From structure to movementFrom structure to movement

A A dancerdancer’’s s functional understanding of the various functional understanding of the various actions of muscles and joints together actions of muscles and joints together in in moving moving bodiesbodies……

““The Anatomy of MovementThe Anatomy of Movement””

Movements of the female Movements of the female pelvis are pelvis are linked to those of linked to those of the spinethe spine, , of the ribcage and thoracic diaphragmof the ribcage and thoracic diaphragm, , and of and of the legsthe legs……

Movement and stability of the vertebrae and the pelvic Movement and stability of the vertebrae and the pelvic joints involve the pelvic floor as a dynamic structure.joints involve the pelvic floor as a dynamic structure.

Blandine CalaisBlandine Calais--GermainGermain’’ssanatomyanatomy as aas a foundationfoundation

for Birthlightfor Birthlight’’s approach tos approach to““birthing lightlybirthing lightly””

Francoise Barbira FreedmanFrancoise Barbira FreedmanRefresher weekend Refresher weekend 20082008

Institute of Child HealthInstitute of Child Health, , LondonLondon

As Birthlight yogaAs Birthlight yoga teachers weteachers weparticularly needparticularly need::

To understand the To understand the ROM ROM and the actions of and the actions of supporting and birthing musclessupporting and birthing muscles

To To be be able to stabilise pelvic joints before able to stabilise pelvic joints before and after birthand after birth

To offer specific stretches that To offer specific stretches that can can facilitate the birth journeyfacilitate the birth journey

To understand the anatomy of breathing To understand the anatomy of breathing and of and of ““exhale exhale pushingpushing””

Pelvic anatomy informs a morePelvic anatomy informs a moreessential yoga practiceessential yoga practice

CoreCore prevails over prevails over peripheryperiphery in in all Asanasall Asanas Breath and sound practices require Breath and sound practices require

alignmentalignment (well (well placed placed body supports)body supports) Focus on Focus on stable and supple joints: stable and supple joints:

elasticity elasticity prevails over toneprevails over tone MindfulMindful, body, body--mind, connective movesmind, connective moves Active Active relaxation relaxation as preas pre--meditation meditation

Lessons from BlandineLessons from Blandine::

From Knowing throuh visual From Knowing throuh visual representation to Awareness to Dynamic representation to Awareness to Dynamic Practice Practice

Nutation and counterNutation and counter--nutationnutation

Both movements Both movements are are important important in in combinationcombination

VariationsVariations Movements that compensate for one or Movements that compensate for one or

the other the other Fluid Fluid movementsmovements, , classic classic yoga poses yoga poses and and

micromicro--movementsmovements

pelvic musclespelvic muscles

Work togetherWork together

Compensate for one anotherCompensate for one another

If we understand their precise functions, If we understand their precise functions, we can use their we can use their ““relativesrelatives”” in the body for in the body for expansion or healing or bothexpansion or healing or both

Pelvic diaphragm and pelvic floorPelvic diaphragm and pelvic floor

The structureThe structure, , its strengths and its strengths and weaknessesweaknesses

The attachments of the musclesThe attachments of the muscles The sphinctersThe sphincters The pregnant uterusThe pregnant uterus, , bladder and rectum bladder and rectum

TheThe casecase for isotonic and isometricfor isotonic and isometricmovementsmovements

Effective Effective in in stabilising pelvic jointsstabilising pelvic joints::**compensating leg asymmetriescompensating leg asymmetries* * ““carrying toddlercarrying toddler”” limp limp **past surgeries or accidentspast surgeries or accidents, , including including

diagonal diagonal referral effects to shoulders and referral effects to shoulders and neckneck

Supporting the weaker parts using both Supporting the weaker parts using both deep and outer musclesdeep and outer muscles

The anatomy ofThe anatomy of ““exhaleexhale pushingpushing””

How How to explain to explain ““exhale exhale pushingpushing”” to to pregnant womenpregnant women, , to partnersto partners, , to midwivesto midwives

•• Cafetiere breathCafetiere breath??•• 2 2 diaphragms make diaphragms make a a squeezersqueezer•• Rolling the breath against the tailboneRolling the breath against the tailbone•• Control Control or superor super--spontaneity or bothspontaneity or both? Use ? Use

of of Yoga Yoga to recover spontaneous breath to recover spontaneous breath patterns and then cultivate thempatterns and then cultivate them

ROMROM for the birth journeyfor the birth journey

Rotations and leverageRotations and leverage Movements that create greater spaceMovements that create greater space Spirals and Spirals and figures figures of of 88 Sacral alignment and stretchesSacral alignment and stretches Changes of position Changes of position ((easy and easy and beneficial)beneficial) Optimal positioning for pelvic floor actionsOptimal positioning for pelvic floor actions

A A subconscious awareness and subconscious awareness and use use of options and of options and alternatives becomes part of womenalternatives becomes part of women’’s intuitions intuition

Release points towards birthRelease points towards birth

““Core AnatomyCore Anatomy”” inevitably leads to inevitably leads to ““Subtle Subtle AnatomyAnatomy”” ((chakraschakras and and koshaskoshas))

HaraHara, , The The Vital Centre (Vital Centre (Graf Von DurkheimGraf Von Durkheim, , 19621962))

Awareness of tension points that canAwareness of tension points that can slow slow down or compromise birthsdown or compromise births

These points These points relate relate to other release points to other release points in in the bodythe body

Shamanic understandingsShamanic understandings

Tapping Tapping infinite universal infinite universal energy energy ((pranaprana)) Birth is Birth is a a model for life model for life as as constant constant

metamorphosismetamorphosis Watch and listen patiently (hunter skills)Watch and listen patiently (hunter skills) DailyDaily lessons and inspiration from naturelessons and inspiration from nature ““Assemblage pointsAssemblage points”” in in the bodythe body--mind of mind of

personspersons

Ayurvedic understandingsAyurvedic understandings

““Shukra dhatuShukra dhatu””: : reproductive tissuesreproductive tissues ““OjasOjas”” Mechanisms of the Mechanisms of the VayusVayus ((““Apana VayuApana Vayu””

for birthfor birth)) PostPost--partum partum hothot--cold balancecold balance Back Back to the Chakras and the Koshasto the Chakras and the Koshas: Yoga : Yoga

implies an integrated understanding of implies an integrated understanding of subtle anatomysubtle anatomy

T12T12 and the psoasand the psoas

Liz KochLiz Koch: : physiological and emotional physiological and emotional effects of shortenedeffects of shortened, , contracted psoas contracted psoas are are not not separableseparable

-- Action of the diaphragmAction of the diaphragm-- Nutritional exchangesNutritional exchanges-- Functions of adrenals and kidneysFunctions of adrenals and kidneys-- Nervous supply to reproductive organsNervous supply to reproductive organs-- Action Action in in fear reflexfear reflex

Subtle anatomy observedSubtle anatomy observed……

““It is It is as as absurd to learn to breathe absurd to learn to breathe as as it is it is to learn to make your blood circulateto learn to make your blood circulate. . Breathing needs not to Breathing needs not to be be taught but taught but liberatedliberated. . ItIt’’s imperfect because its imperfect because it’’s s blockedblocked. . And itAnd it’’s blocked s blocked by by the the shortening of the shortening of the posterior posterior musclesmuscles. . The The only way to treat only way to treat a a breathing inadequacy breathing inadequacy isis, , thereforetherefore, , to make these muscles to make these muscles supplesupple”” (T. (T. BerteratBerterat, , AntiAnti--exercises and exercises and self awarenessself awareness, 1979), 1979)

BreathBreath……

Breath Breath ““fills every vein, every cell in out body and fills every vein, every cell in out body and every cranny of our little hut.every cranny of our little hut.

That breath, that hot steam, is recycled. It might That breath, that hot steam, is recycled. It might have been inhaled b a dinosaur, a plant, a have been inhaled b a dinosaur, a plant, a mouse or a famous chief of yore. It might be the mouse or a famous chief of yore. It might be the breath of a dead grandparent of yours. Because breath of a dead grandparent of yours. Because of this breath, those who have come into the of this breath, those who have come into the lodge as enemies will leave as friendslodge as enemies will leave as friends…”…”

Archie Fire Lame DearArchie Fire Lame Dear

The lower chakrasThe lower chakras

nn Muladhara: Prithvi TattvaMuladhara: Prithvi Tattva: : EarthEarthUdanaUdana: : still point of still point of balance, balance, upward risingupward risingPoint of turning and crowningPoint of turning and crowningnn SvadhisthanaSvadhisthana: : Apas TattvaApas Tattva: : WaterWaterApanaApana: : exhalation downexhalation down, , wave wave as as it crushes to it crushes to

shoreshorenn ManipuraManipura: : Agni TattvaAgni Tattva: : FireFireSamanaSamana: : power of transformation through the power of transformation through the

breathbreath

Anatomy of core awarenessAnatomy of core awarenesspromotes self healingpromotes self healing

Let theLet the body reveal patternsbody reveal patterns Trust that Trust that they they can be can be healed or healed or

harmonised harmonised (base (base for mindfor mind--body body approaches including approaches including Yoga Yoga TherapyTherapy))

Pregnancy and birth Pregnancy and birth as a as a ““RasayanaRasayana”” of of bodybody--mind transformationmind transformation

Nurturing core awareness forNurturing core awareness formother and baby togethermother and baby together

Full Full yogic breath with yogic breath with back back supported supported **helps restore skeletal helps restore skeletal balance, centre balance, centre of of

gravitygravity, , efficiency and motility of pelvic efficiency and motility of pelvic musclesmuscles

* Reverses * Reverses negative spiral of mothernegative spiral of mother--foetus foetus anxiety and develops selfanxiety and develops self--nuturing and nuturing and baby nurturing patterns baby nurturing patterns

ActiveActive relaxationrelaxation

Expanding the breath Expanding the breath in in restorative restorative posesposes Encouraging meditation gapsEncouraging meditation gaps Use Use of Mudrasof Mudras Making own affirmations and using them Making own affirmations and using them

as as ““sankhalpasankhalpa”” Principle of Principle of ““self referralself referral”” and and self self

acceptanceacceptance ((““No No guiltguilt, no , no shameshame, no , no blameblame””).).

From light of consciousness toFrom light of consciousness to““birth ofbirth of aa mothermother””

Shining the light of consciousness on Shining the light of consciousness on recesses of anatomy helps to enliven inner recesses of anatomy helps to enliven inner knowingknowing

Different stages of lifeDifferent stages of life, , different different balance balance between movement and awareness between movement and awareness in in the the progression towards greater mindfulnessprogression towards greater mindfulness

Giving birth Giving birth as a as a threshold from self to threshold from self to SELF SELF