core strength Archives

Awakening Solar Plexus Strength

by Trisha Curling | Mar 25, 2026 | Main Page Display

Awakening Solar Plexus Strength

third chakra

AWAKENING SOLAR PLEXUS STRENGTH

Awakening solar plexus strength invites us into the centre of transformation. Matt reminds us that this third chakra, Manipura, is our fire, our willpower, and our ability to take action. It reflects how we see ourselves and how we choose to show up. Many of us avoid this space. We may hold back and underestimate our power or push too hard without reflection. Both are imbalances of the same fire. It is important for us to remember that this work is not only physical. The core becomes a doorway into discipline, self awareness, and change. When we work through both strength and softness, we begin to understand that power is not rigid. It is responsive. The practice asks us to rise to challenge while staying adaptable, allowing us to refine how we act, not just what we do.

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PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY MODERATE VINYASA

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SOLAR PLEXUS IN PLANK

Plank becomes a direct expression of awakening solar plexus strength when we stop avoiding the work. Matt says many of us lift the hips to make the posture easier, but instead we lower the pelvis slightly, tuck the tail, and draw the ribs back. The spine rounds gently, similar to cat pose, activating the deep core rather than relying on the hip flexors. As we lean forward and grip the ground, the upper back broadens and the body becomes more integrated. To balance this effort, we move into Bird Dog, by lifting opposite arm and leg. This creates an opposing pattern where extension meets control. It is not just about holding Plank. It is about understanding how the core stabilizes movement in multiple directions. Strength builds when we explore both contraction and expansion with intention.

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AWAKENING SOLAR PLEXUS STRENGTH: FINDING TWO SIDES OF THE CORE

PLANK DRILL

Matt progresses this work through forearm plank variations. We begin on the knees, pulling the ribs back and keeping the hips low without lifting the pelvis. Once that connection is clear, we straighten the legs while maintaining the same shape. The tailbone stays tucked, the glutes engage, and the core draws inward. The elbows press down as the shoulder blades move apart. Each repetition reinforces awakening solar plexus strength by teaching us how to hold integrity under load. After each effort, we soften and release the abdomen, allowing the opposite action to restore balance. It is important for us to remember that strength is not built through constant tension alone. It develops through the ability to engage fully and then release with awareness.

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BOAT POSE WITH FLEXED SPINE

In boat pose, Matt shifts the familiar shape. Instead of lifting the chest high, we move into a flexed spine, drawing the knees tightly toward the chest. The arms wrap in to support the legs, or we hold the shape without assistance, extending the legs only as far as we can maintain connection. This creates a compact, rounded position where the core works deeply. The image becomes one of drawing inward rather than reaching outward. This contraction is what builds awakening solar plexus strength from within. To balance the intensity, we move into Reverse Tabletop, opening the front body and softening the abdomen. These opposing shapes remind us that strength and openness belong together. The body learns not only how to contract with purpose, but also how to release without losing control.

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BALANCING FIRE WITH AWARENESS

Balancing fire with awareness is what ultimately defines awakening solar plexus strength. Matt reminds us that this chakra represents our right to act, but also our responsibility to reflect on how we use that power. When we practice these core drills, we are not just building strength. We are learning how to navigate between effort and ease, between humility and assertion. The bowing forward of the body reflects humility, while lifting and engaging reflects strength. Together, they create a balanced centre. The solar plexus is not about dominating or shrinking. It is about responding appropriately to what is needed. As we refine these actions in our practice, we begin to carry that clarity into our lives, stepping into our power with intention, steadiness, and awareness.

Take the opportunity to step deeper into the awareness and totality of your practice by registering for Matt’s current online immersion Chakra Vinyasa.

The 200 Hr. Teacher Training: Click Here to See the Next Start Date

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Article by Trish Curling

Video Extracted From: Chakra Vinyasa Immersion

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ONLINE ANATOMY COURSE

Accessible, exciting, and easy to learn
Anatomy and biomechanics for yoga
Appropriate for both teachers and students
Learn joint alignment vs pose alignment
Demystify yoga poses and transitions
Release aches and pains
Learn how to avoid common injuries
Caters to all levels with modifications and props
20 hours Continued Education Credits with Yoga Alliance
20 hours toward Chromatic Yoga Certification and 300 Hour
Lifetime access

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Weightless Inversions

Weightless InversionssirsasanaWEIGHTLESS INVERSIONS Weightless inversions are not about removing effort. They are about redistributing it with awareness. Matt reminds us that when we refine how we place weight through the hands, shoulders, and core, the body begins to...

Opening The Heart Chakra

Opening The Heart ChakrabackbendOPENING THE HEART CHAKRA Opening the heart chakra is not simply about reaching deeper into a backbend. Matt reminds us that this space is rooted in love, balance, and connection, both with ourselves and with others. It reflects how we...

5 Visual Demonstration Techniques for Yoga Teachers

5 Visual Demonstration Techniques for Yoga TeachersYoga TeachersVisual Demonstration This is often confused with “teaching from the mat.” Teaching at the front of the room can be useful at the right time and place, but that is not what we are referring to here. In...

Awakening Solar Plexus Strength

Awakening Solar Plexus Strengththird chakraAWAKENING SOLAR PLEXUS STRENGTH Awakening solar plexus strength invites us into the centre of transformation. Matt reminds us that this third chakra, Manipura, is our fire, our willpower, and our ability to take action. It...

Hip Flexor Stretch Mechanics

Hip Flexor Stretch MechanicsALIGNMENTHIP FLEXOR STRETCH MECHANICS Hip flexor stretch mechanics begins with understanding that stability and length often come from opposing actions. In the first demonstration, Matt cues the back inner thigh to lift upward, which tips...

A Yoga Treatment For The Shoulders

A Yoga Treatment For The ShouldersSTABILITYA YOGA TREATMENT FOR THE SHOULDERS Shoulders tend to speak up when stability is missing. Matt reminds us that building strength isn’t about aesthetics, it’s about support, resilience, and keeping the body working as one...

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Boat Pose

by Trisha Curling | Aug 27, 2025 | Main Page Display

Boat Pose

NAVASANA

BOAT POSE

Our bodies are intelligent and adaptive, often finding ways to compensate when certain muscles are underused. Over time, these patterns can create imbalances, leaving some muscles overdeveloped and others neglected. In yoga, one area often overlooked are the hip flexors. Without targeted activation, we may rely too heavily on surrounding muscle groups, throwing off balance and stability in poses like Boat Pose. Matt reminds us that intentional engagement not only builds strength but also primes the nervous system to recruit these muscles more effectively. By focusing on the hip flexors, we create healthier support around the hip joint and cultivate a more balanced practice overall. In this class, Matt layers simple yet powerful drills designed to awaken this vital muscle group.

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HIP FLEXOR & ADDUCTOR ACTIVATION

Matt begins with a drill designed to fire up the hip flexors and adductors. With the left leg lifted, the right hand presses into the opposite knee, while the knee resists toward the opposite shoulder. This constant pressure ensures activation of the targeted muscles. Meanwhile, the right leg bends and straightens or stays fully extended if accessible for added intensity. After five to seven rounds, fatigue may set in, confirming that the hip flexors are truly at work. This activation builds the foundation for Boat Pose by reinforcing the muscles responsible for keeping the legs lifted and the torso steady.

WATCH THE VIDEO

BOAT POSE: HONE IN ON HIP FLEXOR STRENGTH

HALF BOAT & EXTENSIONS

From here, Matt layers Half Boat Pose with leg extensions. We scoop the tailbone under, connecting the sacrum with the floor while avoiding collapse in the mid-back. He describes shaping the torso like a “bowl” holding water, engaging the abdominals and psoas for stability. The goal is to maintain a rounded spine and lifted torso while extending the legs low, then returning to shins parallel with the floor. Once this foundation is set, Matt adds alternating leg lifts: extending one leg upward toward the face while keeping the other bent, then switching sides. Feet remain flexed, the breath steady, and the spine rounded. These progressions refine the coordination between hip flexors and core, showing us that strength and precision, not momentum are what ultimately carry Boat Pose.

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COMPACT BOAT VARIATION

Finally, Matt introduces a compact Boat Pose, challenging us to rely fully on hip flexor strength. With knees drawn tightly into the chest, we lean back and release the feet, noticing that the legs “stick” to the torso through muscular engagement rather than hand support. Minimal use of the hands for balance prevents overreliance on the arms. From here, shins can extend slightly upward to shoulder height or ankles closer to face height. This compact variation, practiced repeatedly, builds endurance and deepens our awareness of how the hip flexors sustain the posture.

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INTENTIONAL LAYERS

The evolution of Boat Pose isn’t about pushing to extremes, it’s about layering actions with awareness and intention. As always in the Chromatic approach to yoga, each drill Matt offers builds upon the last, creating a system where we can progressively awaken and refine the hip flexors. Over time, this focus leads to greater balance and resilience across the body, lessening reliance on compensation from overused muscles. When we approach Boat Pose with patience and precision, we’re not just strengthening a posture while we’re re-patterning how our bodies move. By honing in on the hip flexors and layering technique step by step, we cultivate strength, integration, and a practice that supports us far beyond the mat.

Learn how to layer drills and techniques with precision in Matt’s upcoming in person Chromatic Global Level 1 – 30 Hour Training .

The 200 Hr. Teacher Training: Click Here to See the Next Start Date

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Article by Trish Curling

Video Extracted From: Hip Mobility Immersion

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ONLINE ANATOMY COURSE

Accessible, exciting, and easy to learn
Anatomy and biomechanics for yoga
Appropriate for both teachers and students
Learn joint alignment vs pose alignment
Demystify yoga poses and transitions
Release aches and pains
Learn how to avoid common injuries
Caters to all levels with modifications and props
20 hours Continued Education Credits with Yoga Alliance
20 hours toward Chromatic Yoga Certification and 300 Hour
Lifetime access

TELL ME MORE!

Continue Learning

Weightless Inversions

Opening The Heart Chakra

5 Visual Demonstration Techniques for Yoga Teachers

Awakening Solar Plexus Strength

Hip Flexor Stretch Mechanics

A Yoga Treatment For The Shoulders

All Videos

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Ignite Your Core

by Trisha Curling | Oct 12, 2023 | Main Page Display

Ignite Your Core

Add These 7 Postures for Strength and Stretching

SPINAL FLEXION

IGNITE YOUR CORE

It’s no secret that you go to your yoga mat for a purpose, whatever that may be on a given day. It’s important, however, to marry that purpose with intention. When it comes to strengthening your core in your asana practice, this is vital. As your center, your core is involved in every movement, but that doesn’t mean you’re maximizing your potential for strength. In many yoga postures, you may be missing opportunities to intentionally move in a way that will truly ignite your core. In today’s video, you’ll see how Matt transforms the execution of 7 yoga poses. You will learn new ways to achieve strength in your core, and you’ll gain the benefit of a target stretch, which in Chromatic yoga can become a secondary focal point to support the desired action on the mat.

CHROMATIC YOGA

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15 Continuing Education hours with Yoga Alliance
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PREPARE WITH “CORE” CAT/COW

Igniting your core in Cat/Cow may not be exactly as you imagine. What Matt says in the video about defaulting to just allowing gravity to take over can be so true. He mentions that when moving into spinal flexion (Cat), you may just be dropping your head and the lower vertebrae, but flexing the entire spine is extremely important. The actions to take here are to pull your chin and throat back and to pull your ribs back, while lengthening the occipital ridge (where your skull meets your neck). By doing this, you’ll really feel the difference in sensation. You’ll get the activation of the core, receiving the benefit of strength while also lengthening the erector spinae muscles. These are also great foundational actions for arm balances and forward folds.

WATCH THE VIDEO

IGNITE YOUR CORE: ADD THESE 7 POSTURES FOR STRENGTH & STRETCH

PROGRESSION AND PATTERNING

In Chromatic yoga, you’re directed toward a specific focal point or action. This not only allows you to practice it repeatedly to integrate it, but eventually, it also transforms the way your body moves altogether. After repatterning Cat/Cow to attain more core engagement, multiple opportunities will unfold in the rest of the practice. Postures like High Lunge and the transitions between postures change when you focus on the physical throughline. In today’s video, you’ll see how the same actions from Cat/Cow are repeated in High Lunge. Coming from Three-Legged Dog towards “knee to chest” requires more strength from your wrists, shoulders, and serratus anterior. So what should you do? Stay focused on the key actions. What’s interesting is that sometimes your body finds more connection on a different plane, so repeatedly exploring these actions is crucial.

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CORE ACTIVATION—TRADITIONAL AND UNEXPECTED

Matt offers a variety of options in standing and seated Dragonfly.

As discussed, the key actions today are to pull your ribs back, pull your chin and throat back, and elongate your neck. In the last 4 postures in the video, Matt demonstrates some traditional and unexpected ways to ignite your core.

Lizard Pose is a hip opener, but bringing your awareness to the key actions is what changes the dynamic.
Forearm Plank may be a more typical posture with regard to strengthening the core, but pay attention to the plantar flexion (pointing) of Matt’s feet in the video—it leads to more emphasis on your trunk.
Gravity can take over in Pyramid Pose, but it’s an opportunity again to engage.
Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Fold) is the final pose in the clip. Although an intense hamstring stretch, it becomes effective as a core strengthener when you stretch your back muscles in spinal flexion.

300 HOUR ONLINE TEACHER TRAINING

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Learn anatomy, biomechanics, asana techniques
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Masterful sequencing and verbal delivery
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THE ULTIMATE GOAL

The ultimate goal is to BE INTENTIONAL. Every posture has multiple benefits, but it’s the focus you keep within a given practice that will ultimately bring clarity and purpose to your experiences on the mat.

One thing truly affects another, as is shown in the 7 postures Matt demonstrates in today’s video. Enhanced awareness of core activation will ultimately lead to improved spinal flexion. Taking a Chromatic approach opens up more opportunity for breakthroughs in your practice.

You can register for Matt’s current 15 Hour Chromatic Yoga Immersion to open yourself up to new possibilities.

See you on the mat!

The 200 Hr. Teacher Training: Click Here to See the Next Start Date

The 300 Hr. Advanced Teacher Training: Click Here to See the Next Start Date

Article by Trish Curling

Videos Extracted From: Chromatic Yoga 15 Hour Immersion

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ONLINE ANATOMY COURSE

Accessible, exciting, and easy to learn
Anatomy and biomechanics for yoga
Appropriate for both teachers and students
Learn joint alignment vs pose alignment
Demystify yoga poses and transitions
Release aches and pains
Learn how to avoid common injuries
Caters to all levels with modifications and props
20 hours Continued Education Credits with Yoga Alliance
20 hours toward Chromatic Yoga Certification and 300 Hour
Lifetime access

TELL ME MORE!

Continue Learning

Weightless Inversions

Opening The Heart Chakra

5 Visual Demonstration Techniques for Yoga Teachers

Awakening Solar Plexus Strength

Hip Flexor Stretch Mechanics

A Yoga Treatment For The Shoulders

All Videos

THE FREE TECHNIQUE PACK

When You Subscribe, You Will Get Instant Access to

the Technique Pack: 15 yoga pose breakdowns
exclusive online course discounts
exclusive blogs and videos

Rectus Abdominis Handstand Drill

by Trisha Curling | Feb 16, 2023 | Main Page Display

Rectus Abdominis
Handstand Drill

The Key Component for Control

abdominals

RECTUS ABDOMINIS HANDSTAND DRILL

This rectus abdominis handstand drill takes the fear out of inversions. That may be a bold statement to make, but it’s true. If you don’t have prior experience and/or training in any inversions, fear can be one of the most common barriers. The drill that Matt presents in today’s video is about intention and focus. You may have done the drill before, but have you done it like this? Drills offer an opportunity to focus on an action in your body. However, this doesn’t mean that you no longer require focus, attention, and effort as regards the other areas of focus, and drills provide more than just the development of a certain skill. They offer the confidence to move forward and progress in other ways.

BREATH OF FIRE

Moderate Vinyasa-style classes
Core strengthening & integration
Master your breath with pranayama practices
Access your core in arm balances, heart openers, twists, forward folds, inversions, and more
Learn where and how to breathe in challenging postures
Each class will include one pranayama (breathwork practice) and several core strengtheners
Access your core muscles: deep, superficial, anterior, posterior, and lateral
12 Classes: All levels appropriate
Lifetime unlimited access to all
Attend the livestream OR practice the replays any time that’s convenient for you

$148.00

LEARN MORE!

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH THE RECTUS ABDOMINIS?

The rectus abdominis is a flat muscle and is the most superficial of the abdominal layers. It runs from the bottom of the sternum all the way down to the pubic bone. Its central role is to create spinal flexion. In your yoga practice, the use of the rectus abdominis shows up in forward folds. The muscle also supports your ability to stay stable in balancing and plank postures, although the deeper muscle layers take on more of that responsibility. This doesn’t mean that it’s not essential, and we are centering our focus today on the rectus abdominis handstand drill. As previously mentioned, it’s about intention and awareness and about the specific actions you take that bring the rectus abdominis more to the forefront. For example, the amount of engagement, or activation, of the rectus abdominis depends on what’s required in a specific movement or drill.

WATCH THE VIDEO

RECTUS ABDOMINIS HANDSTAND DRILL: THE KEY COMPONENT FOR CONTROL

HANDSTANDS

You can think about what’s required in Handstand in a number of different ways. Handstands are referred to as both arm balances and inversions, and the list of what’s required may seem lengthier than for other arm balances. You can be sure, however, that Matt always has a phenomenal way of breaking things down into tiny bits so you can work through the process. Some of the areas of focus are your hands, which grip the ground; the wrist flexors; or “joint stacking.” In one of my previous articles, L Pose Handstand Training, I outline more details about the core and about how Matt shows you how to utilize your hip flexors. The conversation surrounding the rectus abdominis is another important one because it’s another opportunity to intelligently call upon a “simple” action in your body to get you closer to Handstand.

200 HOUR ONLINE TEACHER TRAINING

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Learn techniques for a wide range of yoga postures
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UNDERSTANDING THE DRILL

The simple action in this rectus abdominis drill is to bring your ribs and pelvis closer to one another, but the action is more deliberate than simply leaning forward and allowing gravity to do the work. A level of activation is required to utilize the strength necessary for the inversion. You’ll see in the video that Matt encourages you to prioritize this action over stacking the hip and shoulder joints. This stacking can be quite intimidating at first, and the rectus abdominis drill removes this barrier. Executing this drill with a wall behind you offers even more encouragement and permission to explore kicking up into Handstand with more confidence and control. Keeping your front body shortened trains you to stay away from relying on the wall. The action may shorten your hops, but this simply means that you are successfully keeping your awareness on the rectus abdominis.

300 HOUR ONLINE TEACHER TRAINING

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Master your skill set as a teacher through refined techniques, anatomy, biomechanics, sequencing, philosophy, meditation techniques, theming, yoga business, and much more!

Get 500 hour certified
Learn anatomy, biomechanics, asana techniques
Expand your teaching skills
Masterful sequencing and verbal delivery
Learn meditation and breathwork techniques
Transformative tools: theming, dharma talks, satsang

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WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?

Yes, going upside down is more than front-body awareness and activation; it’s also about connecting the dots. Taking an approach like this one helps clarify what’s required in Handstand as a whole posture. You are not only training your physical body but also creating an indelible mark on your nervous system that you’ll be able to call upon naturally and intuitively. In other words, the approach goes beyond being just a rectus abdominis Handstand drill. It is something you can rely on in your approach to other inversions and to how you go about putting the pieces together when exploring postures that are challenging for you.

Matt’s current Breath of Fire Immersion goes further into how to intelligently utilize your core within your yoga practice.

See you on the mat!

The 200 Hr. Teacher Training: Click Here to See the Next Start Date

The 300 Hr. Advanced Teacher Training: Click Here to See the Next Start Date

Article by Trish Curling

Video Extracted From: Breath Of Fire Immersion

← See Previous Story See Next Story →

BREATH OF FIRE

Moderate Vinyasa-style classes
Core strengthening & integration
Master your breath with pranayama practices
Access your core in arm balances, heart openers, twists, forward folds, inversions, and more
Learn where and how to breathe in challenging postures
Each class will include one pranayama (breathwork practice) and several core strengtheners
Access your core muscles: deep, superficial, anterior, posterior, and lateral
12 Classes: All levels appropriate
Lifetime unlimited access to all
Attend the livestream OR practice the replays any time that’s convenient for you

$148.00

LEARN MORE!

Continue Learning

Weightless Inversions

Opening The Heart Chakra

5 Visual Demonstration Techniques for Yoga Teachers

Awakening Solar Plexus Strength

Hip Flexor Stretch Mechanics

A Yoga Treatment For The Shoulders

All Videos

THE FREE TECHNIQUE PACK

When You Subscribe, You Will Get Instant Access to

the Technique Pack: 15 yoga pose breakdowns
exclusive online course discounts
exclusive blogs and videos

Learn To Fly In Side Crow

by Trisha Curling | Jan 26, 2023 | Main Page Display

Learn to Fly in Side Crow

Get to the Core with 3 Variations

ARM BALANCE

LEARN TO FLY IN SIDE CROW

Getting to the core of this arm balance will awaken a potential in your body that you may not be aware is even present. Learning to fly in Side Crow actually goes deeper than going through the motions of different variations. If you’ve been practicing with Matt, then you know that he teaches and applies very specific techniques within a posture and/or its variations; these techniques show you how to intellectually approach the execution of a yoga posture. The 3 variations you’ll see in today’s video will show you how to properly activate the muscles (obliques, abductor group, adductors, and hip flexors) in order to tap into the potential that awaits you.

BREATH OF FIRE

Moderate Vinyasa-style classes
Core strengthening & integration
Master your breath with pranayama practices
Access your core in arm balances, heart openers, twists, forward folds, inversions, and more
Learn where and how to breathe in challenging postures
Each class will include one pranayama (breathwork practice) and several core strengtheners
Access your core muscles: deep, superficial, anterior, posterior, and lateral
12 Classes: All levels appropriate
Lifetime unlimited access to all
Attend the livestream OR practice the replays any time that’s convenient for you

$148.00

LEARN MORE!

THE 2 MAIN ACTIONS

The clips from today’s video are taken from the Anatomy of Arm Balances immersion. In the full class, Matt invites you to step back from balancing in the posture so you can actually connect with your core muscles. How is this done? It’s the positioning of the arm that’s furthest away from your body that allows the core connection to take place. You’re left with no choice but to utilize the obliques to gain height. Action #1 then is to hike the top hip up towards the same-side shoulder (obliques and gluteus medius activation). Action #2 requires the activation of the hip flexors. Here, you’re pulling your knees towards your chest while energetically pulling your bottom knee (if it’s the right) towards your right shoulder. This common thread runs through all 3 variations in some form. Let’s examine the techniques involved.

WATCH THE VIDEO

LEARN TO FLY IN SIDE CROW: GET TO THE CORE WITH 3 VARIATIONS

SIDE CROW: NO PROPS

Starting with this variation provides a nice baseline for you to see where you may need to place more emphasis. You’ll see how wide the distance is between Matt’s hands. Spreading your hands far apart forces you to lift the hips up as high as possible, which turns on the upper obliques. Dropping the hips (which is common) significantly minimizes your use of the obliques. These 2 main actions, along with leaning more forward and of course gripping your fingers into the ground, are the keys. If you are challenged anywhere along the chain of events, dial it back and work on the sensations of the activations (e.g., hands wide while lifting and lowering the hips with a contraction in the obliques). Still unsure what to feel? Have a look at the variations with props.

200 HOUR ONLINE TEACHER TRAINING

GET CERTIFIED & DEEPEN YOUR YOGA PRACTICE

Deepen your yoga practice
Build confidence speaking in front of groups in person and online
Learn foundational class structures and templates
Learn techniques for a wide range of yoga postures
Get certified and highly qualified to teach yoga
Yoga Alliance Globally Recognized Certification Program

LEARN MORE!

SIDE CROW WITH A STRAP

This Side Crow variation with a strap is a great option to explore if you require more awareness of the upper obliques. This particular variation also places weight on the activation of the tensor fasciae latae (TFL). The TFL is both a hip flexor and internal rotator. The internal rotation helps to fire up the abductors of the bottom leg. Doing this creates more stability and provides greater access to the posture. Adding a strap doesn’t make it easier, but what you will receive is feedback. Pressing into the strap is like pressing into the guiding hand of a yoga teacher. You won’t be able to ignore the sensations here, I promise you. The abductor muscles will speak to you, and it will be quite the conversation!

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SIDE CROW WITH A BLOCK

Lastly, Matt demonstrates Side Crow with a block. Placing a yoga block between your thighs or shins helps you to squeeze everything into the center. Here you’ll feel the adductors while you try to hold the block in place. This option is closer to the first variation as regards shape, so it’s a great one to incorporate into your practice to encourage the 2 main actions with your legs hugged in towards one another.

EXPLORE AND INTEGRATE

In conclusion, unlearning some of the habits you’ve patterned that don’t require you to focus on just how strong can become in Side Crow will pay off in the long run. When the effort is appropriate, it is what drives you forward—as Matt always teaches, “explore and integrate.” Thinking about the possibilities available to you is actually pretty exciting. When you focus on building strength, you can learn to fly in Side Crow. After strength, weightlessness and lightness in the posture follow. A challenging arm balance like Side Crow will then emanate more ease than effort.

Register for Matt’s February immersion, Breath of Fire. This immersion will go deeper into how you can access your core muscles in order to progress in the awareness of your body and your practice.

See you on the mat!

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Article by Trish Curling

Video Extracted From: Anatomy Of Arm Balances

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BREATH OF FIRE

Moderate Vinyasa-style classes
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Each class will include one pranayama (breathwork practice) and several core strengtheners
Access your core muscles: deep, superficial, anterior, posterior, and lateral
12 Classes: All levels appropriate
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