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!

Befriending the Hip: A Holistic Approach to Hip Tension

Befriending the Hip: A Holistic Approach to Hip Tension

Yin Yoga for Tight Hips
Yin &Pranayama

Befriending the Hip: A Holistic Approach to Hip Tension

Ever felt frustrated with persistent hip tension that just won’t go away? Ever wondered if there’s a simpler, more holistic way to relieve that discomfort? Today, we’re using the healing power of awareness in movement: Yin Yoga, to bring radical acceptance and relief to our bodies.  I’ll equip you with practical strategies to maximize your relaxation and release built-up tension not just for today, but more and more over time.

Radical Acceptance is a Catalyst for Lasting Relief

As you practice the postures, we’ll be using a simple breathing protocol to soothe and befriend your hips. By the end of our practice together, you’ll have developed a more comprehensive understanding of your hip tension and some strategies to overcome it.

Props needed: bolster, blocks, blanket

Harnessing the Power of the Five Elements in Your Practice and in Your Life

Harnessing the Power of the Five Elements in Your Practice and in Your Life

Dr Melissa West
An Interview with Dr Melissa West

Harnessing the Power of the Five Elements in Your Practice and in Your Life

Join us as we unravel the intriguing five element theory with Dr. Melissa West, a pioneer of Yoga on YouTube since 2009. Learn how to apply this theory to your everyday life and to your Yin Yoga practice. This podcast will provide some great insights for you on how we might live more in harmony with the seasons and throughout each stage of life.

 

As our enlightening dialogue progresses, we navigate through the fascinating complexities of the fire element season and its unique divergence from Ayurveda. Armed with Dr. West’s insightful knowledge, we’ll shed light on how these elemental associations can enhance not just our Yoga practice, but our overall well-being. But it doesn’t stop there! We also dive into the practicalities of the five element theory, discussing how it can inform our personality traits and elemental constitutions.

Wrapping up our conversation, we steer towards Eastern philosophies and the ultimate pursuit of balance. We’ll hear from Melissa on how the energies of the elements shift throughout the day and throughout our lives, and why it’s crucial to embrace these changes. And for all you budding Yoga teachers out there, we cap things off with some invaluable tips on teaching yin authentically. So, ready for a transformative journey guided by the wisdom of Dr. Melissa West? Tune in and let’s explore the power of the five element theory together!

Yin & Somatics: Lasting Relief for Hip and Groin Tension

Yin & Somatics: Lasting Relief for Hip and Groin Tension

Yin Yoga Podcast
Yin & Somatics

Lasting Relief for Hip and Groin Tension

Ever wondered why tension seems to build up in certain areas of your body, like the front of your pelvis and groins? This episode of the Yin Yoga Pod-practice aims to provide answers to this question while helping you find a solution through mindful movement. education and of course, stretching. We unravel the profound connection between your daily habits, lifestyle, and the discomfort you feel in these areas, developing a comprehensive understanding of these correlations. 

Befriending tension

The goal here isn’t just to stretch these sensitive areas, it’s to help you understand the gripping and holding patterns in your body, and how to befriend them. We also delve into the emotional states that contribute to tension in the front pelvis and groin providing insights into how you might use these techniques to overcome this pain long term.

Props needed: bolster, block(s), blanket

Thoracic Nerve Flossing

Thoracic Nerve Flossing

Yin Yoga Podcast
Yin & Somatics

Thoracic Nerve Flossing

Yoga is a bit preoccupied with muscles, Yin perhaps a bit too preoccupied with joints and connective tissues. But there is another element to healthy movement that is being influenced in our practice, in all of our movement really… that’s the nerves. 

This practice puts the other tissues in a supporting role in favor of mobilizing, and gaining awareness of our nerves. Especially the ones that exit the thoracic region of the spine. We will use somatic and a bolster to gently mobilize the nerves and soften the experience of the spine. 

This is a wonderful practice to return to if you frequently have a stiff or painful upper back. 

Props needed: bolster, block(s), blanket