A therapeutic approach to advancing your physical yoga practice

So you've been practicing yoga for a few years now but you can't seem to get into a headstand, or your shoulders hurt in downward dog, or you wish you could deepen your backbends, or your SI joint irritates you in lunges, etc.  Private yoga classes are expensive and you're not sure if your bubbly yoga instructor really knows that much about anatomy and physiology (fair enough).  You want to take your practice to the next level but you're not sure what the next step is.

Enter the Yoga Integration.

For a year now I have been working (and learning…so…much) with a registered physiotherapist to help yoga students like yourself overcome obstacles in their practice.  Your session includes a 45min assessment by a physiotherapist, followed by a private 30min yoga session specifically tailored to your needs.  The wisdom of the physio, followed by skill of the yoga educator is basically a match made in heaven.  And the entire session is covered here in Canada by medical benefits (can I get a hell ya).  The best part is that you don't have to be "injured" to take a Yoga Integration.  You can just be curious; maybe you want more insight into your practice, or maybe you just need some private attention to really help lock down your Sun Salutations.  Whatever the reason, I am super stoked to be able to put my newfound knowledge to work!  To book, please call Neumovement in Kelowna.  Here is what an integration student had to say about her experience:

“I am writing to describe why I have been choosing to do Yoga Integrations and what they mean to my body and me. I am not dealing with pain in my body (after working very hard at Pilates). I am, however, working towards some goal postures in yoga and my body seems to limit me and not let me completely go into these poses. I found myself trying repeatedly to stretch or focus on the key spots I felt restricted me. After a while, I started to wonder if there were things going on that I couldn’t see or work through on my own. This is when I decided to work in tandem with my yoga instructor and physiotherapist! By treating my alignment and working on the tightness in my body from a more global set of eyes, I have been able to get my body healthily into postures I had only dreamed about such as wheel pose! I would highly recommend Yoga Integrations to any person looking to advance their practice or work on growing their practice.

”

— Kate W.

Hope to see you soon!

Rock on,

l.e. martini

Neumovement: A new era for yoga in Kelowna

Neumovement is opening February 11, 2014 on Kane Rd across from Cooper's.

Last spring my fantastic RMT, Vanessa Rejc, recommended I work on strengthening my core to help with injury prevention in my body.  I took her words to heart and signed up for pilates classes at a wee studio in Glenmore called Neumovement.  Now, 9 months later, Neumovement is re-locating to a larger space on Kane Rd to incorporate a 24-person nature-inspired yoga (and Barre!) studio which I am delighted to announce that I will have the pleasure of teaching in:)  Here is why I fell in love with Neumovement and why I chose to make the transition from student (I will always be a student...) to teacher.

• The owners and staff are all enthusiastic, passionate, incredibly well-educated, and uber friendly.  Their approach to health and fitness is holistic which is something I feel is often missing from our culture.
• They have now officially hired a powerhouse of experienced local yoga instructors.  Joining me are Katlyn Fuhrman, Chelsea Ray, Steph Wall, and Biannca D'errico.
• They require their instructors to take free weekly anatomy and physiology seminars taught by a registered physiotherapist.  This is unheard of in our industry and has already improved my teaching skills immensely.
• When you take a yoga class at Neu, you have options.  You can either drop-in to a regular class, sign up for a 10-week progression session, or take an Integration (a private 30 min physiotherapy session followed by a customized 30 min yoga or pilates class…and the Integrations are covered by most Benefits providers…boom!).  I am especially excited by the registered progression sessions as it guarantees I will be able to work with the same students on a weekly basis. 
• Classes at Neumovement are all strongly focussed on encouraging correct anatomical alignment; this is where the word "Neu" comes from as it is short for "neutral" and German for "new".  So clever.

Neumovement owners Kate Watson and Lara Yanik

Beginning in March, I will be teaching 4 classes at Neumovement as well as several integrations a week.  If you have any questions about the studio, do not hesitate to ask me as I am very excited about this new opportunity and the future of yoga in our culture!

rock on,

l.e. martini