This is Spinal Tap with Lisa West

A 3 day workshop that will orient you to the anatomy of the low back and neck and common injuries that people develop in these areas. We will explore posture and physical patterns of tightness/weakness that can cause pain, look at precautions for specific conditions and see how yoga can work to bring increased comfort to people with injuries or pain. We will also explore the etiology of chronic pain as well as energetic implications that can be involved with pain and injury.

Extra information: The course will include an in-depth handout about the spine, injury and pain that will supplement the information that is provided in the class. Plan on spending about half of each day with lecture/discussion time and half of the class doing a yoga class geared toward the topic of each day—this may involve partner work.

Friday, February 26 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.

• Physical anatomy (bones, discs, muscles/fascia and nerves)
• Brief energetic anatomy (charkas I-III)
• Posture: good alignment and common deviation patterns
• Common injuries
• Energetic considerations

Session Two: Neck and Upper back

Saturday, February 27 from 2:00 to 5:30pm.

• Physical anatomy (bones, muscles/fascia and nerves)
• Brief energetic anatomy (charkas IV-VII)
• Energetic look at posture/center (brief)
• Assessing ease of movement
• Common injuries
• Energetic considerations

Session Three: Chronic Pain and Touch

Sunday, February 28 from 2:00 to 5:30pm.

• Definition and physiology behind chronic pain—lecture will be brief, but notes will be plentiful.
• Strategies in dealing with chronic pain and how yoga encompasses many of them
• Examples of chronic pain conditions, including a discussion of fibromyalgia
• Energetic considerations and use of touch.