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At the center of all movement lies the sacrum, the keystone of the pelvis, which regulates the curve of the spine as well as the ‘openness’ and flexibility of the hips. Much of yoga has focused on the suggested actions of the tailbone — even in describing ‘Mula Bandha’ — but has given little attention to the natural actions of the sacrum. This leaves the ‘tail’ wagging the ‘dog.’ In this session we’ll focus on some simple actions to be…

This session will go more deeply into the details of understanding Sacroiliac, Pelvic and Low Back Pain, in terms of sacral stability and the rhythms of its movement in the sacroiliac joint. This will include an understanding of patterns developed during pregnancy and postpartum — and will include plenty for the guys to contemplate in their own case too! — as well as in postural and movement patterns. The session will include lecture with very practical and illustrated information about…

Typical pain problems — especially the many forms of sciatic pain, as well as psoas-related trouble — will be covered. The challenge of working progressively with tight hamstrings in many classes of poses will be covered, as well as the typical problems arising from hypermobility. The principles covered in this session will pull together many of the ideas from the previous sessions in the form of sequencing strategies for classes, as well as focusing on practical tips for working in…

Building on the foundation of the first day, we’ll explore the role of the fascia in pain problems more deeply in terms of typical ‘fascial distortions’ that arise in daily life as well as being typical of many types of ‘yoga injuries.’ Doug will introduce the Fascial Distortion Model, presented in yoga- and user-friendly terms, relate it to traditional approaches from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and the Marma tradition. And he will relate these ideas in particular to the upper…

‘The Head is the Foundation’ A vital part of understanding problems involving the shoulders and arms rests upon understanding the role of the head as the ‘foundation’ of shoulder health. Traditionally we think of the foundation of the body — in yoga and in our posture in life — in terms of the foundation set by the feet (and how the bones are ‘stacked’ above it). But because the shoulders ‘hang’ from the head in important ways, it’s vital to…