Open Hips, Neutral Spine

Beginner II
(41 Reviews)
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In this playful beginners class, Ron helps you discover and maintain your spine’s neutral position while exploring some basic postures including table, downward-facing dog, and a reclining hip-opening sequence.

Equipment

  • Strap
  • Bolster

Focus

  • Hips
  • Twists
  • Spine
  • Flexibility
  • Legs and Feet

Style

  • Hatha Yoga
ADavis1984
June 19, 2021
Comment:

Thank you Ron. I've really been struggling with posture and how to maintain integrity in poses but also reach my edge. This was a wonderful instruction on how to do this. It is finally starting to click for me. Thank you.

Mimdap
January 28, 2021
Comment:

A lovely, lovely class. I'm finding your classes, Ron, helpful for mind and body.

PianoWire
January 3, 2021
Comment:

Some of this class was helpful. However, it gave me the, "I'm not flexible enough for yoga" feeling. The strap pull produced such an intense hamstring stretch, even lifting my leg just 30 degrees off the floor, that I couldn't hold it very long. The extensions and twists to the side were completely inaccessible. I've been working on hamstring flexibility several times a week for more than two years, but I'm still a very long way from being able to tolerate the strap pulls. Is there a version of this class for people who are less flexible, or should I just skip over the strap segment?

Comment Replies

Ron Stewart
January 3, 2021
Comment:

Hi PianoWire
Hmm, with your leg 30 degrees off the floor, can you refrain from "pulling" and start by letting the leg be supported by the strap? Find a place where the muscles relax. Back off from the "intense Hamstring stretch" and let it be a stretch that you feel nourished by. Extensions and twists to the side you can bend the knee, making the stretch more manageable, the extension becomes more of a reclining cobblers pose and the twist is the classic bent knee crossing the body. You are not focusing on the hamstring aspect of these postures but you are getting a healthy hip opener and a good 'ol twist!
Hope this is helpful.
Ron

Comment Replies

PianoWire
January 4, 2021
Comment:

Thanks Ron. The reclining cobblers pose and bent-knee twists work well. But the straight-leg strap pull is problematic. If I could get my leg directly above my hip as you do in the video, it wouldn't take much pull on the strap to hold it there. Because I can't raise my leg very high, the angle of pull on the strap is acute, and anything less than a hard pull won't hold my leg off the floor. The only way I can reduce the intensity of the stretch to a "nourishing" level is to flex my foot and use my ab muscles to lift my leg without using the strap at all. That's a great ab and quad exercise, but I suspect it's not what this class is aiming for. Would I get the intended benefit if I supported a flexed foot on a sofa arm instead of using the strap?

Comment Replies

Ron Stewart
January 4, 2021
Comment:

Yes, using the sofa or other support for the leg, would be beneficial.
If You "flex my foot and use my ab muscles to lift my leg without using the strap at all." you will be creating more strain in your hip flexors, and no release in your hamstrings.

Cfblossom
December 15, 2020
Comment:

This is an awesome class! I feel so grounded. I saw comments about you talking too much and it may not be a beginner class. I do feel if it were to be the first class I have taken, I would have been overwhelmed. So, I am a RYT, seen lots of training. This really showed me more about how to respect my spine, and all of its beautiful curves! Feel like I'm sitting and walking more loosely acknowledging those spina curves. Feeling so much more in touch and accepting of my body. Thank you!!

Comment Replies

Ron Stewart
December 16, 2020
Comment:

Cfblossom, thank you so much for this feedback and framing of my "talking too much"! I don't think I have considered the measure of a class's difficulty by the amount of verbal cueing. Rather, I tend to measure by the difficulty of the postures and/or sequencing. Your feedback is so valuable to me. When I am "teaching while doing" I tend to just spill the information and ideas as they are experienced in my body, generously (LOL) and yes(!), how overwhelming (crazy making) that could be for some who are new to yoga and embodiment, or who just want a quieter ride. So many ways to make these offerings, so much to learn. Gratitude to you and all those who post their thoughts and experiences here. R

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