A Yin/Yang Fusion Class
for Spinal Mobility and Stability
Spinal biomechanical research has found that there are two keys to safely exercising our joints:
When the joint is bearing a large load, it should be as close to its neutral position as possible and stiffened.
To enhance a joint’s range of motion, it should be unloaded.
The arc of this class, offered by Yoga International and conducted by Bernie Clark, follows this advice. It begins with a yin flow to help mobilize the spine in a safe and effective way: the spine is moved in all six of its possible directions while not bearing any loads. This is followed by a yang flow designed to help create stability: the spine is loaded while in a neutral position and the core muscles are engaged to create stiffness. Repetition of these postures helps to build endurance, and building endurance is more protective for the spine than building strength alone.
Yoga Teachers Masterclass is a series of conversations with 21 full-time yoga teachers where you’ll learn approaches yoga experts are taking to teach classes that keep students coming back, to build strong communities, and to make a great living doing what you love.
In addition to practical teaching tips (around anatomy, how to help students with injuries or chronic pain, and more), you’ll learn actionable business-building strategies to help you develop your community and build a sustainable practice … to do what you love and live a better life whilst giving to others.
A Podcast Interview with Bernie on the Yoga Teacher Resource
Mado Hesselink and Bernie Clark discuss his latest book Your Spine, Your Yoga and how you can use this knowledge of anatomical variation to make your yoga classes more inclusive and supportive of long term optimal health for your students. Highlights include
The most important anatomical concepts that yoga teachers often get wrong
How to know if you should study anatomy as a yoga teacher
The anti-fragility curve and what it means for yoga teachers
Three principles of intelligent strengthening for the spine
Yin is In! Yin Yoga has been with us since the beginning of Hatha Yoga centuries ago. But since the early 19th century, yoga has become more and more yang-like in nature. Everything requires balance: yin completes yang. Yin Yoga is the balancing practice for the more active, muscular yang yogas. There are more and more teachers offering Yin Yoga today, and more workshops and opportunities to learn how to become a Yin Yoga teacher. If diving deeper into the yin-side of life is on your bucket list, there are lots of opportunities for you.
Upcoming Trainings and Retreats with Bernie Clark
7-Day Yin Yoga Teacher Training
February 11th-17th, 2019; April 1st-7th, 2019; May 6th-12th, 2019; June 3rd-9th, 2019; July 22nd-28th, 2019; August 19th-25th, 2019; September 23rd-29th, 2019; November 4th-10th, 2019<.
All of these 50-hour courses will be at the Semperviva Yoga Studios, in Vancouver, Canada. The Yin Yoga Teacher Training Program offered at the Semperviva Yoga College is a unique way to deepen your yoga practice and touch tissues rarely worked in a more active yang style of yoga. For 200 hour certified teachers the credits of the course can be applied towards the 500 hour certification offered by Semperviva, and are eligible for CEUs with Yoga Alliance. (CEUs = Continuing Education Units and are required to maintain your status as a Registered Yoga Teacher).
For more details or to register, check the Semperviva web page or call them at 604-739-2009.
Meditation Revealed With Bernie Clark & Nathalie Keiller February 17th-24th 2019 June 9th-June 16th 2019
This course will examine what meditation is, why we do it (its many benefits, spiritually, psychologically and physically), and how to do it, from a variety of viewpoints: From Eastern Yogic and Buddhist views to Western Psychotherapeutic understanding. The course will include personal, one-on-one training in Deep Meditation, as well as group instruction, to give the student an experiential basis for the practice of meditation. Held at the Semperviva Yoga Studios – Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Learn More
If you are having trouble finding a Yin Yoga teacher near you, or if you are traveling to somewhere new, try checking out the updated Directory of Yin Yoga teachers. We have hundreds of teachers registered from all over the world. If you are a teacher and are not in the directory, just send us your information and we’ll be happy to add you.
Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers and Biff Mithoefer are each planning a full load of workshops all over the world. You can check out their schedules at their home web pages:
Many teachers around the world are creating Yin Yoga based workshops and retreats. Some of them are posting these activities on our Forum page. Check it out. There may be one happening near you. (If you are a teacher, feel free to add yours to the page!)
