Myofascial Yoga: A movement and yoga therapists guide to asana

Beginning at the back of the head, the occipital ridge, take the loop downward on the splenius capitis into the rhomboid and serratus anterior. The rhomboid/serratus complex is strongly connected and it is difficult to separate them, even in dissection (figure 4.1). They work together to hold the shoulder blade (scapula) to the rib cage—sometimes t

Any work that offers a release to the infrahyoids, scalenes and longus colli/capitis will offer a profound release of the DFL. We literally hang from our heads—imagine a fascial wedding dress that drapes downward. When we adjust how we hang from our heads, the shoulders soften downwards and connect with a smoother line to the sacrum and pelvis. Thi

The stretch can be increased through the SL by engaging the shoulder blade toward the spine—shortening the rhomboids. For example, in a right twist you draw the scapula toward the spine and may add tucking the chin toward the right breast at 45 degrees, which stretches the left splenius capitis.

connects the hamstrings to the sacrotuberous ligament—which attaches to the lower aspect of the sacrum. The sacrotuberous ligament keeps our tailbone, the sacrum, from popping upward. Starting from the bottom of the feet, continuing up the back of the legs, and on to our tail are the beginnings of the SBL.

Our body is interconnected by day 14 in utero through fascia—mesoderm. We are literally born into our fascial patterns. Every day that we live and inter-relate with our environment, we adapt and take on our fascial patterns. In essence, “how we do what we do is who we become.”

“Fascia is gaining popularity as a term for all the structural connective tissues and the various substances that they produce to hold us together as a being on this planet. It is made mostly of various types of collagen protein, a pliable fiber stronger than steel. These fibers are imbedded in a mucousy colloidal gel - somewhere between silicone a

Deep to the fat is a unitard of tough fascia that really determines our shape. Below this are the various layers that surround and invest the muscles, and form walls between muscles and muscle groups - these are the layers actually called the myofascia. Deep to the muscles are the ligaments and periosteum (the plastic wrap around the bone). The fas

Cueing in forward folds should maintain the fluidity and strength of the back and front body. Folding with a flat rigid back is not anatomically correct. We have the opportunity to invite fluidity of movement and not rigidity. The spine is stabilized by the deep front line (DFL) through the iliacus, psoas major, psoas minor and quadratus lumborum—w

Tibialis posterior is a huge player in stabilizing and sending information from the ankle joint up the core. Stand on the ground, and gently lift up the medial arch and feel the tibialis posterior engaging right behind the tibia bone (top bone of the lower leg). You may feel the peroneals and tibialis anterior trying to join the party.