We worked together on developing the education goals of the workshop of the etiologies of neck and shoulder pain and how the application of various self care and yoga asana within the Pentagon of Wellness
could be presented to a general yoga student population.

I assisted and collaborated with Liz on this topic presentation prior to her workshop at a local yoga studio. We worked together on developing the education goals of the workshop of the etiologies of neck and shoulder pain and how the application of various self care and yoga asana within the Pentagon of Wellness could be presented to a general yoga student population.Liz's clinic screening form was modified for this particular student population. Class issues included; vertigo, post partem injury 17 years ago, chronic postural neck and shoulder work related issues (most popular!), motor vehicle accidents with chronic neck and shoulder pain, body worker overuse issues.
A "Gracious Space” was created by Liz inviting the students in to learn together in public. This was done with a centering practice. Hands were placed in Anjali Mudra and the students were led through a centering practice with directions on how to do a body scan. Quiet chants on the computer were used as background to accompany Liz’s words. Annamaya kosha began our workshop with a presentation of anatomy. A basic spinal anatomy and muscular anatomy presentation was done with the overview of Ahimsa to do “no harm to oneself or others was introduced ” during the class and students were encouraged to only work within their own capabilities.

Students learned healthy ROM vs unhealthy ROM and how to avoid unhealthy cervical extension and flexion. The Upper quarter was presented with an overview of the shoulder complex and all of the joints that make up this unit. Scapulo-humeral rhythm was briefly taught with students being lead through this experiential ROM. Various chronic postural syndromes were discussed and included arthritis, degenerative joint disease, bone spurs, degenerative disc disease, herniations of spinal discs and forward head position. Shoulder dysfunctions as well as forward head position were discussed as “unconscious incompetence”. To heal and move toward balance and the concept of “conscious competence” was presented as a way to move toward self -healing. The concept of manomaya kosha and vijnanamaya kosha. Students were lead through the principles of core stabilization for the upper and lower quarter and techniques to decompress the cervical spine. Shoulder ROM was built on with the concept of “proximal stability yields distal mobility” as well as how posture affects shoulder mobility. Self palpation and body sense of healthy movement was taught taking the student into the physical and kinesthetic realm. Pranamaya Kosha; The energetic body, life force. The 3 diaphragms and the relationships they have to each other was visually explained and then the students began to explore the differences in breath with TATD breath, deep full belly breaths, and 3 part breathing (inhale) with full exhale. Breath/breathing was presented as a self care tool to help manage chronic as well as acute stress.
In asana practice the components of core and proximal stabilization with movement were refined. Students were lead through cat-cow, hunting dog pose, arm spiral, adho mukha svanasa prep, full adho mukha svanasana- to 1 arm, 1 leg versions ,“thread the needle”, “reach and roll “ chaturanga dandasana, sphinx, childs pose, salabhasana, dolphin, ending with gomukasana arm prep, shoulder lock (anjali mudhra behind). All warm ups and pose execution were clearly demonstrated and step by step instructions were given with corrections performed by Liz any myself throughout the class. Savasana was done as a guided relaxation with the sound of the maternal heart beat to connect us all back to the infinite mother; our bliss body or anandamaya kosha.