Adjustments

1. Adjustments

2. 5 kinds of adjustments • Presence: this is the most important one. • Verbal: speak to entire class; may stand next to one student who needs special cue and address everyone--very effective • Model: less is more because it takes students out of themselves • Press points: light touch creates energetic assistance and awareness--very effective

3. Manipulations • hands on. . generally w/students you’ve formed a relationship with • avoid head, neck and sometimes knees; genitals, inner thighs, breasts; use common sense • sync your breath w/that of your student and observe his/her breath, body and facial movements • go in gently, sense their energy field and sync w/this • firm but gentle touch; bone to bone; heel of hand--no fingers • listen to student w/your hands

4. Most Common Manipulations • Child’s pose: from behind, heels of hands on each side of sacrum; press down and back to ground pelvis; may smooth spine w/one hand, moving this from pelvis to shoulders • Down dog: from facing their back, heels of hands on sacrum; use body weight to press pelvis back and down • Supine spinal twist: one hand on pelvis and other on opposite shoulder; press down and away to lengthen the student’s torso

5. Restorative Yoga • http://www.restorativeyogaposes.com/ • benefits: stimulates “rest and digest,” sympathetic nervous system • good for anxiety, depression, ms, elevated blood pressure, insomnia, etc. • spine is supported in strategic places to open tissues and stimulate endocrine glands and immune system • poses are held for a while (3-15 minutes or longer) • similar but not identical to Yin Yoga

6. Supported Back Bends

9. Forward Bends

13. Twist

14. Inversions