`Working with What You’ve Got`
The sort of workshops Stu offers come under the title of “Working with What You’ve Got” and are arranged relating to the major joints of the body (Ankles, Hips, Shoulders/Wrists and Spine) and associated posture groups (Forward Folds, Hip rotations, Backbends, Shoulders, Twists and Binding). The workshops introduce anatomical concepts in an accessible and fun way and are very practically based with the intention of allowing students to discover those muscles and areas of the body that are restricting them and demonstrating ways that they can work on those areas with more specificity.

Workshop Program

Saturday, 6th April

10:00-12:30 HIP JOINT AND RELATED POSTURES: Looks at the construction of the hip joint and how individuals may differ, the muscles around the joint and how they will influence movements in certain directions. So many yoga postures involve a certain degree of freedom in the hips and sometimes it can be hard to determine what is stopping us reaching our desired position. Practical exploration of groups of postures under the headings of forward folding, hip rotations and hip ab/adductions will allow students to discover where they need to focus their attention and how to effectively work on increasing the ranges of motion. Postures commonly used for exploration include, Baddha Konasana (Butterfly), Upavishta Konasana (wide legged forward fold), Squatting, Paschimottanasana (seated forward fold), Firelog and Virasana variations (Heros pose). We will also consider how many postures may fall unbeknown into the category of forward folding and explain what will be the likely expression of restriction.

14:30-17:30 WS SPINE, SI JOINT, BACKBENDING & TWISTS: It is not uncommon for students to feel a degree of discomfort when performing backbends or when embarking on taking on some of the more challenging foot behind head postures. By understanding the construction of the spine and the surrounding muscles it becomes evident as to the types of movements that it is designed to perform in certain areas as well as the potential mechanism of injury. We clarify the common spinal injuries such as herniated and bulging discs as well as discuss the possible causes of SI Joint pain. The groups of postures discussed and explored practically are backbends and twists, and the importance of the integration of movements at other major joints of hips and shoulders will be demonstrated. We will endeavour to during the course of the workshop to allow students to determine where their own restrictions are and how to work with them. For those students that feel they are already too mobile we will look at how to build strength and stability.

Sunday, 7th April

11:00-13:30 PERSONAL TRAINING SKILLS FOR YOGA TEACHERS

Using yoga anatomy to enhance the quality and effectiveness of personal yoga programs.

This workshop is designed to provide the skills necessary for teachers to be able to tailor yoga programs to the needs of their personal clients. We are not talking Yoga Therapy but instead the ability to assess and determine how best to progress your student in the direction they desire or require.

It is clearly evident that we are not all made the same and along with that comes differences in strength, flexibility, endurance, psychology and much more. To raise the quality of your teaching and deliver the best programs for your students you need to be able to make informed decisions about where they are now and what is required to take them to the next level.

By providing specific skills in the following key areas this workshop aims to assist you in becoming a more professional and effective teacher:

• Foundation in evaluating asana (postures)
• Basics in body reading
• Determining strength and restrictions in clients
• Progressions and working with restrictions
• Practical implementation of concepts
• Guidelines on beneficial sequencing and program requirements

Stuart has been teaching yoga related anatomy for the last 7 years both on teacher trainings and international workshops. He has been practicing yoga for 15 years, has a BSc Hons in Health Studies and for the last 10 years has been offering Therapeutic Bodywork exclusively for yoga practitioners.

The underlying philosophy that guides what he shares is that knowledge is of no value unless we can understand how to use it and have use for it. With this in mind the workshops he offers focus on: what makes us individual, how can we understand our limitations and restrictions and how can we avoid injury and create balance.

Stuart endeavours to bring as much fun and practical experimentation into every workshop and emphasises the importance of getting to grips with the concepts rather that getting bogged down in the detail.