Volume #104 – January 19, 2024

Symmetry and Asymmetry in Yoga

Symmetry is often sought by yoga teachers and students. Many teachers demand their students exhibit the same range of motion in a pose on both sides of the body, and if a student is unable to go as far on one side, then the other side is deliberately held back from expressing its range of motion until the first side can catch up. This makes symmetry into dogma: an ideal that can never be reached in all cases. Frankly the dogma of symmetry is not functional. Are you slavishly devoted to symmetry at all costs, or are you open to a more nuanced, functional approach?

                                                                                               Read the rest of this article

Adam Keen Podcast with Bernie Clark

Joints and Injuries in yoga

Bernie and Adam look at the anatomy of the knee joint and the role of ligaments in preventing excessive movement. Bernie shares his personal experience with knee injuries and the different approaches to healing, including surgery and non-surgical methods. The topics include symmetry vs. balance, hip structure and range of motion, hip pain and lotus position, hip issues and solutions, understanding pain and discomfort, the impact on personal practice, carrying angles and individual differences, and recognizing pain vs. discomfort.

                                                                                                      To listen to the podcast

Functional Anatomy – Advanced Study
In-person, July 8-12, 2024 in Vancouver, Canada
With Bernie Clark

This is only the second time that Bernie is offering a second-level training which goes beyond the basic information about anatomy and physiology offered in his Yin Yoga Teacher Trainings.

The focus will be on how the body moves and, more importantly, what limits movement, when these limits can be extended and when they should be accepted. This understanding is important not only for yoga students and teachers but anyone who helps people move functionally. The term “functional” is used to contrast this approach to instructions and alignment which focus on “aesthetics,” which is a pre-conceived notion of how people should look rather than what actually works for them.

To learn more and to register