You may have seen my Shoulder Opening & Stabilisation for Inversions workshop. You may have also have seen the I-word and thought “Inversions? No thanks love!” Well. What if I told you that inversions are not the point of this workshop?

So many of us (yes especially us ladies!) feel very weak in our upper bodies, and don’t want to risk taking a class that will be beyond what we see as our limitations. I designed these sequences to correct issues I had in my own practice based around the stability and alignment of my shoulder blades. A couple of car accidents gave me serious whiplash injuries which still affect me today, and I realized that the last thing I needed was for my yoga practice (hello chatthuranga!) to be aggravating these issues rather than helping them to heal. The inversions I work towards are handstand and forearm stand (Pincha Mayurasana) as these require stable and strong shoulders and core. However, they are not the goal of the workshop but rather a litmus test to see how the health of the shoulders is progressing. At times I have to step back from the inversions as daily life takes its toll on my shoulders. Luckily I have to be constantly vigilant if I wish to be able to work with my body every day, so I don’t develop more chronic issues as I go along. This is the knowledge and practice that I would like to share with you.

In a regular yoga class there is no time to inspect everybody’s chatturangha (lowering down from plank) and many of us are doing it with very poor alignment, which causes issues in the body. Most people need to use the knees for a long time in order to maintain a correct alignment in the shoulders. They eventually build strength in the right places to support upper body work and an aligned chatturangha. Poor shoulder alignment can point not only to lack of strength in the shoulders but be masking a lack of strength in one or more areas of the core. That is one thing we will look at during the workshop amongst some other poses that emphasise shoulders.

This workshop is for you:

>If shoulders are a development area for you

>If you want to make sure that your practice is supporting your shoulders towards more advanced poses in the future

>If you long to stand on your hands

>If you want to overcome your fear of going upside down

>If you practice headstand, but don’t dare do other inversions. It is possible you are relying too much on your head and neck to support you which may cause injuries in the future

This workshop is NOT for you:

>If you have shoulder injuries that are not ready to be rehabilitated yet, as we will be using shoulders and arms throughout.

>You have been told by a doctor or physio to rest your shoulders/arms.

>Your body tells you no.

My hip and hamstring workshop would be much better for you at this time!

Remember, your body is your responsibility and in ANY class you should use your own judgment, and listen to your body to know whether anything is right for you or not. A teacher cannot feel what you are feeling and should give less and more intense versions of a pose. If you are struggling, ask a question, never do anything to compromise the health and wellbeing of your body. We only get one.

Hoping to see you at a class or workshop soon!

Much love

Shasha x

If you would like to attend the Shoulders workshop on 12^th November, please go to www.melissascott.net for venue information and booking.