with Renee Downing, E-RYT 500, YACEP

This is a series of workshops designed to give you a better understanding of the poses and sequences offered in asana (asana means pose) classes. Poses will be broken down to understand musculoskeletal anatomy – which muscles should be contracting and which should be lengthening, which joints should be involved and which should not, which direction body parts should be moving or not moving and why, and so on. You will also learn about the benefits and contraindications for each pose, and modifications will be given for individual needs. Plus, you will be able to apply the knowledge you obtain to many other similar poses not covered in the workshop.

In this particular workshop we will focus on standing poses in which the hips are "squared to the front of the mat" (examples include Lunge, Lizard, Warrior 3, Pyramid, Warrior 1, Chair) Learn benefits, contraindications and modifications for the poses and what not to do in them. We will conclude with "counter poses" to release the muscles that will be used the most in this workshop.

Each 2 hour workshop will include warm up, discussion, practice and Q&A. Participants will be emailed handouts to use during the workshops. You can choose to print them or be eco-friendly and view them on your electronic devices.

A regular practice is recommended for this series of workshops however it is not required for most of them, with the exception of Arm Balances and Inversions. Students will be expected to have a general understanding of sun salutations as they will be used to warm up. Come dressed to move and bring pen and paper if you like to take notes.

Yoga teachers: This workshop counts as 2 contact hours with the Yoga Alliance. Please check the flyer for each individual workshop for the YACEP designation as many of these workshops will count as contact hours.