y o g a a r t p l a y - workshops + events calendar

awakening the fluid spine

...a therapeutic fusion of yoga, pilates + movement.

This juicy series aims to engender a deep interest in and respect for the spine and pelvis, as well as initiating an intimate acquaintance with the psoas (hip flexors),
so that we may approach Yoga and life with structural integrity. In particular, our aim is to hydrate the spine and to unglue the tightness in spinal muscles, tendons and ligaments by waking up areas that have become less mobile.

Your spine is your “backbone” for life. It gives your body structure and support, allowing you to move, bend and express. The spinal column also houses your spinal cord, it holds emotions, processes energy, sends signals to the brain and nourishes the organs. It is the sacred messenger of the body - the conduit for our animating force.

Your pelvis provides the foundational support for the spinal column, acting as a
bridge between the upper and lower body. If blockages, hyper-mobility, or alignment imbalances occur this conduit cannot function optimally. We can lose touch with our vital core and experience back pain, poor posture, digestion disorders, referred joint problems may develop in the knees, hips or shoulders or a myriad of other symptoms including anxiety, insomnia and a lowered immune system. By reconnecting with our deep core and cultivating suppleness and release in the psoas (the major stabilising muscles connecting the spine to the legs through the belly of the pelvis) we can reclaim fluidity in the spine and dissolve a host of ailments, leaving us with renewed physical and spiritual freedom.

Awakening the Fluid Spine investigates the following:

- increasing sensory awareness
- how the sections of the spine (lumbar, thoracic, cervical) are designed to work
- the role of the sacrum + pelvis
- understanding, locating + releasing the psoas
- activating, strengthening + stabilising the core
- working intelligently with hyper-mobility
- decompressing the neck + lower back
- lateral (sideways) movement to free longheld blockages in the spine
- spinal re-conditioning based on healthy breathing + deep relaxation
- making connections between the spine, limbs, joints + organs
- your kinesthetic relationship with gravity + space
- cultivating bouyancy + effortless grace in posture + movement
- neuromuscular re-patterning techniques
- higher allegiances: finding agreement between body + mind
- applying the yamas (restraints) to the body to contain + guide our practice
- restorative yoga + deep relaxation for optimal self-repair

This workshop + course will include applied anatomy + work with partners, as well as discussions, breathing techniques, self assessment + journaling.

For the course, students are encouraged to take notes, + to continue working through home practice. Suitable for anyone with sciatica, scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis, neck + shoulder discomfort, lower back pain, sacroiliac instability + general back pain. As well as anyone who has a curiousity or desire to maintain a healthy physical body/preventative measure. Does not involve dynamic yoga asana.

what to bring

1 wash cloth