Skills for life
Here we'll look into the inner workings of muscles in relation to yoga. We'll explore how muscles function, how they contribute to our balance, and how they safeguard us from injury during our practice.
1
Words are just words, but memorising some can be helpful. Teaching and Communication: Knowing muscle names gives you an extra tool to guide some students effectively. You can provide clear cues on muscle engagement, alignment, and adjustments, creating a safer and more beneficial experience for your students. Injury Prevention: Recognising muscle names helps you recognise potential areas of strain or discomfort. By understanding which muscles are involved in different poses, you can identify warning signs and make adjustments before discomfort turns into injury. Mind-Body Connection: Learning muscle names helps a deeper mind-body connection. As you become aware of specific muscles engaged in each posture, you enhance your proprioception, or your sense of your body's position and movement. This heightened awareness enables you to refine your alignment and enhance the effectiveness of your practice. Effective Engagement: Being familiar with muscle names aids in targeted engagement. You can switch on or off muscles intentionally. This leads to a more efficient use of energy and a greater sense of stability in your practice. Personalised Practice: Understanding muscles allows you to tailor your practice to your unique needs. You can focus on strengthening specific muscle groups that might be weaker or less active in your body, leading to a more balanced and well-rounded practice.
3
Study Working Muscle Groups
4
Asana's effects on Muscles
5
Once you've completed the above, test your comprehension of the theoretical concepts below. This testing phase will help solidify your understanding and application of the knowledge you've acquired.
Label me
I have about 600 muscles, strong!
Muscle Anatomy
Working Muscles :
Self Test
-
What shall I bring to class?Just yourself and anything that supports your practice. We have mats and props available for use. You are always welcome to bring your own. We do not sell bottled water, but your'e welcome to fill up your own at the studio.
-
What shall I wear?Wear simple breathable clothing that does not limit your range of motion. For Strength, Sculpt & Stretch classes; an outfit you'd wear on a jog would work well. For Soothe classes, where there is less/no dynamic movement, wear a few more layers. Barefoot is best, socks for Soothe classes. Shoes will be left at the door.
-
How many people will be in class? Will I get personal attention?Our Cathays studio holds up to 15 students and Birchgrove 8. Our teachers typically offer hands-on assistance during class. We always ask permission prior. Please don't hesitate to ask, if you have any questions or concerns regarding hands-on.
-
What type of class should I attend?There is a class for everyone at Stretchy's. Please see our class styles, above, for descriptions. If you are new to yoga asana, we recommend you nabbing a starter pack for a weeks unlimited pass and giving as many a go - so you can find what you like and are looking for in a class.
-
I have an injury, can I still practice?That depends. What did your Dr/physical therapist/provider say? Many students find yoga to be a helpful resource when working through an injury but it depends on the specifics and severity. Please consult with your Dr/therapist and inform your teacher what is going on so that we can work through any necessary modifications for class. We are here to help, but are not qualified to diagnose. Your physician or intuition are the first lines of defence when working with an injury.
-
Can I book a private or small group session?Of course! Working one-on-one is a great way to delve into the unique needs of your practice with a teacher. Please reach out to schedule in. Rates vary depending on instructor, group size and frequency. For more details on rates see Private Sessions on our Staff Page.
-
What is your cancellation policy?We have a 24 hour cancellation policy on all classes so please be aware of this when booking that your'e not sure your'e going to make. You can cancel or rearrange an up coming class via your Stretchy account page.