EXPLORATIONS OF THE FASCIAL BODY WITH LUCY CRAWFORD 7 - 8 September 2024
Lucy was a direct student of Shri K Pattabhi Jois from 1993 onwards and remained his student until he passed away in May 2009.
She has since developed an attentive and detailed approach to exploring the practice of Yoga - with respect to the differing needs of each individual, with the premise that the practice should be tailored and modified to suit each and their unique postural patterning. Her teaching is informed by an understanding of anatomy and function, and is explorative in essence, and respectful to the tissues of the body, without demand for unrealistic flexibility.
Lucy believes that we all need freedom to explore, and her study of fascial bodywork and Craniosacral Therapy over the last 3 decades inform this attentive presence to the body-mind, developing inner attention and curiosity. The bodies language is sensation and we need to “listen in” whilst exploring our movement possibilities.
This workshop will be a series of led classes, exploring Asana and particular movements required in the joints in various Yoga Asana. ‘Asana’ simply means posture, so finding the even and balanced posture in each Asana form. The practice of Asana, (postures) involves all the major joints in the body, keeping them healthy in movement, and strong in stillness.
Over stretching can cause the core muscles, (iIliopsoas) to tighten, in the body’s intelligent plight to stabilise. We will orient to the joints with curiosity, using some Muscle Energy techniques to lengthen shortened muscles, without stress to the tendons and ligaments. The Workshop will then orient to the fascial meridians/lines developed by Tom Myers, to explore how the various Asana, take up these lines of action and tensegrity through the body, making shapes with our bodies to engage the specific lines. Practicing Asana in this way brings balanced form, with great attention to body listening.
Saturday 7 September 2024 - Led Class - 10.00 - 12.30
An introduction to Asana in a flowing form, with attention to gentle and focused breathing.
In this class we will warm up the body with flexion and extension patterns, our original patterns of movement from our earliest years. From here we will move to standing and explore our legs in relationship to gravity and the ground, from the feet up. The Asana act as a vehicle for our curiosity, with an orientation to space in the joints - reaching out away from the core/midline. We will explore balancing in motion and in stillness, observing patterns of compensation, and engaging correct muscles to support. Moving to the floor, the seated Asana will give us a new sense of foundation with direct connection to the pelvis. Using various Asana to explore the connection of the pelvis to the spine and ribcage, neck and head.
Saturday 7 September 2024 - Led Class 13.30 - 16.00
Using some of the fascial meridians/lines developed by Tom Myers, we will Explore how various Asana take up these lines of action and tensegrity through the body. This will be an explorative class, making shapes with our bodies to engage the specific lines. We will explore the Superficial Back line, the deep front line, and the lateral line in Asana.
Sunday 8 September 2024 - Led Class 10.00 - 12.30
A flowing class, with attention to the breath. A brief encounter with the diaphragm orienting to softening and relaxing before we begin. An orientation to breath, diaphragmatic breathing vs upper chest breathing and the relationship to sympathetic and parasympathetic states. Using a gentle breath, we will explore how the way we breathe, can help the fascia to soften and release. This Led session will move through a series of Asana in Pose/Counterpose, incorporating Muscle Energy Techniques to bring joints into a new state of balanced tension.
Sunday 9 September 2024 Led Class 13.30 - 16.00
Using some of the fascial meridians/lines developed by Tom Myers, we will Explore how various Asana take up these lines of action and tensegrity through the body. This will be an explorative class, making shapes with our bodies to engage the specific lines. We will explore the spiral line in Asana twists, and the arm lines, exploring the shoulder girdle and various movements in the upper body to assist binding and shoulder freedom. A much needed antidote for the demands placed on our necks and shoulders.
Investment - £160 whole weekend, £80 one day, £45 individual class
Sequencing to Padmasana
The iconic image of a yogi sitting in Padmasana or Lotus pose often appears unobtainable for many of us. Even when we manage to get into it, there is often room for improvement. So if you have a longing for Lotus, or you wish to do more with it, this mini workshop is for you. We will use flowing, hip opening sequences to work the fascia of all the muscles of the hip joint so that your happy hips will lead to a perfect Padmasana! £15 book via website or message.
Yin & Flow Pop Up Yoga Class
Stretch your way into Christmas with this pop up 2 hour class suitable for all levels. We will start with a series of longer held yin poses to open the hips and release the spine and then enter a standing and seated flow practice. There will be plenty of time for a long, calming yoga nidra relaxation at the end. Price £10 message/email to book or go to booking page
YOGA WITH RESISTANCE BANDS
Add an extra element of strength training into your asana practice in this workshop. Resistance bands allow you to feel more accurately what is happening in the body. Using them in your yoga practice assists joint stability and facilitates the mind body connection by increasing proprioception - the ability to perceive where your body is in space. Open to all levels, bands provided. Investment £25
SQUEEZE YOUR ASANA
Building glute strength improves posture, relieves lower back pain, and stabilises the hip and knee joints. We use the gluteal muscles for getting up out of a chair, lifting, carrying, climbing stairs and for propulsion.
They are the central hinge on the body to lift the entire body weight in arm balancing.
Weak glutes are a result of not using them. Most daily activities avoid using the glutes, so they become underdeveloped. All that sitting leads to weakness and other muscles take up the slack such as your lower back or hamstrings. That’s when these areas shorten and pain arises in the lower back, hip joints, and knees.
In this workshop we will use a variety of poses and yoga techniques to revitalise and strengthen the glutes. Investment for your butt £2
Investment £25
YOGA TUNE UP - The Core & The Breath
Yoga tune up for summer! Core strengthening and opening practices will be explored in this workshop, together with the use of breath and bandha. We will awaken the core with dynamic postures in the first half of the workshop and then move into stillness with seated pranayama and yoga nidra.
Investment £20
Twists and Core energy
Energise your yoga practice for Spring with active and passive twists in standing, sitting and supine poses. These yoga asanas will strengthen and stimulate the core yet work with keeping it supple and free of tension. We will conclude with a well deserved guided yoga nidra.
Investment £20
Yoga and the Art of Letting Go
Yoga gives us the space to slow down ad stay with our experiences rather than always rushing and stressing. In the practice there is an encouragement of softness and an emphasis on relaxing muscular tissue. Through this stillness, we can become aware of the various sensations withing the body and the fluctuations of the mind, emotions and breath. This brings a sense of harmony and peace, so there is a greater ease, a deeper sense of balance, feelings of calmness and acceptance. this workshop is open to all levels of experience and we will explore, via yoga poses, breathwork and meditation, our inner landscape with qualities of self-reflection acceptance and balance. Please bring a blanket, cushion and yoga mat if possible and wear layers. Investment £15.
PRANAYAMA INTENSIVE
Yoga breathing exercises are collectively known as pranayama and are recognised as an essential element of traditional practice. Breathwork and pranayam focuses on using the breath as a tool for improving mental and physical health. This 6 week intensive will include a variety of pranayama, asana, meditation and breathwork practices and will include an e.book with more detail about this beautiful, beneficial practice. Suitable for all levels including complete beginners. £35
STANDING STRONG
Standing poses are the foundation for a yoga practice, giving the body strength and stability. But everybody is different and at varying stages in their practice or having to adapt to an injury. In this online 2 hour online workshop we will explore, modifying and adapting a variety of standing yoga poses and how this may benefit your body and practice. The workshop will conclude with breathwork and a yoga nidra meditation. £7 book below.