In our second week of sidebends we’ll be focusing on creating a stronger connection to the ground in order to deepening and improve our experience of these poses. While we continue to add new techniques to our repertoire, we’ll be focusing on beginner-friendly poses with a few (optional) intermediate variations – this allows us to pay more attention to the technique rather than getting caught up in an overly complicated sequencing. Of course, if you have a more advanced practice, feel free to increase the difficulty level where appropriate.
One of the most important muscles being stretched in a sidebend is the quadratus lumborum or, ‘QL’ for short. Located deep in the back of the waist, it attaches the posterior top of the pelvis to the lower ribs in the back body. For example, when doing Triangle pose with the right leg forward, it is the strength of the left QL contracting to pull the left ribs toward the pelvis that prevents us from collapsing into our right side and allows us to lengthen through both sides of the waist equally.
Let me know in the comments below how you felt after today’s practice and pop any questions you have there too – I’ll answer as many as I can.
QUALIFICATIONS: 500-hour certified yoga teacher trained by ISHTA Yoga & Yogacampus | Accredited by Yoga Alliance & International Yoga Network | Over 250 hours continued professional development with globally recognised teachers | Currently training to be a Feldenkrais practitioner | MA Royal College of Art
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Im glad i got into yoga 🙂 thanks for being precise and clear while giving out explanations 🙂 helps the newcomers
Very enjoyable practice, thank you very much! Ive been struggling with yoga a lot since I’ve been diagnosed with glaucoma (im only 32). I’m not allowed to practice any head stands anymore and the down dog is bad as well because it increases my eye pressure. The down dog is present so much. What are the best substitutes for it? (I’ve been doing the table top so far, but it doesn’t always fit, since it doesn’t stretch my legs)
So nice, really relaxing practice.