Tight hamstrings or gluteals anyone?  A Yin practice for the whole of the backside. 

It’s been one year since last offering the Back Line myofasical meridians workshop (part of a series including the Helix Spiral, the Arm Lines and Front Lines). You don’t need to have attended the previous workshops to enjoy this one.

This gentle approach to opening your body, provides a balance to offset the vigorous and more dynamic styles of Vinyasa yoga. The yang approaches are essential to building strength and stamina AND they are well complemented by a more receptive and gentle yin physical practice.

Inspired by the work of Thomas Myers, this Masterclass will offer an intelligent yin sequence focusing on the myofascial meridians of the Back Lines.  This introverted, earthing practice pairs the longest meridian lines, the bladder/kidney channels with one continuous line of integrated posterior myofascia.

Role of the Back Line:

• connect & protect the posterior surface of the body: from toes to knees to brow
• support the body in full upright extension
• common problems include: ankle dorsiflexion, knee hyperextension, hamstring shortness, anterior pelvic shift, sacral nutation, lordosis, sub-occipital limitations, eye-spine movement disconnection

Expect lots of forward folds, lengthening back of the legs (hamstrings) & along the erector spinae.  Leading up to the neck and releasing through the subocciputals, scalp and brow. This will encourage a particularly meditative and introverted practice.

This inward practice gives you a deeper and subtler experience in your body. You can actually feel the change from contractile tissue stretching, to feeling it relax and the tension being taken up by ligaments, fascia and joint capsules.  Though we don’t stretch ligaments, we should stress them gently with the goal of keeping them healthy.  This encourages healing as it brings pressure and increased blood flow to these non-contractile tissues.

Vinyasa (yang) yoga focuses on the contractile elements in the body like muscles and tendons, building strength, endurance and bone density. Yin yoga focuses on non-contractile elements such as fascia, ligaments and joint capsules.

The difference with Yin yoga is that the poses are held longer (min. 3 mins.) and the stretch is subtler.  The practice focuses on deep release of connective tissue and is not aimed at building muscle strength.  It will stimulate blood flow to joint capsules, ligaments and fascia (connective tissue), so increasing general energetic wellbeing and joint health.

WHEN:  Saturday November 10th 2018

TIME:   3.00pm – 5.15pm

COST:   $45 pre-paid ($50 on the day if spots available)

>Purchase Terms:

• Refund less $20 admin fee given up to 1 week prior to the event
• No refund within 1 week of event
• Event may be transferred to another person at no cost

Suitable for all levels. Yin yoga is complementary to your more active practice – no matter what level of flexibility or resistance you may have.  Poses can be modified with the use of props to support all body types and most injuries.

Testimonials

I felt great even though I was sore before I started and tried not to over extend like I normally do, but woke up feeling great.  It was a great class and I enjoyed the whole structure & ambience of the class.  It was easy to follow and very challenging, but enjoyable at the same time.  Thanks for the experience. ~ Kathy

Thank you for a wonderful experience on Saturday. I slept like a baby that night and woke early to see the sunrise. No pain and lots of good energy. I am still feeling great and this is so good as I had a fair share of stress last week and have been able to take the steps necessary without all the commentary that usually accompanies stressful situations. ~ Diana

Woke up at 1am after 3hrs very deep sleep, full of beans so got up and read until 4. Went back to bed and slept like a deaf, blindfolded log until 7:30!  No aches or pains today, feel great, full of energy but calmer. Feel taller and looser all over but especially in the shoulders and feet.  Feel great in fact. Really enjoyed yesterday. Thank you! ~ Anna

Thanks so much Viv, your workshop was great!! I feel taller today. ~ Mim

The concepts of fascial meridian lines can be further explored in Thomas Myer’s Anatomy Trains research website.  Here in particular is an in-depth article on the six myofascial meridian Arm Lines that we’ll be exploring in this workshop.

You may like to watch a 5 min video that explains more about fascia and the importance of stretching and breaking through ‘the fuzz’, listen to Dr Gill Hedley explain in the Fuzz Speech.  We will be de-fuzzing during this workshop!  The concepts of fascial meridian lines can be further explored in Thomas Myer’s Anatomy Trains research website.

In particular is a dissection of the Back Line meridian that we’ll be exploring in this workshop – it’s only 2 mins and a good overview of the fascial train.

About Vivianne Barry

Having completed her initial yin training with Dar Vander Hoop, Vivianne was inspired to learn more and has recently returned from an Advanced Yin training intensive with Duncan Peak and the Power Living team, who focus on anatomy, bio-mechanics, modern meridian theory and how it relates to the yin yoga sequences. 

Vivianne is the founder of Yoga Circle and teaches yoga as a meditation of breath, movement and positive intention, that serves as a template for expanding awareness beyond the mat and into life.  She teaches us to channel energy from around and within, to clear internal energetic pathways and so heal the body while connecting to Self and Universe. Her classes are set with the intention of a transformational mind-body experience from beginning to end.