Report on CYTA Spring Workshop Saturday 5th March 2022 with Callie Glover
21 members and non-members enjoyed a full day of somatics and yoga practice in the newly-refurbished community centre at Rixton -with -Glazebrook. Callie Glover led the workshop entitled: Exploring the Psoas with Yoga and Somatics.
In the morning we were introduced to the anatomy of the psoas muscles with help from her model, Headless Henry. These long and deeply buried muscles run each side of the body from the thoracic vertebrae, through the lumbar vertebrae and pelvis to insert into the inner upper thigh bones. Callie described the role of somatics in helping us to learn to find ease in our yoga practice. We were then led through a somatics practice which aimed to locate and develop awareness of the psoas muscle to release, lengthen and strengthen this muscle, allowing it to hydrate, release tightness and tension, thereby improving posture, breathing and overall ease in movement. We started with simply touching the area of the body in which they are located with our hands. The movements we practised were slow and mindful, requiring the brain to work quite hard. We aimed to release tension from the upper and lower fibres to lengthen, not stretch. Not shortening the muscles can be achieved by a pandiculation movement, like a full stretch on waking up, followed by a complete letting go. We spent time during and between movements to sense the impact of our movements.
After lunch we moved on from the fascinating subject of somatics to applying our learning about the psoas muscle, particularly the support it provides for the legs, by practising our more familiar yoga postures. Although the asanas gradually increased in power we were still encouraged to be as easeful as possible in their execution, harnessing the support of our psoas muscles. The movements were slow and mindful, starting with a standing body scan which some participants felt a little long. Joint warm-ups and simple standing twist movements led onto some psoas lengthening on all 4s : cats and dogward dog, plus an easier version of cat and upward facing dog. A low lunge considered the pull of the energy and earth downwards, balanced by the support of the legs and trunk upwards. Callie introduced us to the kitten pose and a version of sun salutation , with springy kangaroo legs i.e. bent back knee in the lunge. Also useful in practising lengthening of the psoas were the postures lying on one side, with upper arm extended overhead and leg extended at a diagonal behind. A twist lying on each side, palms together and then taking top hand over body opened the chest and when practised with a bent and then straight upper leg also included the full lengthening of the psoas muscles. Guided savasana with yoga nidra concluded the session.
A full day with interesting anatomical information, helping us understand how to apply this to support both our own movements and to help our students practise yoga with more ease. The awareness and practise of somatics within this context was a bonus providing new knowledge for the majority of the attendees.
Thank you very much to Callie for her professional and thorough preparation and delivery of the workshop. Thanks to CYTA for organising the event and also to all the attendees.
Article author: Judith Lynch