The Spine 

Anatomy Study: The 5 parts of the spine, Cervical, Thoracic, Lumber, Sacrum, Coccyx. Power Points and other creative methods of exploration. Embryology of the spine.

Practice:

Assisted Self Practice - Primary and Intermediate Series, and some Led Practice Sessions of sequenced Asana  feeling into the spine and orientation to specific movemnts to support the asana - led by Lucy. 

Hands on:

Exploring the Spinal Vertebrae - the shapes, forms and functions of the 5 segments of the spine; movement possibilities of spinal segments, the spinal muscles in layers, and muscle actions.  Agonists and antagonists, origins, insertions.  Bodywork, hands on Explorations: getting to know whats underneath our hands.  We will work with one another to explore the muscles and fascia of the Spine.  Development of Body listening skills. 

Muscle Energy Techniques For the Erectus Spinae group, QL and hipflexors, Psoas / Iliacus release

Muscle energy techniques for balancing the joints and muscle tissue.  Engaging muscles (contraction) and then using our inbuilt natural stretch reflex, to stretch the same muscle/s to reset muscle spindle length. How to apply this to Asana, forward bending and back bending, (flexion and extension), and side bending rotations.

Asana study & Adjustments:  

(Asana studied on each Module are listed in the Course Manual)

Hands on Adjustments, getting to know the bony handles: Ground / Space - Basic Adjustments. Using the muscles that move the spine itself and the ribcage.  This includes the muscles of the torso, abdominals, lateral obliques, side benders, rotators and neck muscles.  Adjustments to access spinal movement.  Observation of postural patterns affecting the spine (continued).  Working with the muscles to create more spinal integration and spinal fluidity. We will cover basic adjustments and then more refined adjustments to reflect what we observe, in spinal flexion and extension, side-bending and rotation.