YOGA + MOVEMENT
WHAT IS
SOMAYOGA? BY MOLLY MCMANUS (SHE/HER) + ANN MAXWELL (SHE/HER) What is SomaYoga? A unique methodology developed by Yoga North ISYI, SomaYoga blends Vedic Traditions and modern wisdom work. This article focuses on the central methodology of SomaYoga’s approach to embodiment. The practices build on increasing interoception: the ability to sense within, bringing back consciousness to our body and movement patterns to areas we lost touch with, and providing sensory motor reeducation to create more freedom and ease in the whole-being. When guiding, we often begin with Somatics, created by Thomas Hanna. This provides more mobility and consciousness of the “soma,” the internal experience of the body, mind, and soul. Therapeutic Yoga adds stabilizing, which supports functional movement patterns. Classic Asana helps build good biomechanics, stamina, strength, and enjoyment. It is the interplay of
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these modalities that creates the optimal approach to health in the deepest sense: what we have come to call “whole being well being.” We use the infinity symbol to graphically represent this interplay in terms of the three components (mobility, stability, and strength as well as Somatics, Therapeutic Yoga, and Classic Asana).
Build Better Habits
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Learn to be efficient with movement patterns.
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Move gently with the least possible effort and without force.
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Build awareness and learn to self correct.
SomaYoga Principles
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Designed to build accessible, trauma conscious, student focused practices, all classes and trainings in the SomaYoga Methodology teach these principles.
Radiate from your spine and support your limbs from deep core function.
Progress Responsibly and Compassionately
Learn to Pay Attention
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Nourish self awareness through breath and sensing.
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Pay attention to the process and internal sensations.
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Break movements into smaller parts and get truthful.
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The slower you move, the more you will perceive.
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Keep movements novel.
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Stay pain free, patient, and positive.
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Become conscious of habits and patterns.
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Practice simple to complex, low load to high load, slow to spontaneous, and symmetrical to asymmetrical.
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Get imposed standards out of the way and become more about authentic function.
Align through gravity and good biomechanics.
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