workshop

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Core workshop in Chiang Mai

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Core workshop in Chiang Mai

Core strength Workshop! Here’s some pics of the students on our retreat exploring the function of each core muscle. One of the great things about understanding anatomy is that you can understand the purpose of each Asana a little better. The body is amazing at getting the job done. The problem is that we all have some muscles that aren’t doing enough and some muscles that are doing way too much. When we break it down and get really specific we can see clearly which muscles we need to strengthen and which muscles we need to stretch. We can start to undo some of the physical patterns that are leading to imbalances in our body, that might be causing pain, and that could lead to injury. Anatomy literally means to cut the body into pieces, so that by understanding the microcosm we can understand the whole body, the macrocosm a little better.

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First Workshop in Jiaxing

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First Workshop in Jiaxing

Just before Christmas I taught my first workshop in the city of Jiaxing! What a great group of students at YogaWorks! Thank you to Michelle for inviting me to come and teach your students. Thank you to Skye for doing such a great job translating. And thank you to everyone who came to practice with me! We had a deep hip opening workshop and the studio was packed. I loved digging into these practices with you all and helping you find more range of motion at your hip joint. December turned out to be all about the hips! Why do we want to open the hips? To stretch and strengthen the muscles of the upper legs and pelvic region, to protect the knees and the lower back, to increase blood flow to the pelvic region, to connect the upper and lower body, to keep energy flowing smoothly to the lower extremities, to find balance and prevent injuries, to prepare the body to sit for deeper pranayama and meditation practices, and to release tension from the body, which allows us to release tension from the mind. Are your hips tight? In which direction of movement? How is this affecting your body? What are you holding onto? Do you know how to open up, which muscles need to be stretched and which muscles need to get stronger? Do you know the poses that will help you? Do you know how to protect your knees and your lower back? Look forward to seeing you at a future workshop. And hope to see you all again soon in Jiaxing! You did a great job YogaWorks yogis! Very auspicious! I practiced for years in Santa Monica with my teacher @anniecarpentersmartflow at another studio called YogaWorks. Namaste.

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Deep back bending workshop at Sunya Yoga!

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Deep back bending workshop at Sunya Yoga!

Why do we backbend in yoga? To provide nutrients to the spinal discs, to strengthen the back of the leg muscles, buttocks, spinal erectors, and mid back muscles, and to stretch the hip flexors, core muscles and chest, and the shoulders in either flexion or extension.

Sunya Yoga in Shenzhen!

Sunya Yoga in Shenzhen!

My student, KiKi owns the studio Sunya Yoga in Shenzhen! I had so much fun teaching at her studio last weekend. We had a really fun Shiva Power master class on Saturday morning. I led a Deep Back Bending workshop on Sunday morning. Thank you to everyone who came to practice with me. The students were so open hearted and very receptive and I think this had a lot to do with KiKi and the energy she is putting out into the world.

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Great Weekend Intensive at Sun Moon Yoga in Suzhou!

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Great Weekend Intensive at Sun Moon Yoga in Suzhou!

Such a great Weekend Intensive at Sun Moon Yoga in Suzhou this past weekend! This was a really special group of students. I was so impressed with how everyone was so open and receptive. I kept thinking about how when you get really clear about what you are teaching you attract students who are ready for and are seeking exactly what you are offering.

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Handstand Workshop in Beijing!

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Handstand Workshop in Beijing!

We’ve got a Core Strength Workshop coming up this weekend at Space in Shanghai! If you want to be able to do arm balance poses and handstands you need to have a strong core, and this doesn’t just mean the superficial abdominal muscles. Join me this weekend and learn about the function of all the core muscles on the front, back, and sides of the trunk. We touched on a little of this work in the Handstand Workshop. We even did 108 Yogi Bicycles! A very auspicious number! Thank you to everyone who came out to practice and went deep with me in this Handstand Workshop! Hope to see you in class or at a future workshop!

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Backbending Workshop!

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Backbending Workshop!

From our Backbending workshop last week in Shenzhen at Dream Space Yoga!
I love this deep Shoulder stretch and Chest opener. It’s a great partner pose that is a real “feel good” pose for both partners.
I’ve been working a lot on opening my shoulders and my hip flexors to deepen my backbend poses.
If we are really honest with ourselves, the “yoga mirror” shows you everything you need to look at, all of your imbalances, all of your strengths and all of your weaknesses. Do you have the courage to look in the mirror — and are you willing to put the effort into making the necessary changes in your life — both on and off the mat to find balance?
What are you working on right now? What areas of your body need to open up or get stronger? What areas of your life need some attention?

Handstand Workshop

Handstand Workshop

We finished our week at Kula Yoga last night with a Handstand workshop! These Handstanders worked their butts off. Lots of Asana Breakdown, to better understand the work needed to find balance in the middle of the room. Lots of playful exercises to emphasize different muscles in the body and wake up areas that needed waking up. Lots of work on the core and the shoulders.

Handstands are advanced arm balances. They are great warm up poses for advanced students. They build strength in the shoulder stabilizer muscles and the core. They help students build confidence. And they are a lot of fun!

I had fun practicing with all of you last night. Next time I come back we are going to do the plank competition too! Lol.

Head Balance & Shoulderstand.

Head Balance & Shoulderstand.

Head balance and Shoulderstand workshop at Baja Soul Yoga! The end of an incredible 35 hrs of Shiva Yoga training.

The Head Balance and Shoulderstand are unique asanas. They are two of the original Hatha Yoga poses. The goal of these two poses is not to have an affect on the body. They are mudras. A mudra is a position that we put the body in to have an affect on the nervous system, the energetic body. A mudra is sometimes called a seal too. Mudras act on energy the way a mirror acts on light. Energy that is normally moving down and out is turned back in and up.

Weekend 1: Foundation & Form - Alignment Weekend

Weekend 1: Foundation & Form - Alignment Weekend

This weekend will explore breaking down poses into their component parts, examining alignment principles, commonly taught in class, exploring traditional alignment as well as new ways to practice an old pose. Students will learn how to make the connection between similar actions taught in basic foundational postures and more intermediate and advanced postures, giving them the tools to build a strong and healthy practice and to facilitate continued growth.

Call 310.800.8614
mail@garthhewittyoga.com