Tuesday 15 December 7-9pm GMT
or watch the replay in your own time.
"Thank you for the amazing workshop... wise and informative workshop (brilliant as ever)." Amanda
Your head weighs about 5kg, which is roughly the same as a bowling ball. When it’s resting naturally on top of your spine, your neck is happy. But when you’re concentrating on a screen, or a dark road, it might move forward, and then the small muscles at the back of your neck and across your shoulders have to carry more than they were designed to, and you end up with tension headaches or a constant nag between your shoulder blades that simply won’t shift.
So much of what we do nowadays, from texting to gardening, typing and even reading a book, means we’re holding our arms and shoulders in one position for long stretches. Tension builds over time, and gradually we move less, until moving at all starts to feel harder than it should.
A friend recently shared that her shoulders were so painful she couldn’t sleep. She thought it was work-related tension, until a visit to her osteopath revealed it was related to an old whiplash injury. Her experience reminded me that the source of the pain isn’t necessarily where you feel it and that sometimes you need to look further.
In this practical workshop we’ll take a look at the anatomy of this sensitive area to learn how your head, neck, shoulder blades, ribs and upper back all work together. Then we’ll bring it into a simple Scaravelli-inspired yoga practice so you can really feel what’s happening in your own body.
We’ll include some breathing to help soften the whole area, and I'll give you some practical things to take away and do at your desk, after a long drive or before bed.
Everyone's welcome, including complete beginners, and you don't need to be flexible. As always, you'll work within a range that feels comfortable for you.
This workshop is for you if…
✅ your neck, shoulders or upper back often feel stiff or tight
✅ you spend long hours at a desk, on a laptop or on your phone
✅ your shoulders creep up towards your ears when you're stressed
✅ you're curious about how your shoulders, ribs, upper back and neck work together
You'll come away with…
🌟 shoulders that feel looser and more relaxed
🌟 more freedom to turn your head, whether that's checking over your shoulder when you reverse or looking up at the trees
🌟 easier breathing, with your ribs moving more freely
🌟 a way of thinking about posture that doesn't mean holding yourself rigid
🌟 a few simple practices to use whenever the tension creeps back
🌟 a clearer idea of why your neck stiffens up in the first place
Catherine Annis founded Intelligent Yoga Teacher Training, a practical and anatomy focused yoga teaching diploma. Originally a professional dancer, Catherine Annis discovered yoga as a teenager in the 1970s. She’s explored many styles of yoga during her yoga journey, including Iyengar, Sivananda and Astanga but finds the strong, deep and meditative approach of Vanda Scaravelli most nourishing.
Catherine’s practice and teaching focuses on deepening physical awareness and alignment to reveal the natural freedom of the body, particularly the spine.
Can't make it live?
The workshop will be recorded and the replay will be available for 30 days, so you don't have to miss out if you can't join us live.
The workshop will take place on Zoom and you'll receive the link the day before the workshop.
Cost:
The replay of the live workshop is available for one month for £29 or six months for £35.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the workshop, drop us a message on support@movementformodernlife.com
