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Podcast: Sternal Rhythm

Many of my pain care clients come to me for neck pain and so I have a pretty big library of tools and strategies. This practice focuses on restoring the rhythm between the sternum, neck, jaw and hip. We will utilize some somatic movements to help you attend to the sternum. For many this movement is a real challenge but no worries, I’ve offered some helpful tools for learning. You will have some opportunities for comfortable holds in familiar Yin poses as well.

Free Your Sternum for a Happier Neck

If you often get tension headaches, this practice is for you. If you are someone who has a stiff or painful neck, I’m so glad you are here. This pain care yoga practice combines a somatic lesson with Yin poses to free your sternum. Once you see how the sternum is essential to easeful neck and head movement you will be forever changed.

Gliding Thumb for Neck and Jaw Bliss

This practice is a bit experimental. We utilize a Feldenkrais Method® Technique called gliding thumb throughout and rest in static Yin poses to integrate and rest. Our focus will be awareness and safety in the neck, jaw and shoulders. Often, if we have pain in one of those areas, we have some sensitivity in the others as well.

Neck Pain Inoculation

This is a gentle yet very effective practice for challenging our biases. Neck pain is one of the most common types of chronic pain and like all pain, is a product of bi-psycho-social factors. For today, we will focus of the psychological and cultural contributors to neck pain. We’ll do so with somatic movements intended to activate tissues in your neck, shoulder, and chest.

Nerve Flossing for Sciatic Trouble

Sciatic nerve issues are a special kind of hell. That stingy, nervy, intense pain down into the thigh, back of knee, heel or even foot happens on a spectrum. Some of us get occasional jolts, others full on numbness of the foot. It’s always best to get checked out by your doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms. But if you are in a management and healing phase, this practice can restore the sliding and gliding to your sciatic nerve both in the gluteal muscles and at the various nerve roots. This kind of suppleness is a big part of healing.