The "true core" muscles lie in the back of the body. Click to enlarge.
Your free Guide to Unraveling Lower Back Pain contains my go-to practice for anyone with lower back pain. A first impression may leave you thinking that this practice is pretty boring and why would you bother? When you understand the anatomy behind this deceptively simple position you gain incredible insight into why a simple position such as this done precisely, can make a huge difference.
Many of my clients have said this one position has made more difference to them than all the other yoga postures they’ve learned.
Psoas in Quadrupeds
Psoas in Bipeds
Today as I teach around the world, there is an epidemic of Yoga practitioners suffering from reoccurring injuries and discomfort caused through over-stretching and repetitive end-range movements. We now know that stability and strength is as important as mobility.
We now know there us no scientific backing for the common phrase: "No pain, no gain."
Sequence F (Balancing Scoliosis)- partial. Click to enlarge.
“This Book Should Be Required Reading For Yoga Therapists, Physical Therapists, Pilates, Somatics and Other Movement Teachers”
A unique contribution to a deeper understanding of core stability, back pain, and easeful movement. With a focus upon the role of the psoas, this book provides clear, step-by-step guidelines for a somatic self-inquiry that will lead to structural and functional balance and deep healing. This book should form an important part of the required reading for Yoga therapists, physical therapists, Pilates, Somatics and other movement teachers, and sports trainers.
“I return again and again to this book”
If you want to go deeper into your understanding of how your body works, to find blind spots and start working with the core buy this book! I now approach my personal Asana practice and teaching with much more confidence. Several long-standing issues in my body have been addressed and improved.
Fifteen years of strong Asana practice left me in a lot of pain (sacroiliac joints, lumbar, dorsal, meniscus and cervical spine). My science background led me to look outside my lineage for answers. I return again and again to this book, re-read and re-experiment. Now the core is central to my work. My favourite new insight is that “Mobility of the periphery depends on the stability of the core”. It is NOT strong abdominals that give stability, but the sense of the central cylinder.
I now understand my own imbalances (scoliosis, QL, psoas) and have found new ways to balance them. Daily, I can help my students find new ways to move with ease, some of these students have been with me for a decade.
“Learn Multiple Protocols”
I love this book! Farhi and Stuart have created a manual that is intelligent, in-depth, and manages to be grounded in the physical realm while connecting us to our hearts, our histories and our spirits. It roots us in the anatomy illuminating our true core, and offers beautifully illustrated explorations, exercises and approaches to familiar Yoga poses. We learn multiple protocols designed to help us find, release, balance and/or strengthen the Iliopsoas system safely and mindfully. This gentle work will be of interest to yogis and Yoga teachers, bodyworkers and anyone who wants to live a centered and healthy life.
“This Book Is Unique With Its Focus On The Centre And The Core”
The psoas has always intrigued me but I found it a challenge to find content so I could teach with confidence. This book is unique with its focus on the centre and the core. Whenever I pick up this book I feel, I see and I read something new each time, even though I have read it cover to cover. The illustrations are very helpful for students to see and the clear exercises have been very easy to bring into general classes and private sessions. I am now able to confidently teach with more depth around the psoas and the lower back. I find this part of the body to be amazing, and I haven’t met anyone that doesn’t benefit.