Once Upon a Time in a Cadaver Lab
Once upon a time, I went to a cadaver lab. I never imagined I would go to a cadaver lab when I became a yoga teacher! This blog was inspired by a yoga podcast with guest Ann Votaw. Ann discussed her…
Anatomy in the Real World, Part 2: Tips for “Surviving” the Lab
If my last blog post has you considering taking a week or so of your life to spend in a cadaver dissection course with Gil Hedley or another teacher, I encourage you to take the plunge. Since most of us do…
Anatomy in the Real World, Part 1: Reflections from the Lab
Origin and Etymology of anatomy Late Latin anatomia dissection, from Greek anatomē, from anatemnein to dissect, from ana- + temnein to cut First Known Use: 14th century (www.merriam-webster.com) The first time I saw Gil Hedley’s “Fuzz Speech” was at a Yoga…
Delving Deep into the Calf
Many people are aware of their larger, more superficial calf muscles, gastrocnemius and soleus. But what about the smaller, deeper and less known calf muscles? What is their purpose, and what are the symptoms when they aren’t functioning properly? Today I…
Does your Downward Dog Bark?
Do your clients complain they have pain in their hands and wrists while in downward dog, plank, performing a chaturanga and any position where they are bearing weight on their hands with the wrists in extension? We have many muscles in…
Improve Your ‘Punch’ with Slide and Glide
For many years, I practiced planks with little awareness of how to stabilize and support my body for optimal efficiency. Although I felt like my planks were pretty good, it wasn’t until I journeyed through the YTU Level 1 Training that…
Scalenes…NOT a pain in the neck!
The scalenes are a group of 3 muscles (anterior, middle and posterior scalene) that originate from the transverse processes of the cervical spine and insert onto the first and second ribs. Their name comes from the Greek word meaning “uneven” and…
Never Judge a Muscle by its Size – The Small but Strong: Multifidi
I once heard a man say “having means nothing, unless you know how to use it”. While this man was referring to his personal ownership of an Olympic sized pool in his backyard, which he never used because he didn’t know…
Sartorius Muscle Pain: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Find Relief
While it may sound like an astrological star sign, the sartorius is actually the longest muscle in your body and a surprisingly common source of sartorius muscle pain. Stretching from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the medial knee, it’s…
Biggus Dealius: Extensor Hallucis Longus
trans: The Big Deal of the Big Toe Extensor Imagine not being able to lift your big toe. No. Don’t imagine. Stand up right now – we’re going experiential – and attempt to walk across the room without allowing your big…