Just imagine for a moment attempting to simply navigate a sidewalk...during an earthquake. The earth tremors beneath your feet, your body saying side to side, and back and forth. Combine that with just having completed a mud run. Your body aches and your shoes and clothes are saturated and heavy. Welcome to the world of movement disorders. 

Facing the daily challenge of degenerative neurological disorders since my late twenties has promoted my to find a non-invasive, physically adaptable and psychologically beneficial method of pain management and intervention. From benign essential tremor (involuntary tremors including the shaking of hands, head, voice, arms and legs) to dystonia (painful, involuntary muscle contractions causing  tremors while twisting and locking muscles into abnormal posture) to Parkinson's (tremors with rigidness of body parts and speech), simple everyday movements and speaking have become increasingly difficult. Many people who share the aforementioned conditions generally become reclusive , both physically and mentally.  The following has helped me and hope to share these tools with those in similar situations.

Incorporating yoga into a daily routine can help improve balance, flexibility, posture, self-awareness and psychological/social well being. Yoga, by general definitions is the discipline by one seeks to achieve liberation from suffering through union with our own supreme spirit or universal soul through intense concentration, deep meditation, the practice of postures, and by controlling the patterns of breathing. The body postures and breathing techniques help to stretch our muscles, open our fascia and create space in the joints which in turn affects our nervous system. This process allows for the release of impurities within our system and revitalizes our tissues to help purify our bodies and minds. Meditation too helps to calm the mind which affects the nervous system and in turn clams our bodies releasing our stress and anxiety. 

There are many styles and types of yoga. Here are a few that I have found most accessible and helpful in working with my own movement disorders. 

Somatic Yoga- Connection between brain and motor skills
Somatic yoga focuses on the portion of the nervous system that regulates voluntary movement. These slow/causal movements are generally grounded (floor or chair) and help to center the trunk of the body which aids in stability as on connects to the ground. This style of yoga helps to forge a relationship between the brain, the senses, and the motor skills. 

Restorative Yoga- Deep relaxation
Restorative yoga is a style of yoga accessible to anyone at any time to create balance, quiet and restore our core energy. The system uses props and supports that allow the practitioner to hold poses for a longer period of time without strain, promoting deeper relaxation and creating a space for healing. Restorative yoga has a great therapeutic impact during times of illness, injury, pain, stress and over scheduled lives. Restorative yoga helps to cultivate a healing environment in the body by balancing the nervous system all systems’ optimal energy flow; restoring us at a physical, physiological, energetic and emotional level. Props may include, but are certainly not limited to, blankets, bolsters, chairs, blocks, straps and eye pillows.

Chair Yoga- Adaptable and supported yoga 
Chair Yoga is authentic, accessible yoga for everyone.  The physical poses are modified to be done seated on the chair or using the chair as a guide in some manner.  Chair Yoga is an appropriate practice for those who may find a traditional mat class too challenging, and also for practitioners looking to augment their practice with a creative, gentle form of yoga.  The pendulum can swing both ways as the chair is also an excellent tool for learning how to move gradually into more advanced asanas with confidence and support.

Yin Yoga- Slow, steady, stretch 
Yin yoga is a style of yoga that is characterized by its longer held positions with a focus on increasing flexibility in myofascial tissue and increased range of motion in the joints. The pace of yin poses and classes is slow and patient. Each yin pose is held approximately forty five  seconds up to two or three minutes. In some cases poses may be held upwards of five minutes. Yin yoga classes consist mainly of passively held floor postures with a stronger focus on the lower body.

There is a yoga practice accessible for everyone. Come and join us. See for yourself the incredible physical, mental and social rewards that yoga can bring you.

Tina Lavacca is currently registered in the Boundless Yoga Studio 200hr Teacher Training program. She is set to graduate in May of 2020 and looks forward to sharing her path and the healing potential of the yoga practice with you. ​

Not all stretch is created equal. There are several factors that can support stretch and depending on your currently level of mobility some might work better for you than others.

The short story is there are essentially 4 main components to stretch that when mixed in different ways add a different utility to the poses and encourage different results.

4 Components of Stretch
Below we have listed some stretching vocabulary and techniques. There are many “methods” and “brands” of stretching, but all movement cobines these elements to create a specific way to invigorate and release the tissues of the body. 

Static Stretching (No Motion)
Static stretching means a stretch is held in a challenging but comfortable position for a period of time, usually somewhere between 15 to 30 seconds. In the case of some styles of static yoga stretches they may be held from 30 second up to 2 minutes or more. Static stretching is considered safe and effective for improving overall flexibility. However, we may consider that static stretching may be much less beneficial than dynamic stretching for improving range of motion for functional movement, including sports and daily activities.

Dynamic Stretching (Motion)
Dynamic stretching means a stretch is performed by moving through a challenging but comfortable range of motion repeatedly, usually 10 to 12 times. Although dynamic stretching might feel more challenging to some students as it requires more coordination than static stretching (because of the movement involved). Note that dynamic stretching should not be confused with bouncing or ballistic stretching. Dynamic stretching is purposful, smooth, and deliberate, whereas bouncing stretching is uncontrolled, erratic, and jerky.  The risks that may occur in a bouncing stretch far out way the rewards. Controlled moments lend stability and therefore decrease the chance of injury.  Flow Yoga works in continuous motion in a dynamic way. 

Passive Stretching (No muscular contraction at that joint)
Passive stretching means you’re using some sort of outside assistance such as body weight, a strap, leverage, gravity, another person, or a stretching device to help you achieve a stretch. With passive stretching, you relax the muscle you’re trying to stretch and rely on the external force to hold you in place.  Effort in a passive stretch should be minimal. Please use caution as there is always the risk that the external force will be stronger than you are flexible, which could cause injury. 

Active Stretching (Muscular contraction of the opposite side to facilitate stretch)
Active stretching means you’re stretching a muscle by consciously contracting the muscle in opposition to the one you’re stretching without the use your body weight, a strap, leverage, gravity, another person, or a stretching device. With active stretching, you relax the muscle you’re trying to stretch and rely on the opposing muscle to initiate the stretch or you are working with an eccentric contraction where the muscle is trying to contract as it is lengthening. Active stretching can be challenging because of the muscular force required to generate the stretch but is generally considered lower risk because you are controlling the stretch force with your own strength rather than an external force.

____________________________________________________________

In Addition to these 4 component/ types of stretch there are 2 more techniques of stretch that movement professionals will consider. They are Isometric and PNF. 

Isometric Stretching- This type of stretching is Static. It alternated between and active engagement of the muscle being stretched and relaxing the muscle you are trying to stretch. For example if you are in a seated forward fold hold it for a few minutes you would alternate between contracting and releasing the hamstrings and calves while in the pose.  

PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation)- This style of stretching requires a partner of a facilitator and acts similarly to Isometric Stretching. PNF stretching most effective way known to increase static-passive flexibility. PNF is an acronym for proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. It is not really a type of stretching but is a technique of combining passive stretching and isometric stretching in order to achieve maximum static flexibility. Example: Supine One Leg Hamstring Stretch: The receiver would press into the facilitators hand with the back of their leg to create resistance engaging the hamstrings. When the receiver releases the contraction and the muscle becomes passive, the facilitator will keep the resistance on the limb guiding it deeper into the pose. This alternating contraction and release may go 3-5 rounds.

Types of Yoga currently offered at Boundless Yoga Studio and How stretch applies.
(Schedule is subject to change and can be found HERE)

RESTORATIVE YOGA (Static/ Passive) - Passive, relaxed positions using full support and gravity to gently open the body in comfortable positions. Great to release stress and go within.

7:00 am WED Gentle Yoga (also included some basic flow) w/ Kate Deangelo
7:15 pm THURS Body, Mind Meditation- Restorative Yoga w/ Karen Iracane

YIN YOGA and ALIGNMENT CLASSES (Combination Static/ Active and Static Passive)- These classes use longer held positions often with active engagement to facilitate a deeper opening in the myofascia.
* Yin classes are more seated and supine poses good for overall range of motion. Alignment classes will work the full spectrum of postures and do not hold the poses as long as the Yin style. Easy to adapt to all levels of practice. 

9:30 am MON Hatha/ Align w/ Chris Loebsack
5:30 pm TUES ( L0-1) Beginners Plus  (may also add some flow) w/ Devon Blakely
8:15 am WED YIN w/ Tracy Gross
8:15 am FRI YIN w/ Tracy Gross

FLOW or VINYASA CLASSES- (Dynamic/ Active) These classes work the muscles through their full range of motion while moving fairly consistently. Example- Sun Salutations. Great for students who like to move. 

8:15 am MON Open Level Flow 
5:30 pm MON Level 1-2 Zen Flow
9:30 am TUES Open Level Flow
5:30 pm WED Open Level Flow
7:15 pm WED Brand new Beginner Flow
9:30 am THURS Progressions to Expressions (Moderate to experienced practitioners)
5:30 pm THURS (MAY 9th-30th, 2019) Introduction to AcroYoga- Partner Practice
9:30 pm FRI Yoga Conditioning Open Level 
9:30 am SUN Level 1-2 Flow


Many classes to some degree will use a little bit of all types while some classes specialize. YIN Classes will be primarily static/ active while something like our Dynamic Stretch Classes will focus on moving through a comfortable range of motion in a dynamic/active way. Passive assists from teachers will help to encourage the body to find where it can potentially go.


​Staff NOTE:
There are always new classes and more workshop and weekend training offerings on the schedule, we hope you enjoy trying some of our highlighted features. Send us your yoga questions so we can keep Chris busy writing more blogs! info@boundlessyogastudio.com 

Breathe into open hips with support. These pigeon pose variations will open up the whole body. Remember what ever chair you might try to use should be stable. This is NOT for a rolling office chair.  

Foundation(s):
Option 1- Face the back of the chair. Place a blanket over the edge of the chair. Step back 1-2 feet away from the chair. hold onto the back of the chair.
Option 2- Face the seat of the chair. Place a blanket on the seat of the chair.

Action(s):  
Option 1- Lift one knee up onto the chair and externally rotate the hip until part of the shin and thigh rest on the
​Option 2- While holding onto the back of the chair, bend one knee and as you externally rotate the thigh place the shin and thigh on the seat of the chair. Slide your free leg long behind you until it is fully extended. You may choose to keep the toes tucked to get more of a calf stretch or place the top of the foot on the floor for a deeper ankle and shin stretch.  If you keep the arms straight and lengthen the spine you will get a deeper hip flexion stretch and a back-bend. If you bow forward and rest on the back edge of the chair you can focus on the stretch in the outer hip of the bent leg.
Details/ Notes:
In the first option students with a longer stride may feel more stable if they turn the foot out slightly.
In the second option is a student is taking the back-bend variation be sure that they elongate the spine and add some firmness to the belly. It is common for students to simply push back too far too fast into compressing the low back. While a mild compression is fine we do not want students to overdo it where they may cause strain in the low back.

This is for informational purposes only. Students should check with their doctors before beginning any exercise program and instruction is always best when under the direction of a qualified professional. 

Model- Chris Loebsack
Blog by- Amy Annonsen and Chris Loebsack
Want more Chair Yoga? Join Amy on Tuesday night at Boundless Yoga in Stroudsburg PA at 7:15pm
Learn how to practice chair yoga sequences for your self or to teach others: Chair Yoga Advanced Studies with Amy and Chris November 2-4, 2018