Episode 142: ALIGNMENT VS ANATOMY: 3 MYTHS

THAT NEED BUSTING

When we were taught to cue a movement or a yoga asana, we were led to believe that every student could perform it with enough effort or practice. But sometimes a student cannot do what is being cued, not because of a lack of flexibility or effort, but because their skeletal anatomy does not allow for it. This episode busts three common anatomy myths that shape the way we cue, covering the knee, the ankle, and the hip, so that you can cue and visualize the various skeletal differentiations in mind rather than an idealized generic body type.

Listen as I cover:

• Alignment vs Anatomy
•  Myth One: The Knee Being Only a Hinge Joint
• Myth Two: Ankle Positioning vs Ankle Range of Motion in Standing Poses
• Myth Three: Every Student's Hip Can Achieve the Same Range and Movement

When you teach as if everyone shares the same anatomy, it sets some students up to fail at something never possible for their skeleton. Understanding anatomy allows you to work with (and teach) the real bodies in front of you.

Related Episode

Ep 134: How A Student's Neutral Alignment Should Affect the Cues You Use

Coming Soon: Anatomy Refresh Mini Course

Across these anatomy-focused episodes, one thing keeps coming up: teachers are hungry for a real anatomy foundation that most trainings never provided. That's why I'm creating the Anatomy Refresh mini course, a low-cost, approachable way to strengthen your understanding of the structures that matter most in your teaching, so everything discussed on the podcast clicks into place, and you can cue with confidence. More details coming soon.

Free Resource

Sequencing for Students with Injuries

If you want help building classes that develop strength and functional capacity safely, especially for students with injuries or limitations, download the free Sequencing for Students with Injuries guide.

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