Somatic Practice: Your Daily Routine for Stiff Upper Back and Neck

Somatic Practice: Your Daily Routine for Stiff Upper Back and Neck

Routine for Upper Back and Neck Tension
Somatic Practice

Your Daily Routine for Stiff Upper Back and Neck

Ever felt like you needed some extra TLC for your upper back, neck, and shoulders? You’re not alone. Come along as I guide you through an enriching somatic session, inspired by Feldenkrais method. 

This is a sublime practice that will not only bring a peaceful awareness to these often cranky areas, but also provide some valuable somatic learning. Healthy human movement is variable, and the most sophisticated movers have the capacity to move globally. This practice will help you to cultivate both for comfortable movement and posture. 

You will need a blanket and a bolster or pillow.

Meet the Traps

Meet the Traps

Release Tight Hip Flexors
Yin & Experiential Anatomy

Meet the Traps

In this practice, we unravel the potential an often overlooked and misunderstood part of our bodies. We’ll delve deep into the anatomy and function of the trapezius muscles, introducing you to a range of exercises that help you understand and experience these muscles in a whole new way. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or a curious beginner, we’re sure you’ll find this exploration fascinating and useful.

In this experiential anatomy approach, I’ll guide you through a series of poses and mobility drills designed to familiarize you with the sensation of your trapezius muscles engaging and releasing. I’ll show you how to actively engage both the lower and upper trapezius muscles and teach you some innovative ways to to experience your shoulder blades, spine and neck. 

All you need is a bolster, a couple of yoga blocks, a blanket, and an open mind.

Calming Pelvic Pain and Tension

Calming Pelvic Pain and Tension

Yin Yoga for Pelvic Pain and Tension
Yin & Somatics Practice

Calming Pelvic Pain and Tension

Ready to revolutionize your relationship with your pelvic floor? This enlightening episode is like a road map to pelvic health, guiding you through gentle practices and their benefits, understanding the intricacies of your pelvic anatomy, and effective ways you can manage pelvic pain. I’ll give you a primer on the the science behind pelvic floor dysfunction and I’ll teach you a breathing technique to restore peace and harmony to this area.

This episode is a treasure trove of insights and practices that can help you cultivate a sense of comfort and safety within your pelvis. So join me, open your mind to new knowledge, and take control of your pelvic health.

Props Needed: Blanket, blocks, bolster optional

Activate to Release Tight Hip Flexors

Activate to Release Tight Hip Flexors

Release Tight Hip Flexors
Yin & Somatics

Yin & Somatics: Activate to Release Tight Hip Flexors

So many of us suffer with hip flexors that feel stiff, tight, sore or even painful. it’s not uncommon for me to encounter clients and students that are even plagued with a reduced range of motion and trouble fully extending the hip.

So it makes sense to just stretch right?

Though it seems plausable that lenghening what feels tight is the best course of action, the hip, the self are far to complicated to reduce this experience to just the state of our biological tissues.

So in this practice we will observe the biopsycosocial-spiritual nature of self. Rather than some stretches for the sensitive area, we will activate to release. In your practice, you will engage in myofascial release techniques, mobility drills and yes, yin yoga poses, to embed a profound sense of safety into the hips as well as a new confidence.

Props needed: Bolster, Blocks, Blanket

Benevolent Awareness for the Neck and Throat

Benevolent Awareness for the Neck and Throat

Yin Yoga for Neck Pain
Yin & Somatics

Benevolent Awareness for the Neck and Throat

Though the front of the neck and throat are only a  very small part of the physical body, they have an oversized role in self hood. This practice is amazing for my listeners with neck pain, but especially valuable for those of us who hold stress in the throat area.

In this gentle practice you will cultivate a benevolent awareness for the front of the neck and throat. My goal is to provide a profound sense of safety for any and all movements of the neck and expressions that come from the throat. You will also find that this class is incredibly soothing. Every time I teach it live, students fall asleep! So I can guarantee that the movements and breathing practices have a powerful effect on your parasympathetic nervous system.

If you have been looking for yoga for neck pain, be sure to save this practice!

Exploring Shoulder Anatomy

Exploring Shoulder Anatomy

Myofascial Release for the Shoulder
Yin & Myofascial Release

Exploring Shoulder Anatomy: A Deep Dive into Yin Yoga and Myofascial Release Techniques

You might think you know the intricacies of your shoulder anatomy, but this practice will take you to a depth of understanding that you’ve never reached before. We’re not just talking about the surface-level stuff; we’re diving right into the complex details of your shoulder anatomy. We’re also discussing how increased blood flow, nervous system benefits, and a temporary effect of increased muscle extensibility are the real benefits of the techniques we explore in this pod practice. In essence, we’re debunking some myofascial release myths while embracing the REAL benefits of these practices.

Anatomy Of The Shoulder – Experientially

We’re breaking down the anatomy of the shoulder, using traditional Yin Yoga postures, self  myofascial release techniques and breathing exercises, all designed to help you release tension gently through embodied awareness. For the the Yin Yoga teachers out there, this practice will amplify your knowledge of the shoulder anatomy in ways that reading a text book never could.

So join me for this pod practice and allow me to guide you on this intriguing exploration of your body’s shoulder anatomy through the lens of Yin Yoga and self-myofascial release techniques.

Props needed: bolster, blocks, blanket