Thinking about your spine in every yoga pose helps you understand what it is that you are trying to get out of each yoga pose. Your spine is capable of moving in five different directions: forward (flexion), backward (extension), sideways (lateral flexion), twist (rotation), and slightly upwards (axial extension). Based on these directional movements of the spine, we classify all yoga poses into forward bends, backbends, lateral bends, twists, and axial extension postures. The poses in each group share certain characteristics that help us identify the structural purpose of each particular pose.
This e-book offers an overview of those five groups of poses. It describes which poses belong in which category, what we can hope to get out of them, and how we can make them work for students of different abilities.
Use any sequence in many different ways to help your students and grow your practice. You can use them for yourself, your students, your marketing, or your yoga school.
Examples of recent work with clients by seasoned yoga therapists with suggestions on best strategies
In-depth content on special yogic techniques, teaching yoga to beginners, and working with private yoga clients
Brief educational articles on how to design yoga practices and use yoga to work with body, energy, and mind
Detailed information about individual poses, including body positioning, desired effects, and pose adaptations
