This month, David answers a question about body proportions and the vinyasa transition: jump through/jump back. Is it true that your arms are too short to jump through?
Winged Scapula, What Are Those Shoulder Blades Doing?
This month’s question asks about winged scapula. What is winged scapula? When should you be concerned about the shoulder blades winging off the back and how do you create a strong shoulder girdle?
Jump Forward in Sun Salutations: Part 10, A Return to the Beginning
When jumping forward in sun salutations, we are really jumping up and forward. We have to resist gravity with the shoulder girdle and move from our center of gravity to find this movement.
Sun Salutation 9 – Downward Facing Dog – You’ve Arrived!
I hear so many questions about downward facing dog. Where should your feet and hands be? Where should your shoulders be? Explore downward facing dog and find the right patterns for your body.
Bakasana to Handstand: What Muscles are Used to Press Up?
So this month’s question comes from Jessica Payne and she asked a very simple question, well, she asked a complex question, but, it’s very simply written. What are the exact muscles you are engaging to do a crow or crane press to handstand?
Jump Back in Sun Salutations – Part 5
Now that we have established some hand foundation in Part 4 of this sun salutation series, let me say something really obvious. If you don’t pour all of the weight into your hands before you try to jump back, it’s going to be difficult to get your feet off the floor. It will literally make your legs heavier.
The Serratus Anterior Muscle
Serratus anterior is this month’s muscle of the month. As usual, we put it into simple terms. What does the name mean? Where does it attach? What actions does it do? Read on to find out.
Your Shoulders in Downward Facing Dog
I think we can all agree about one thing with regard to the shoulders in downward facing dog. None of us like to have our own or see our students shoulders stuck up in our or their ears. How do we get our shoulders out of our ears? In addition what is the effect of this on our elbows, wrists, and hands? Or is it the other way around? Do our hands, wrists and elbows have an effect on our shoulders?
Yes, you can get injured doing a headstand…
We can often gather information from the name of a posture. Sometimes embrace the quality or energy of the name, like Virabadrasana (Warrior). Sometimes the name is exactly what we should be doing. Shoulderstand comes to mind. It’s not neck stand after all is it?
So, You Wanna Do A handstand…
Doesn’t everyone want to be able to do a handstand in the middle of the room? I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met who do. How many are actually willing to do the work involved in actually making it happen? How many are willing to spend the time to create the patterns in their practice that support making this happen and then do it consistently? I truly believe that it is this part that prevents people from being able to do the handstands they so desire.