Vincent: Exploring Body Control Techniques in Asanas — Small Group Workshop

In group classes, have you ever felt confused by the teacher’s cues—while everyone else seemed to understand perfectly—leaving you to quietly suppress your questions and simply follow along with the instructions and demonstrations? Teachers, too, often face the same frustration: wishing they could explain more thoroughly, yet always constrained by the limited class time.

In this intimate small-group workshop, Vincent will take the opportunity to break things down more clearly. He will guide students to understand the relationship between joint movement and muscle control in common poses, while also introducing breathwork variations that complement different asanas. The insights gained from this focused setting will empower students to practice with greater clarity, safety, and fluidity—whether in regular group classes or during self-practice at home—cultivating a deeper and more precise awareness of the body.

Weekly Themes

Week 1: Body Alignment

“When the bones are aligned and the muscles are supple, energy flows freely.”
In this first class, you will learn about skeletal alignment, guiding your poses along the natural pathways of joint movement. Experience the alignment and control of the spine in backbends and discover how to create space within the joints.

Week 2: Muscle Awareness – Stretching

Many yoga practices rely on flexibility. Building on Week 1’s focus on joint alignment, this session helps you sense the connection between joint movement and muscle extension. You will awaken proprioception and learn how subtle adjustments in angles can change the way your muscles engage during practice.

Week 3: Muscle Control – Contraction

Where there is muscle extension, contraction naturally follows. As joint movements always involve muscles balancing or opposing each other, this class focuses on finding strength and mastery over your muscles. You will also refine the ability to direct muscle activation with precision.

Week 4: Breath and Asana

Without the presence of breath, physical postures are simply empty movements. Asana is never just inhale and exhale—breath gives life to the posture. By integrating the body control techniques learned in the first three weeks with breath awareness, you will unlock deeper and broader experiences within your practice.

Suitable for:

● Regular yoga practitioners
● Practitioners interested in the anatomy of muscles and joints
● Beginners who want to establish safe practice habits

Key Takeaways

● Gain an understanding of muscle and joint anatomy, and how to integrate it into asana practice
● Develop clear body awareness and synchronize breath with movement during practice

Schedule

October 21, October 28, November 4, November 11 (Tuesdays)
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Note: SPACE reserves the right to adjust the schedule. Any changes will be announced in advance.