Come join us for this healing yoga class!
When: Saturday, April 10, 2021
Time: 10:00 am -11:30 am (Eastern Time Zone)
Price: $2o.oo
Lower Back Health
This yoga class is designed to help release stored pain, anxiety, stress, or tension you may be experiencing so that vital, healing energy – prana – can move freely through the entire body. When vital energy is flowing freely (not obstructed), you experience positive emotions, revitalized energy, mental clarity, lightness, pain relief, and an overall sense of well-being.
KEY PLAYERS IN LOWER BACK HEALTH: THE PSOAS AND GLUTEUS MUSCLES
This class addresses the psoas and gluteus maximus muscles.
These muscles are key players in maintaining lower back heath. Our yoga practice will help you release tension or tightness in these muscles and activate muscles that may have been “tripped off.” When muscles work and tandem and contract, lengthen, and relax accordingly, the pelvic girdle and lumber vertebrae can return to a state of natural upright alignment relieving back pain.
WHAT IS THE PSOAS MUSCLE? THE GLUTEUS MAXIMUS?
The psoas is one of the strongest muscles in your body. It is the only muscle that connects your spine to your legs, meaning that it literally connects your upper body to your lower body. It is important because it affects you – physically, emotionally and energetically.
The gluteus maximus, the buttock muscles, plays an important role in the balance and stabilization of the pelvis. These very strong muscles are key players in the support of the lower back especially when we walk, run, and bike.
A TIGHT OR IMBALANCED PSOAS AND/OR GLUTEUS MAXIMUS MUSCLES?
A tight psoas and/or gluteus maximus muscle can result in a multitude of problems such as acute or chronic lower back pain, poor posture, pelvic rotation, leg rotation, and sciatica.
The effect of an imbalanced psoas and gluteus maximus muscle on the lower back is direct and profound. It can either pull the lower back into lordosis, a deeper inward curve, or the opposite, pulling the lower back flat. Either way, when the lower back is out of alignment, the rest of the spine and pelvic girdle will be out of alignment.
THE EMOTION FEAR AND THE PSOAS
The psoas is linked to the “fight or flight” mechanism triggering fear. Fear can be a response to a constricted or tight psoas. Fear is an emotion that can “lock” itself into the body resulting in lower back pain, shallow breathing, and emotional tension.
THE EMOTION ANGER AND RAGE IN THE GLUTEUS MAXIMUS
Repressed anger and rage can get trapped in the gluteus maximus muscle if overly tight. Just like fear, anger and rage can “lock” itself into the body resulting in lower back pain and a sense of dissatisfaction.
Stress Plays a Role in Lower Back Pain
In times of stress or hyper-vigilance your body, mind, and emotions can trigger the “fight, flight, or freeze” response associated with the sympathetic nervous system. If stress or trauma becomes chronic the body, mind, and emotions may become imbalanced or weakened and your health may become compromised.
Yoga Interrupts the Pain Cycle
This yoga class “interrupts” this chronic cycle and re-calibrates the body’s natural healing response to “rest and digest” (engaging the parasympathetic nervous system). Pain subsides and energy flows effortlessly restoring the body, mind, and emotions to a balanced state of homeostasis (calm energy).
Scientific research studies in the medical and yoga communities are demonstrating how the practice of yoga, pranayama, and meditation decreases stress and inflammation in the body. When we experience feelings of joy, forgiveness, and gratitude in combination with our yoga practice the body’s overall immune system improves. .
Pranayama: In this yoga class we practice pranayama techniques, such as alternate nostril breathing and diaphragmatic (belly) breathing, to calm the mind, soothe the nervous system, and optimize the body’s natural healing capacity.
Pranayma (breath work) connects us to the lower part of the lungs, at the alveoli where gas exchange occurs. It is at the alveoli level where the oxygen we breathe from the air is transported to the blood and carbon dioxide is eliminated from the blood and up and out of the lungs and into the air. Our breathe is this and more. Our breathe also connects us to prana — vital- life energy — that we breathe in and out all the time.
Try This Fun and Uplifting Pranayama Practice!
Practice this guided Wim Hof breathing technique.
Healing Injury? For those who have a history of injury or trauma and notice that the effects of the minor/major injuries are beginning to interfere with your everyday lives, please note that all of the yoga classes are naturally healing.
ALL ARE WELCOME
Whether you have attended any of my yoga classes in the past or not, you are welcome to attend any or all of these classes.
SKILL LEVEL
Beginner – with at least 6 months of yoga experience
Intermediate
Advanced
PROPS
One yoga mat
Two firm blankets
Two firm bolsters
Two yoga blocks
One yoga belt
Two or three sandbags, if you have
Dharma wheel, if you have one
REGISTRATION BELOW
