Yoga Fundamentals
By: Natalie Weinstein
The yoga fundamentals workshop is ideal for students who are new to seasoned practitioners looking for a little tune-up and focusing on alignment.
Throughout this workshop, students can expect to learn about the importance of alignment and how proper alignment keeps you safe in the pose, allows you to work deeper into the pose, and to feel which muscle groups are working (or stretching!) in a given pose.
By focusing on correct alignment, students can expect to build muscle memory of poses, which they can access in future classes. A foundational yoga pose can be poses that you typically see in the majority of classes and poses built on in more advanced asana. For example, half-moon builds on warrior two, and bird of paradise builds on side angle (or yogi squat, depending on the variation!). This workshop will hone in on these foundational poses, which will give students a strong understanding of proper body alignment and breath in the pose.
The goal is that this workshop’s information will translate to safe, healthy practices in future classes. I will offer lots of modifications to poses. I will also take suggestions/poses that students would like to learn more about at the beginning of the workshop and build those into the class if I haven’t already included them in the plan.
I have always been an extremely detail-oriented yoga instructor and focus on small things because they can make a big difference! Since classes transitioned to online, I have been leading about 15 classes online per week. To give students as much feedback as possible, I will demo a pose, explain the alignment, and then watch as people work into the pose. I will give general cues to access the pose as well as specific corrections as I notice them. I teach an online All Levels Flow class for Yoga Heights on Thursday at 6:30 am--it would be great to see you in class after the workshop, and I'll be sure to reinforce the information covered during the workshop!
Although no props are required, it would be helpful if students have one (or two) blocks, a strap, and a blanket. You can always use dictionaries (or any other sturdy flat object) in place of the blocks and a belt or a resistance band in place of the strap. Students can also have a chair nearby to assist with some balancing poses.
I have a specific set of poses that I plan to cover, but I always welcome participants’ requests!