Why Is Yoga Mantra Smaller, Smarter, And Stronger?

Why is yoga mantra smaller, smarter, and stronger?

It doesn't matter what level you're at in yoga; what matters is how much you can feel in going small. Christine Wushke elaborates.

At the moment, my yoga mantra is: Smaller, Smarter, Stronger.

"Fascia loves micro-movements," my close friend recently said.

It is an important message. "I can't do yoga because I'm not that flexible," people regularly tell me as a yoga therapist. When did this activity become linked with such tremendous ranges of motion that the average individual fears entering a studio?

My slogan is intended to eliminate that notion.

Reduce your size.

When you search for 'yoga poses' on Google, you'll find that 90% of the images are of positions captured towards the end of the range of motion. It's no surprise that yoga has been associated with extraordinary flexibility. Is this, however, truly beneficial to us?

Take your hand to the floor and hinge sideways from the pelvis, lengthening the torso as far as you can to reach there, is a common cue for Triangle posture. For most people, this will include pushing their pelvis and hip joints as far as they can go. This movement is not only unneeded for hip mobility and functional movement, but it may also be harmful to some individuals.

Moving your pelvis sideways a few inches will help you free up your hips significantly. The action will also balance strength and flexibility in a more equitable ratio if done slowly, mindfully, and with control.

Make better decisions.

Rather than striving for the whole range of motion, go to the point where you feel a slight strain and then play within that range.

Try doing it with awareness. Do you have command over that limited area? Do you have shaky hands or jerky movements? Examine whether you can make even smaller motions; pay attention to your body's signals, focusing on smoothness and control rather than a certain shape.

Backing up your poses and incorporating slow, steady motions in this way can give your practise additional dimension. By becoming and remaining conscious while you move, you will improve your proprioception and interoception. This will improve your functional strength as well as your mental muscle!

Become more powerful

Bring your hand to a chair if you typically do Triangle posture with it on the floor. Alternatively, go even smaller and see if you can hover your hand in the air while feeling your core engage in that range. Draw your legs together and go for powerful legs instead of wide legs. Instead of aiming for a torso lengthening action, focus on core engagement.

Be aware of each and every muscular contraction. Strengthening does not have to be painful, nor does it have to be excessive. We can gain a lot of functional strength simply by being conscious and moving in modest, deliberate movements.

Less is more when it comes to fascia.

Did you know that the fascial matrix of the body has far more sensory nerve endings than the retina of the eye?

As a result, your connective tissue fascial system is the largest sensory organ in the body, as well as the largest organ overall. Most of us are unaware of how sensitive, delicate, and responsive it is. It is also widely distributed throughout the body.

As a result, when it comes to movement, less is often more from a fascial standpoint, moving "tiny and smooth" for the details. Smaller motions done with mindfulness are like a subtle deep-tissue dance party, similar to savouring a taste on your tongue or closing your eyes to feel the breeze.

These are activities you can perform regardless of your yoga experience. Remember this: It's not about how far you can go… but how much you can feel in going tiny, whether you're a beginner, advanced, or even a teacher.

Tensegrity is a combination of the words "tensile" and "integrity," and it refers to the balancing of tension and compression forces to achieve strength and stability. The body is in balance when tension and compression are in balance, and our energy may be used wisely and efficiently. This should ideally appear to be fluid, controlled, and efficient movement.

The goal is to achieve a balance between these opposing forces (tension and compression) and to take advantage of their many features to allow us to move freely, minimise pain, regulate emotions, and maximise our vitality.

You will learn how to utilise the notion of biotensegrity to alleviate chronic pain, discomfort, and movement limits through a combination of live lectures and experiential practises. We'll also broaden our horizons by looking at how these ideas might help us trust our bodies and build our relationships with others.