Anatomy Further Training Workshop - Spinal Revolution

What do you when you are about to start a class and someone says i have scoliosis. Or you are half way through the class and someones neck pain is aggravated or they feel dizzy. Most movement teachers are not doctors, but we are asked advice on a range of medical conditions and we should have some knowledge of the most common ones so we are aware of what the condition is, and how it will affect every person differently. Any book that says do this asana or exercise for neck pain should not, learn how to read body maps and and give individual modifications to clients both in group and private programming. If you have clients turning up to your sessions, with scoliosis, kyphosis, sternosis, prolapsed disc, sciatica, spondylosis and neck problems this course is for you.

“Absolutely essential for yoga / pilates teachers – so much information in a format that can be used immediately. The group size is excellent, excellent value for money.”  – Yoga Anatomy Course Attendee

With 76% of back surgeries failing more and more people are turning to movement therapies to help alleviate pain. Low back pain is very common. Fortunately, most people find that it only lasts a few days or weeks. The exact cause of low back pain is often difficult to find. Tension, soreness and/or stiffness are common symptoms. Joints, connective tissue and discs may contribute to the symptoms. The thoracic spine is built for rotation, flexion, and extension. It is highly mobile – or, rather, it has the potential for lots of mobility. Because of its mobility, the thoracic spine must be used, must be moved. But it has to be known. If people are unable to visualize and feel the movement of the thoracic spine, or if they’re unable to even grasp the concept of its existence, they’ll just attempt to twist, rotate, flex, and bend with something familiar to them: the lumbar spine. That’s bad news. A movement system that gently works the entire body opening energy pathways through rhythmic, spiraling movements.

“Great course, love the teaching style – great keep putting theory into practice. I really feel I have learnt loads today and looking forward to using it in my own practice.” – Yoga Anatomy Course Attendee

Aims:

Lead a workshop using the chair as a base for support and balance. Direct the group to grasp and maintain bandha connection for back support without restricting diaphragmatic breathing. Challenge the group even further by introducing distal limb movement and directing the group into a smooth rhythmic chain of flowing movements.

“Useful to hear about new developments and learning more about decompression exercises and ways to address clients. Vast knowledge of teacher and was good to have some practical ways to assess and treat certain conditions. Some of the language was quite technical but that’s good that I can research and learn and do reading myself to increase knowledge.”

Specific Objectives:

By the end of the lesson students should/will be able to:

1. Perform flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation of the spine safely in accordance with the student’s range of motion and mobility.
2. Co-ordinate the breath with movement using an inhale to sustain and hold a movement and an exhale to release and glide into the next phase of the movement.
3. Pass the body through coronal, saggital and transverse planes using lumbar / hip flexion and torso/lateral rotation.
4. Use ballistic, passive and active stretches on the hips, as shown by the teacher in the class.
5. Raise awareness of the glut muscles and hip joints, particularly the variation in structure  and ROM in relation to stabilization and core support.
6. Coordinate a limbering sequence in time with the music to raise the heart rate using a cross crawl variation and non-traditional spinal moves.
7. Demonstrate a modified version of various asana/rehab movements as practised in the class from memory.

“Lots of information regarding why people have lower back pain. Struggled a little bit with anatomical terms. Really enjoyed the work on the reformer and the thoracic decompression excerpts. Great ideas to work with ‘real’ clients. Lots of tests to try with clients – good feedback. Learnt that I have a lot of spinal issues myself and need to take time before I do some 1 to 1s with Nisha!” 

This workshop is open to Yoga/Pilates teachers, Movement/Manual therapists, Physios, Chiropractors, Osteopaths and weekend warriors.