Myofascial Yoga: A movement and yoga therapists guide to asana

Beginning at the back of the head, the occipital ridge, take the loop downward on the splenius capitis into the rhomboid and serratus anterior. The rhomboid/serratus complex is strongly connected and it is difficult to separate them, even in dissection (figure 4.1). They work together to hold the shoulder blade (scapula) to the rib cage—sometimes t

Our largest sensory organ is our muscle with the related fascia. The fasciae are an interconnected web, like a school of fish or a flock of birds. When one fish shifts, as in a change of a singular motor unit, the rest follow.

Any work that offers a release to the infrahyoids, scalenes and longus colli/capitis will offer a profound release of the DFL. We literally hang from our heads—imagine a fascial wedding dress that drapes downward. When we adjust how we hang from our heads, the shoulders soften downwards and connect with a smoother line to the sacrum and pelvis. Thi

With a foam roller you are pushing the ITT band into the leg—ouch! To pick up the ITT band, you can grab either side with your hands to give it some space to move again (figure 3.2).

four types of mechanoreceptors in fascia.

Our proverbial six-pack is often associated with a “strong core.” In fact, it is not our core. It plays a wonderful synergistic relationship with our quadriceps, helps us create long back bends if it is not pulled short, as in Wheel pose (figure 2.9). Functionally, it keeps our guts inside which keeps things tidy. Additionally, the rectus abdominis

I cue through starting with Tadasana and have my clients lift their internal arches while rooting through the triad in the feet. Then, begin yin breathing with an inhale up the insides of the legs, drawing the breath up the front of the spine to the top of the head, then exhaling down the SBL.

The knee is a secondary curve in the body because it is held in place by the muscles above and below unlike primary curves which are defined by the bone, such as the ankle. I encourage a soft knee, not hyperextended backward, and not a deep bend.

If you choose a more rigid, locked down pelvic floor, the result is less breath capacity and hypertonicity of the pelvic floor muscles! Nicole Crawford, MS in Biomechanics states that “a Kegel attempts to strengthen the pelvic floor, but it really only continues to pull the sacrum inward promoting even more weakness, and more pelvic floor gripping.