On The Mat This Week: A deep dive into the shoulder joint.
If you’ve joined me on the mat this week, you will have first hand experience of our plunge into the shoulder joint. Classes have been a process of enquiry, letting go and building strength.
Enquiry
Discovering what we have been holding onto (the not-so-metaphorical weight of the world we carry on our shoulders). Uncovered through pranayama and visualisation we begin by dropping the activity of the mind, connecting into the physical body.
The breath is a torch, a beam of light searching into the dark depths of the ocean (our own physical body) illuminating what has been lingering, stagnating beneath the surface. That which has become hidden because we are too busy to acknowledge or unable to become quiet enough to hear.
Letting go
Surrendering tension of the shoulders by opening the fascial lines and connective tissue surrounding the joint. Stretching the muscles of the neck, chest and heart space which can often feel tight and contracted when the shoulders are tense.
This process can feel like an oozing, a dissolving, a melting. The result of which is an opening of space in body and mind. A smoothing of the breathe where perhaps it had been shallow or catching. Something we can only truly appreciate in the act of noticing what has changed.
Building strength
We are not using our asana practice or the tools of yoga to separate ourselves from the modern world but rather to know how to better manage the stresses and demands of our it. Creating union rather than division. The last piece to the puzzle in our practice has been strengthening the muscles around the shoulder joint (as well as muscles that support the spine - think abdominals and back muscles) so we are more capable of holding ourselves steady and strong; not collapsing into our joints or skeleton but rather activating and utilising the muscles to maintain stability!
In doing so we are training the physical body to be better equipped at holding the weight of both emotional and physical load so we have the strength to bear the weight with grace rather than crumbling under the pressure.
Through regular yoga practice we become better listeners to the sounds and signals our body provides. In noticing when we are out of tune, the tools of asana or other elements of our yoga practice can be implemented to release tension as it builds rather than waiting to pay attention and take action at our breaking point.
If you weren’t able to make it to an in-person practice together this week and missed out on our shoulder joint exploration do not worry. I am in the process of creating an online video library so you can practice anytime, anywhere. Perfect for the upcoming summer season which can get just a tad busy to say the least!
Stay tuned for more news and updates when the on-demand library launches by signing up to the newsletter here.
Until then there is the opportunity to join me on the mat every Sunday at Sunnyside Barn in East Grinstead, 10am-11:15am for our community classes.
I hope to see you soon!
With care and tenderness, Steph x
