving their own needs, wants and desires, and now they find themselves feeling empty or unfulfilled. The first thing I encourage them to do is start contributing, giving back and serving their community. If early on they had framed what they had been doing for the past 10, 20 or 30 years in the context of serving others, that void would not exist. I believe the greatest thing we can do for our community, business and ourselves is serve others in every way possible.

How are you going to feel when you can look out from your porch at one of the greatest industries in the world and observe how it is helping change and save the lives of millions of people? Will you be able to say with pride, "I was a leader in that industry"?

 

Tom Terwilliger is a Denver-based certified neurolinguistics master practitioner, certified hynotherapist, professional success coach, motivational speaker and president of Coaching Leadership Excellence.

http://www.inneridea.com/library/leadership-through-service

NIH Yoga Week

NIH Yoga Week

May 19-23
Bethesda and satellite sites
Thrive Yoga is co-sponsoring the first National Institutes of Health (NIH) Yoga Week, the "Science and Practice of Yoga." from May 19-23! Susan Bowen will join Yogiraj, Alan Finger, John Schumacher, Sat Bir Khalsa, Ph.D, Timothy McCall, MD, Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D, and other local and international speakers for this special week to explore yoga practice for health and consciousness. Some events during this week are open to the public. More information will be posted soon or join the NIH Yoga Week listserv by emailing the event coordinator, Rachel Levine at yogalevine1@yahoo.com.

I Love Anatomy Ezine: Pelvic Floor and Back Pain

Anatomy and Asana:
I love Anatomy Ezine
Principles of anatomy for your yoga practice.
Easy to understand. Simple to apply.

By Susi Hately Aldous, Founder
Functional Synergy and Anatomy and Asana

feeling the flow of body, mind and soul
Sent to a global audience every month.
To leave list or change email address, scroll to bottom

www.functionalsynergy.com

www.anatomyandasana.com

The Pelvic Floor and Back Pain

This isn't the first time I have written about the pelvic floor. For all it supports, stabilizes, accentuates, and encourages, I am deeply grateful for the pelvic floor. A powerful and peaceful place, we must help it remain strong yet open, supple yet firm.

The pelvic floor connects to so much in our bodies. Basically it supports and stabilizes the pelvis, cultivating pelvic stability and happy sacroiliac joints; it assists the hip rotators in supporting the head of the femur in the acetabulum; and it connects with the hip adductors and co-contracts with the transversus abdominis and multifidi to cultivate deep core stability. It works closely with the respiratory diaphragm to facilitate full-body breathing, and when connecting consciously with honed awareness, it has even been connected with the big toes and heels to encourage and cultivate mula bandha.

Each of these connections is vitally important for the health of the back. Knowing how to feel for and then engage the pelvic floor is part of the puzzle in successfully overcoming an episode of back pain. But, wait . . . there is more. . . .

There is also a kinesthetic sense, a sense of spatial awareness, and a depth of vitality that resides in this relatively small diamond shape of myofascia. And it can all be lost if it is held too tightly or too rigidly - as if the sweet nectar is all but squeezed out, leaving frailty, brittleness, and very little fluidity.

Ahh, there is so much magic in this area . . . magic, vitality, ease, power . . . all necessary for a fluid sense of back strength and stability.

Let's look deeper.

When someone has had even one episode of back pain, the transversus abdominis turns off. In order to recuperate, this someone needs to re-teach the transversus abdominis how to fire and engage. Following this logic, in order for the transversus abdominis to re-learn how to work, it must work in unison with the pelvic floor.

Oftentimes when people are re-learning how to engage the transversus abdominis, they pull their navels to the spine, or they flatten the lower back as they pull their bellies in, or they pelvic tuck or tilt in what they think is abdominal engagement. The problem is that these actions can put immense pressure on the bladder, causing increased pressure around the spinal discs (which, if disc issues are present, can create pain) and creating an inadequate environment for pelvic floor engagement. As a result, instead of the pelvic floor being engaged, the hamstrings can become engaged and the gluteal muscles can become overly toned, which can create all sorts of funkiness including hamstring cramping and back spasming.

So what to do?

First: awareness of the pelvic floor is the place to start. Begin by just becoming aware of the pelvic floor. Bring your mind's eye to the muscles and orifices of the pelvic floor between the pubic bone, sitting bones, and coccyx. You may even feel a sense of subtle energy swirling or building as your attention rests here.

Second: breathe. As you breathe, can you feel the pelvic floor movement working with the respiratory diaphragm? Can you feel each orifice? Can you feel the natural spreading and release as you breathe?

For this month, I am going to leave you here. Next month we'll get into other pelvic floor awareness exercises as they relate to the back. In the meantime, continue to cultivate your awareness in this area.

However . . . if right you are keen for more, and you can't wait until next month, you can listen to a recent teleclass - Is Core Training Leading to Injuries? To purchase this recording, visit the Functional Synergy e-store.

Wishing you strength, stillness, support, and suppleness.

Happy exploring,
Susi

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Copyright 2008 Functional Synergy, inc and Anatomy and Asana. All rights reserved. You are free to post these articles on your website so long as you post Anatomy and Asana contact information. I do not sell, rent or share this list of subscribers to anyone. You have trusted me with your email address -- for the sole purpose of sending your "I Love Anatomy", workshop and occasional new service/product updates. This is the only use of your email address I make. To remove your name and email from this list, or to change your email address, please forward an email to iloveanatomy@functionalsynergy.com

__________________________________
Re-establishing the equilibrium in your body,
both mentally and physically, enabling you to
experience the feeling of relaxation, of wellbeing
and to connect to what is important to you.

www.functionalsynergy.com

www.anatomyandasana.com

www.yogaforthedeskjockey.com