Sunday, July 18
The Yoga Room - Berkeley, CA
10 a.m.–12 p.m. PDT | $40
(Online via Zoom)

Due to the curve and concavity in the thoracic rib cage, those of us with scoliosis are more prone to heart and lung conditions or weaknesses than others.  Many of us have conditions like Mitral Valve Prolapse for instance which may need eventual surgery.  But we can use the techniques which help our curves through yoga such as breathing into the thoracic concavity, changing the position of the ribs in the concavity by side bending and stretching specific intercostals and stuck areas in the diaphragm to increase our breathing capacity and strengthen the heart.  We can change blood flow through inversions and increase or slow down the heart rate/respiration with backbends, forward bends and pranayama.  Join Deborah for Wolk, long time scoliosis specialist and Founder/Program Director of Samamkaya Yoga in New York City for an experiential anatomy lesson on the heart and lungs in relationship to scoliosis and a yoga asana practice especially designed to strengthen, open and make space for the heart and lungs.

Basic props will be needed for this workshop.  No brand new beginners to yoga.

Here's a list of recommended minimum props:  

• 3-4 blocks

• 4-5 Mexican style cotton blankets with no pattern in the weave

• 2 Pune belts (1 long, 1 short)

• a metal folding chair

• and a sticky mat