PLEASE NOTE: Workshops must be cancelled 24 Hours in Advance.
Please join special guest teacher Libby Hinsley for a weekend workshop & training on Yoga for Hypermobility! At Healium Hot Yoga - Bay View, Friday April 5th from 6:00-9:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday April 6th and 7th from 12:30-5:00 pm. 12 Yoga Alliance CEU’s available for yoga teachers!
Come learn about the fascinating world of hypermobility, what it means to have a hypermobility syndrome, and how yoga and strength training can best support people who have them. Too often, bendy people struggle with injury and pain related to their yoga practice, but when practiced wisely, yoga can help them thrive in all areas of life!
This workshop is designed for all yoga teachers and movement professionals, as well as bendy practitioners interested in learning how yoga and exercise can play a positive role in their lives .We will begin Friday evening with an overview of hypermobility and the most common hypermobility syndromes including Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder.
Saturday afternoon, we’ll discuss the bendy body’s structural challenges related to its connective tissue makeup, to understand why it’s more prone to injury. Then we will dive into key asana principles to cultivate joint stability and limit injury risk. We’ll also explore active vs. passive stretching, verbal cues and sequencing to maximize the benefits of asana for this population. Next, we'll delve into the bendy body’s sensory challenges and explore how slow, mindful movement can help improve proprioception, motor control, and interoceptive accuracy. We will investigate how wise use of hands on assists can support bendy practitioners’ body awareness and sense of empowerment.
In our final session on Sunday afternoon, we’ll get into the unique nervous system physiology of people with hypermobility syndromes to understand why they are more prone to conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, digestive disorders, and more. We’ll explore pranayama and self-massage to address some of these challenges, and reflect on the yamas and niyamas to optimize self care. Lastly, we'll enjoy a special session specifically on strength training for bendy people -- why it's so important, and how to approach it in a unique way that leads to sustainable progress, rather than constant setbacks that so often plague the hypermobile person who's trying to get into strength training.
Throughout the weekend, we’ll unpack how common misconceptions about yoga and strength training can often lead to suffering for bendy practitioners (and others) and reflect on important questions: What is yoga about? How can we use its tools for greater understanding, acceptance, and transformation? And, can we understand the bendy body as essentially resilient and adaptable, for a more accurate approach? Each session will include lecture and practice, and there’ll be plenty of time for discussion.
Learning objectives:
1. Participants will understand and be able to describe key features of hypermobility syndromes.
2. Participants will be able to apply asana techniques supportive for hypermobile practitioners, including slower movement, active vs. passive stretching, and focus on stability.
3. Participants will be able to apply pranayama and self massage as tools for nervous system regulation to sup
4. Participants will be able to modify their use of verbal cues, hands on assists, and asana sequencing to better support hypermobile practitioners.
5. Participants will be able to understand the unique needs and appropriate approach to strength training for the hypermobile population.
About Libby:
Libby Hinsley is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Yoga Therapist specializing in the treatment of chronic pain, hypermobility syndromes, and yoga-related injuries. She has taught yoga since 2005 and has trained yoga teachers since 2010. Her teaching and practice have been most influenced by the lineage of TKV Desikachar. Her book — Yoga for Bendy People: Optimizing the benefits of yoga for hypermobility — explores how people with joint hypermobility syndromes can use the tools of yoga to support their thriving. As a person living with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, she is committed to raising awareness about hypermobility syndromes in the yoga community and beyond. Libby is also the founder of Anatomy Bites, a monthly membership for yoga teachers who want to learn anatomy in a fun, supportive, and relevant way. You can find out more about her at www.LibbyHinsley.com and on Instagram at @libbyhinsleypt
For Yoga Teachers: Yoga Alliance Credit: 12 contact hours
**Class will not be heated**
Early Bird Pricing: $275 (ends Feb. 29th)
Full Price after March 1st: $300
Please Note: sign up and pay for the Friday April 5th session ONLY