WHAT TO EXPECT
In this class, we share practices that are empowering, grounding and gleeful with you, creating space for you to thrive and flourish. We can begin to see this practice as a vital movement which enables space, community and time to acknowledge your experiences, cultivating a deep awareness of yourself and your body.

Despite approximately 80% of yoga practitioners in the UK being female, contemporary yoga is largely built upon a foundation and understanding of anatomy and alignment for men, by men. This isn’t to say that we should leave behind our dynamic, strength & heat building practices. Instead, perhaps there is the opportunity to explore a complement that is more grounded in experiences of women and woman-aligned, appropriate for all stages and cycles of life.

In general, this is a slower, softer class, which combines meditation, pranayama (breath practices), yoga postures and gentle somatic movement to help you attune to your body, cultivating ease and space.

WHO THIS CLASS IS FOR
This class is for you if you identify as a woman or woman-aligned (this is intended to be language which includes trans women, genderqueer people and femmes), it is fully-accessible if you a pregnant or postpartum, are menstruating or experiencing endometriosis. This class does not include prone (front-lying) or supine (back-lying) positions.

WHAT YOU NEED
A yoga mat (maybe, a carpeted floor is also probably fine!), a strap/belt/scarf, a blanket, a yoga bolster or a large cushion, and a block are all nice to have, plus anything else you like to have for your yoga practise.

HOW MUCH
Single class – £8
5 Class Pass (Community Price) – £35
5 Class Pass (Standard Price) – £40
5 Class Pass (Supporter Price) – £45

WHAT TO EXPECT
Join Harriet for a 60 minute class, dedicated to rest, replenishing and grounding.

You can expect to rest in 3-4 postures each class, beginning with more upright/seated postures to help us unravel our days/bodies/minds, and ease into reclining postures, which a long savasana.

This class spends more time in postures (anywhere from 2-5 or 15-20 minutes) and also offers more silence from the teacher. We provide a playlist if you’d like to have background music playing.

WHO THIS CLASS IS FOR
Suitable for beginners through to experienced practitioners and yoga teachers. Something for everyone with opportunities to tone up or down depending on your mood, energy levels and needs. This class will involve some prone (i.e. front lying) postures, so modifications will be offered if you are pregnant. Feel free to contact us if you have a specific question or concern you’d like to chat through.

WHAT YOU NEED
All the comfy props! We’d recommend:

A yoga mat
2 bolsters (one round and one rectangular is ideal)
Alternative: sofa cushions have a good firmness
2-4 yoga bricks
Alternative: large heavy books
5-6 cotton or wool yoga blankets
Alternative: any thick blanket at home, or large towels
An eye pillow
Alternative: a light scarf to cover the head
A chair (any dining chair works, or foldable metal chair)
Alternative: a sofa, armchair or bed often works well
A yoga strap
Alternative: soft belt or scarf
The more, the better when it comes to props and restorative yoga.

HOW MUCH
Single class – £8
5 Class Pass (Community Price) – £35
5 Class Pass (Standard Price) – £40
5 Class Pass (Supporter Price) – £45

12 May - 9 June 2022
Thursday evenings 18:30-21:30

Overview

Join us for a five-week deep-dive into the anatomy of the upper body. Infused with Nourish’s signature approach of joyful, inclusive and person-centred practice, we’ll explore the anatomy of the spine, shoulders & arms.

Each week we’ll work with a different theme and section of the upper body, slowly building up a picture of the structures and how they move and work together in our asana practice.

Importantly, we will explore how our anatomy can vary and how this can impact our range of motion. It perhaps cannot be overstated enough: no two bodies are the same. This course will help to familiarise you with key anatomical features of the upper body and how this can impact your asana practice.

We will discuss common conditions and injuries, and how these can be accommodated for within our asana practice with pathologizing or propagating common myths and misconceptions.


Course Outline

Welcome, introductions, why anatomy? We’ll begin by considering the lenses and attitudes we bring to anatomy as yoga practitioners. How can we cultivate a welcoming and inclusive approach to anatomy and our bodies?
Sacrum & lower back. We’ll start in the belly of the body, considering the sacrum, sacroiliac joint, and lumbar spine.
Thoracic spine. We’ll recap the abdomen before moving into the thoracic spine and ribcage.
Neck. We’ll consider the structures of the neck and cervical spine/
Shoulders & arms: Lastly we come to the shoulders, arms & hands.

Each session includes a 75 minute asana practice, combined with lecture, discussion, and work in pairs/small groups. We’ll explore the musculoskeletal system, connective tissues and movement within asana practice. If you are taking this course as part of Nourish’s 300 hour program, you will be asked to submit a small piece of written work in order to receive your certificate.


Who is this course for?
This course is suitable for anyone interested in deepening their knowledge and understanding of the anatomy and movement of the upper body. We welcome interested students, teacher trainees, and yoga teachers.

This module is offered as part of Nourish’s 300 hour teacher training, but can be taken by any teacher wishing to improve their skills in this area as Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The module will run as five weekly sessions of three hours, and combine theory, practice and skills development.

Nourish Yoga Training's 300 hour Advanced Teacher Training is registered with Yoga Alliance (International), and is completed as a series of standalone modules which can be taken over 3 years. There are limited spaces available. If you are taking this course as CPD or part of our 300 hours, you are able to miss one session and a recorded session can be provided for the missed module only at no further cost.


Course Materials
You will be provided with notes and reading materials for each session.


Pricing
We believe in the importance and value of this training, and would like to offer a scaled pricing system, which enables attendees to pay which tier feels most appropriate for them. Please note there are NO further discounts available (i.e. no student discounts, etc).

CPD Community Price £169
CPD Standard Price £199
CPD Supporter Price £229