Many types of programs support the physical health. The yoga practices using natural body weight, the friends of the floor, the wall, gravity, and the weight of natural objects, all serve the strength of muscles, nerves, skeletal, and connective tissue.
A problem that I have witnessed over the years in many people who “work out” is connective tissues tears and strains. Particularly, tendon problems frequent weight-lifting and ligament problems trouble us as a consequence of prolonged periods of dysfunctional, non-aligned movement. The quest arises as how to establish Shtira ( stable, aligned, balanced, strength, with breath, unified wholeness) and to carry that unity with Sukha ( effortless effort, ease, sweetness). The real secret is the breath.
In our simple and repeated movements in three planes, we wish to establish Shtira. In that awareness we wake up the systems of the body and mind.
Total time? About 16 minutes for our free visitors, and for those who subscribe (less than a visit to Starbucks) then you access a full 30 minutes plus access more content.
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What is needed for hand balances? How do they build? How do we enter and exit? Where is shtira?
Beginning again means asking familiar questions and looking for the answers in the posture, observing what doesn’t work, and what does. Learning twice, and twice again in Beginners Mind.
I recorded this last night because I must be on the road during our usual time. Here we observe three planes of functional spinal movement with breath. I invite you to recall warm-ups of this past week and to practice from whatever you can recall. If you cannot recall, then reboot yr favorite livestream recording and use that.
This week marks the start of a new endeavor at the SAMURAI INTI Martial Arts Studio in Frisco. I’ll be teaching i a group class there at Sendai Sebastian Mejias ‘ dojo on Monday and Wednesday mornings.
Here's Jeff's updated schedule (please note the upcoming change to Saturdays). Below the schedule, you'll find payment links for the in-person group classes.
Mondays, 9AM in FRISCO at Samurai Inti Martial Arts, 7410 Preston Rd., #105, Frisco, TX 75034
Wednesdays, 9AM in FRISCO at Samurai Inti Martial Arts, 7410 Preston Rd., #105, Frisco, TX 75034
Thursdays, 8:30AM in DALLAS at Carpathia Collaborative, 10260 N. Central Expressway, #210, Dallas, TX 75231
UPDATE APRIL 13, 2025: Saturdays, 8:30 AM in DALLAS *WILL BE AT A NEW LOCATION VERY SOON! Will likely either be at White Rock Lake or Carpathia Collaborative, not the Hillcrest location. Confirmation coming soon! This update was posted on April 13, 2025.
PAYMENT LINKS FOR GROUP CLASSES (you can also pay cash in person at the time of the session; take note of your subscriber and payment level):
Locals community subscribers at the free level, and the general public: $35
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This book was fundamental to body movement and awareness. Notice the three planes of functional spine.
If you ask a personal trainer, a pilates teacher, a yoga teacher, and a massage therapist about “core strength” it is likely you will get different answers.
We wish to observe the diaphragm as the central origin of neuromuscular action — activating channels of strength down through the lumbar vertebrae, hips, legs, feet. And likewise int he opposite direction up the spine through the thoracic spine, shoulders, neck and skull.
Here is an image for us to keep in mind and note how we humans hold together — feet to fingertips and eyes.