Report on CYTA Spring Workshop Saturday 5th March 2022 with Call
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.
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.
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