Ep 35: Anatomy Matters - Why Every Yoga Teacher Needs to Understand the Human Body

When working with students who are under the care of healthcare professionals, it's imperative that you're diligent about communicating effectively with them and their medical professionals. It should be a goal of yours that the yoga practice complements the student's overall treatment plan, especially if you're working with private clients. 

I have clients with ongoing injuries, clients post-surgery, clients who've been cleared from their physical therapists to return or to try a yoga, and clients who just get injured from time to time. Because this is my area of expertise, I'm able to have in-depth conversations with them, and I always ask if they've been diagnosed & what their recovery plan currently is.

In this episode I'll share with you 10 reasons why it's important for you (as their yoga teacher) to understand anatomy, injuries, and the human body. I can't wait to get into this episode.

Also in this episode I offer an example of how I tweak a common transition - Downward Facing Dog to Lunge - and help make it accessible to various students. I recorded a video that helps to explain the challenges with the transition and how to help students. Click the link and have a watch!

Youtube Link: Step Forward from Downward Facing Dog Variations

Yoga for Injury Management: 8-week Mentorship
https://www.enhanced-body.com/yoga-for-injury-management

Transcript

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When I work with students who are under the care of healthcare professionals, I know that I can communicate effectively with them. And they're medical professionals. And it's important to me. That the yoga practice compliments the students. Overall treatment. Plan. I can't tell you the amount of times that students ask me to help solve their pain or injuries. With all of my private clients, I do the same. I have clients with ongoing injuries, clients, post surgery. Clients who've been cleared from their physical therapists to return or to try a yoga. And clients who just get injured from time to time. And because this is my area of expertise. I'm able to have in-depth conversations with them. Always asking if they've been diagnosed, what their recovery plan currently is. And if they're working with a medical professional at the moment, I want to know what they're currently doing and work with their healthcare professionals. This is one reason why I strongly advocate for yoga teachers to study anatomy and common injuries that students might encounter either on the mat or in their daily lives. This informs your teaching so much, and it also can serve as a guide as to what you teach and what you don't. I can't wait to get into this episode. Welcome to the Essential Conversations for Yoga Teachers podcast with me. I'm Monica Bright, and I've been teaching yoga and running my yoga business for over a decade. This is the podcast for you if you're a yoga teacher, you're looking for support, you love to be in conversation, and you're a lifelong student. In this podcast, I'll share with you My life as a yoga teacher, the lessons I've learned, my process for building my business, and helpful ideas, tools, strategies, and systems I use and you can use so that your business thrives. We'll cover a diverse range of topics that will help you whether you're just starting out or you've got years under your belt and you want to dive deep and set yourself up for success. I'm so glad you're here. Listen, I don't take myself too seriously, so expect to hear some laughs along the way. Now, let's do this together. Welcome back to the podcast. My name is Monica and, I live in Chicago. And if you don't know, summertime in Chicago is literally the best thing. On earth. I just everything about Chicago comes. Alive. So I'm just in a state of pure happiness. Right now. And. I used to want to leave Chicago. Like I didn't envision living here for the rest of my life. And in the past few months, literally just the past few months. I've had a change of heart. And I think it's because. I've done some internal work on myself, which helps me to know that it's not the change of scenery that I need or a change in the place where I live. That I need, but I just needed to, work on some things with me. And now I just have a totally different perspective. On the city of Chicago and I'm just loving it. So wherever you live. I hope you love that place too. And if you get a chance to visit Chicago in the summertime, Police come, you will not regret it. It is. The most amazing. City. Okay. I want to jump straight into this episode. And, talk to you about why anatomy matters, why your knowledge of anatomy. Matters. And understanding anatomy just helps to inform your teaching so much. So you get out of the habit of just trying to create creative sequences for whatever reason, to being more intentional about what it is that you're teaching. So that's what we're going to talk about. Today. As an experienced yoga teacher who specializes in injury prevention, I strongly. I advocate for yoga teachers to study anatomy and common injuries that students might encounter either on the mat or in their daily lives. Understanding the human body at a deeper level is crucial for creating safe, effective. And personalized yoga experiences. Instead of just stressing this point again and again, I prefer to give you eight reasons why. So number one. Injury prevention. Now, let me start by saying you cannot 100% prevent injuries. In people because you have no idea what their complete. Lifestyle habits are. How do they move or what their injury history is or what other activities they're doing outside of the yoga room? When you understand anatomy and physiology, it helps you understand. How the body moves and functions. This understanding is essential for guiding students as they move into poses and how they transition between them. In my years of coaching teachers and mentoring on sequencing. I've seen how in the interest to be more creative and try new transitions or pose variations that creativity doesn't really align with proper movement in the human body. I want to give an example here, because I want to be clear that movement varies a little bit for everyone, but overall, a typical human movement is the same from body to body. So let's take the knee joint, for example. You have flection and extension, obviously. But when the knee joint is flexed, there is a degree of rotation as well. It's small, but there is some movement. Another example, let's talk about the hip joint there's flection extension abduction. Abduction internal and external rotation. The degrees of these movements are different for everyone because our lifestyles injury, history, skeletal, or bone shapes, all of these contribute to how we move or how much we move. Imagine this transition in your mind. So imagine the standing balance pose one legged UNO or one leg at mountain. See yourself asking students to step their left leg back. To a warrior two pose. first you're asking students to step back, which puts that left hip into extension. Then turn and plant the back foot down. So now the left hip is in abduction or away from the midline of the body. But the front hip has rotated. To external rotation, its inflection and external rotation. And the degree of external rotation that a student has in their hip matters, because what will happen is that that front knee will start to sway in, in order to compensate for the lack of available range of motion in the hip required to keep the knee or the hip. Open. This puts some stress on the MCL or the medial collateral ligament, the ligament in the inside of the knee joint. Also, I want to point out that stress is not a bad thing. However, it's the amount of stress that's involved that could lead to injury down the road. So think about how the transitions you teach could have additional effects on the body. Number two. Adapting for individual needs. I recognize that this can be difficult in group yoga spaces. However, there are ways to adapt poses and offer variations. Number one. Think about customized instruction. We know that every student's body is unique with different strengths, weaknesses, and limitations. Here are a few tips that I've used to adapt my sequences so that I can accommodate students with various needs in class. I'll share a movement example and a prop example. For movement, let's use the transition from downward facing dog to a lunge. And I teach this throughout the sequence so that students can decide which transition works best for them. And to encourage strength. control. And intentional movement. Oftentimes the transition is from downward facing dog to three legged dog, and then a step forward to a lunge. But what I see in a lot of students is that they swing their leg forward or use momentum to sweep their foot forward to the top of the mat. There's all kinds of issues that can happen here because of leg length, arm length, the degree of hip control that a student owns or not. I have a YouTube video that explains all of this and how you can use props to help with this transition. I'll link it in the show notes below. So you have a visual, if you want to go check it out. Instead of teaching this transition all the time. I teach other transitions to get to a lunch. The first option. From downward facing dog is to step to the top of the mat in a forward fold. Then step one foot to the back and students are in a lunge. This has proved to be accessible to most, if not all students. Option two is from downward facing dog. Three legged dog, then draw the knee in towards the chest and hold it. I'll often have students hold this for three count. This variation helps students work on hip strength and control. Then I asked them to slowly and intentionally place the foot between their hands. Again, it all depends on body proportions. If a student has long legs, This is still pretty challenging. But my intention here is to build strength. In the hip joint and teach students to be in control of their body parts as they move. They might need to place their foot down and still scooted forward, but it's still a controlled movement. The third option is the step forward from three legged dog. But I typically only teach this after I've already taught the first two options. This way, they've already experienced different ways to get into a lunge. And if they decide that option, number one is the best option for them. Then they're more than welcome to take it throughout class. Okay. The second example is using prompts. I can easily assess students as they come into class. Or if they've shared that they've had an injury. Or during the first 10 to 15 minutes of movement. If I want to incorporate props into the sequence. I know that some students have an aversion to using props for whatever reason, whether it's the cleanliness or if they think that props are for beginners. So I will often teach movements and cue to place the blocks underneath the hands. Instead of saying, if you need blocks, My intention is to level the playing field in class. So everyone has blocks and we're practicing with them whether a student needs them or not. I do this so that I can adapt to the students' needs without highlighting to the entire room that I'm doing, that it also encourages prop usage as well. Now, if a student doesn't want to use or touch blocks because of germs. There's not much I can do about that. And they're free to practice without them. So if you have students with existing injuries and you're a knowledgeable teacher, you can provide modifications or alternative poses that allow them to practice safely. And you can teach the modifications to the entire class. This approach helps you not to single out students, but encourages them to continue their practice without exacerbating their conditions. Number three. By having even a basic understanding of movement, anatomy and injuries, you can enhance your students' trust and competence in you. Students are more likely to trust and respect teachers who demonstrate a strong understanding of anatomy and injury prevention. This trust is essential for creating a supportive learning environment where students feel safe to explore their limits. I teach anatomy based classes and I've facilitated multiple anatomy lectures and yoga teacher trainings. So students know that I am a source for information. It's important for me to say that I don't have all the answers for everything. No one does. However I have, and you can too gotten very skilled at asking questions and drawing information out of students so that I have an idea and you have an idea of what they need and what you can and cannot offer them. It's a lot of conversation back and forth, and sometimes I address their needs in class and other times I don't, it just depends. Number four. An understanding of the human body leads to effective communication with students and their healthcare professionals. When I work with students who are under the care of physical therapists. Chiropractors or other healthcare professionals. I know that I can communicate effectively with these professionals. I want to ensure that the yoga practice compliments the student's overall treatment plan. I can't tell you the amount of times that students have asked me to help solve their pain or injuries. But with all of my private clients, I do the same. I have clients with ongoing injuries, clients, post surgery. Clients who've been cleared from their physical therapist to return or to try yoga. And clients who just get injured from time to time. And because this is my area of expertise. I'm able to have in-depth conversations with them. I'm always asking if they've been diagnosed. What their recovery plan currently is. And if they're working with a medical professional at the moment, I want to know what they're currently doing and work with their healthcare professionals. So I might ask, what exercises are you doing now? Do you feel better or worse when you're doing them or after you've done them? I'll even offer them some information that they can go back to their medical professionals and ask. So I'm trying to increase their communication with their medical professionals and. Help them to ask more informed questions. By doing this, it helps you make more informed decisions about whether a student. Or a private client should attempt a particular pose. or a sequence based on your understanding of their medical history and current physical condition. So you get to choose. If you're going to teach what you planned. At props for support. Modify your teaching. Or cut some things out all together. Number five. I know as yoga teachers, we want students to practice for a lifetime. And when you're well versed on good, healthy nourishing movement and offer that to your students, you helped to promote a long-term. Yoga practice building a sustainable practice should be the goal for students. And as teachers, we have a responsibility to help them understand that. Your knowledge helps you shift towards guiding students into developing a sustainable practice that supports long-term health and wellbeing. As a bonus, you can educate students about body mechanics and the importance of the balance between strength, flexibility, mobility, cardio rest days, and how to avoid common pitfalls that could potentially lead to injury. If you have students recovering from injuries, you know, that yoga can be a powerful tool for rehabilitation. When you're a teacher who understands anatomy, you can elevate your teaching and design practices that support healing. Improve mobility. And strengthen the body in a balanced way. Number six, you get to empower students with knowledge. When you understand anatomy, you're better equipped to educate students about their own bodies. This empowers students to practice more mindfully and make informed choices about their movements, both on and off the mat. When I talked to yoga teachers who want to infuse anatomy into their teaching, but feel overwhelmed or don't know where to start. I suggest that instead of over powering your classes with a ton of anatomy information, just focus on one bit of information and teach that. Like I mentioned earlier in this episode about there being a small degree of rotation when the knee joint is flexed. You can create a class around that bit of information I have in the past. And I loved watching students discover something. In their body. I also teach students about the anatomical aspects of poses and help them develop a deeper awareness of their bodies. This awareness is key for students when they're practicing movement, whether it's yoga or hit classes or running, or even swimming. When they develop a deeper sense of body awareness. It helps to inform them of what's going on in their bodies. And can help them decide whether or not to take a class or to sit it out depending on how they're feeling. On that day. Number seven is to address common misconceptions in yoga and the movement world. When you really get well versed in anatomy, movement and injuries, you can begin to debunk myths and misconceptions. There are so many misconceptions about yoga, such as the belief that deeper stretches are always better. Or that certain poses are necessary to achieve progress. Or whether a student should or shouldn't practice or perform inversions during menstruation. Once you have a solid understanding of anatomy, you can educate students about these myths and promote a healthier and more realistic approach to yoga. The concept of proper alignment in yoga poses is a myth that needs busting. Proper is subjective and what's proper for one student may not be proper for another. Instead teaching students autonomy over their own bodies and what they need to do in a particular pose. To make it right for them is what's most important. Knowing anatomy can help you offer suggestions for students to try out, but the final decision about alignment or pose shape. Should rest on the student's decision. Questioning and observing what feels good for them and what doesn't. As well as playing around with positioning in the body to test it out. It's so important that we teach students this because they believe that we are the experts and we know it all. And while you do know a lot, we can never know what the best positioning. For a student. Should be. You can most certainly provide guidance on various ways to align the body that will enhance the overall experience for your students. And finally number eight. Learning to support students with chronic conditions. These days more and more students come to yoga, seeking relief from chronic pain. Or conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, or osteoporosis. Maybe it's chronic back pain or shoulder pain. That's not new, but has been an issue for many years. When you understand anatomy and how certain movements can either help or exacerbate pain. You're able to offer practices that support these conditions in the best ways. Promoting pain relief. And improving the quality of life of your students. Without anatomical knowledge, you might unknowingly suggest poses, teach sequences, or give assist, and adjustments that could exacerbate or irritate a student's condition. Understanding the specifics of various conditions allows you to avoid these pitfalls and discern whether or not to touch a student. To recap. The reasons why every yoga teacher needs to understand the human body is because it helps you to prevent injuries as much as you can. Adapt your classes for individual needs. Enhance your students' trust and confidence in you. Have clear and effective communication with students and their healthcare professionals, especially if you're working one-on-one with clients with current injuries. Create and encourage the development of a longterm yoga practice for students. Empower your students with knowledge of their own bodies address, common myths and misconceptions in yoga, and finally as best you can to support students with chronic conditions. When you understand the complexities of the human body, it allows you to be mindful of injury prevention, offer tailored, modifications, and guide students in a way that respects their individual needs and limitations. This knowledge builds, trust, promotes long-term student wellbeing and ensures that yoga is a supportive. Healing practice for all. As yoga continues to evolve. So too must the expertise of its teachers by making the study of anatomy and injuries, a cornerstone of responsible and informed. Yoga instruction. I love, uh, talking about anatomy and I want all the teachers of movement to understand how a working knowledge of it. Affects your teaching. I don't think we talk about the importance of anatomy enough. If you feel overwhelmed, just pick up an anatomy book, turn to a page and start. Watch a video series. Talk to your students about their bodies, really watch them move and notice what you see and find trusted teachers and accounts on social media that will teach you. Just keep taking the steps to be more informed. I hope that this episode sparks some deeper thought around why the knowledge of anatomy is so important as a movement educator. I've added a link in the show notes for you to send me a quick text message about your thoughts on this episode or any other. I won't know your phone number. It's just a neat addition to the platform that I use that allows for this new and super easy way for you to communicate with me. Once you click on it, it will take you to your messages. Don't delete the code. That's how your message is going to get to me. And I would love to know your thoughts on this topic or any other. I love diving into these conversations because there are so many important discussions to be had in the teaching world. You know that my goal is for you to love the yoga teaching life and allow it to be fulfilling and rewarding. And sometimes it takes some work and a few conversations to get there. If you loved this episode, let me know. Subscribe to the podcast. So you're always in the know when a new episode drops and share it with another yoga teacher who you think would love to be in on these conversations. Thank you for helping to spread the word about this podcast. And if you've been taking notes in your journal, as you listen to these episodes, I'm so glad. And I'd love to hear about it. Finally, don't forget to join my newsletter. That's just for yoga teachers. I've got some exciting teachings coming soon. So I'll want to tell you all about them. The link is in the show notes below, and I would love for you to join it so we can always stay connected. All right, that's it for now? Bye. Mhm.