I teach Yoga, both from an anatomical standpoint and a philosophical inquiry. My goal is to empower you to practice yoga – and live life – in the way that serves you best.
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Open Hips, Schmopen Hips
Published over 1 year ago • 3 min read
A monthly newsletter that explores all things Yoga – from adjusting your asana to discussing philosophy – and how to make all of it your own.
Happy May!
Hello Reader,
It's official – I'm on maternity leave! My last month of teaching was quite the challenge, between a bronchitis spell and a back spasm. It seems clear that my body is ready to take a break 🤪
While you can't find me on the mat for a few months, I do have a couple of options for practicing with or learning from me while I'm gone. I anticipate continuing these newsletters with anatomy and pose breakdowns (no promises, though), and I have a video library where you can rent a class and practice with me in your home.
Most exciting, though, is a free 2-week philosophy series! Although Untangling the Sutras is currently on hold for my pregnancy, I didn't want to leave you hanging...so this email series can fill the gap while I'm gone.
Read on for more details, and stay tuned – this will be the first place I'll announce when I start teaching again. 👋
In case you haven’t figured it out by now, your body is a unique construction, with plenty of quirks and individual shapes. The ball and socket joint at the hip is an excellent example of just how complex these quirks can become when they are compounded!
The head and neck of an individual’s femur, which interact with the hip socket, have different (personalized) angles, lengths, and rotations (see image, top). In addition, a person’s hip socket can be deep, shallow, or angled in different directions (see image, bottom). These variations define and limit the movement of bones at the hip – before we even account for ligaments, cartilage, or tight muscles! So if you picture a mechanical ball and socket at your hip, with a huge range of motion just waiting to be freed with “more flexibility”...better adjust your expectations.
Pose Breakdown: Baddha Konasana
Thanks to my patient models, Tiffany & Anisha!
Butterfly or Cobbler’s Pose is one of those idealized yoga postures that makes people want to defy the laws of physics. As my husband put it, “I forget that doing yoga doesn’t grant infinite flexibility.” In other words, no matter how loose and limber your hip muscles get, your skeletal anatomy may limit your shape in this pose.
It’s the bad news no one wants to hear: working harder/longer does not guarantee that your knees will ever make it to the earth. (Case in point: I’m 13 years in, and my knees stopped progressing years ago. Meanwhile, my childhood friend’s knees could hit the floor from age 4 until now, and my regular student looks way more ‘open’ than me! 🤷♀️)
Now, I’m not saying don’t monitor your progress or celebrate the advances you make! Just keep in mind the immense complexity of your hip bones, and the reality that (once you’re an adult), your skeleton is unlikely to change shape dramatically.
Philosophy Snippets: Cultivate Peace of Mind with Just 5 Minutes a Day
How can you start defining your personal values so that your life is driven by choice instead of circumstance? One place to start is getting exposure to concepts and viewpoints to contrast against your own – turning over new stones, if you will.
If you want to follow your inner compass but aren't sure where to start calibrating, this new 2-week series is for you.
It's a must subscribe if you: - Want to bring yogic awareness into daily life - Like challenging your automatic perspective(s) - Are actively seeking more peace of mind
Just click below to add your email address, and you'll start getting my brand-new, philosophy-rooted series this week. I've curated thought-provoking content from the Dalai Lama to the band AJR; there's something to learn and chew over every day!
I know – recorded online classes aren't the same! But in case you just can't stand how much you miss me, you do have an option!
My online library has classes ranging from 20-60 minutes, which feature my signature anatomy focus and sparkling personality 😉
(Plus, the 2023 set has some pretty sweet editing magic. I figured out how to zoom the camera and everything!)
Videos are available to rent a week at a time for $10, or unlock unlimited views for $25/month. Every purchase will also help me buy sweet baby stuff! (And food. Growing and birthing a baby is hungry work.)
Senior yoga teacher, anatomy nerd, and amateur philosopher
I teach Yoga, both from an anatomical standpoint and a philosophical inquiry. My goal is to empower you to practice yoga – and live life – in the way that serves you best.
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