Join Alex and Rebecca for a 15-hour training combining dualities as we delve deeply into the mechanics of backbending and forward folding.
The only requirement is coming with an open mind and a willingness to go outside your comfort zone!
Rebecca and Alex both practised and taught yoga long before they discovered contortion. After plateauing in their yoga practice and struggling from injuries, contortion taught them the importance of working on strength and technique rather than flowing mindlessly through postures.
Their experience has given them a systematic approach to flexibility training which focuses on individual alignment/anatomy, drills, repetitions, modifications/advancements, assists, the integration of props, the importance of transitions and intelligent sequencing.
Their unique approach has had a transformational impact on both their practice and teaching and is the perfect complement to anyone who wants to advance their yoga practice in a safe and intelligent way.
This Course will cover:
External Rotation
Spinal extension, anterior pelvic tilt & hamstring activation in half pikes (ardha uttanasana), pikes (uttanasana), turtles (kurmasana) & fireflies (titibhasana). Spinal flexion & posterior pelvic tilt in compression poses like halasana and/or karnapidasana.
External thigh bone rotations, spinal extension & anterior pelvic tilt in lotus (padmasana), lizard (utthan pristhasana), butterfly (baddha konasana) and leg behind head/back positions (eka pada sirsana, dwi pada sirsasana, buddhasana…)
Internal Rotation
Glute activation, hamstring engagement and hip extension in cobra (bhujangasana), bow (dhanurasana), camel (ustrasana) and wheel (urdhva dhanurasana)
Middle/upper back activation, shoulder rotation for flipped grip poses including pigeon (kapotasana), lunge (anjanesyasana) and dancer (natarajasana)
Pike and Hollowback
Active compression for tuck, straddle and pike press including headstand/forearm stand (shirshasana/pincha mayurasana) and handstand (adho mukha vrksasana)
The movements of the shoulders include protraction, retraction, flexion, extension, internal and external rotation. We will explore how this can be applied to entries into wheel pose (urdhva dhanurasana), hollowback wheel (alien) and hollowback forearm stand
Daily Schedule
FRIDAY
16:30-19:30 - Masterclass focussed on Strength & Flexibility + Introduction to Handstands
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
9:15-10:45 - Morning Practice
11:00-12:30 - Adjusting and assisting
13:30-15:00 - Theory of flexibility - Alignment and modifications for different body types
15:30-17:00 - Fun transitions and creative shape play
Who is it for?
Whilst this course isn’t recommended for complete beginners we aim to break down and explore how postures can be adapted for different body types. This will include how to assess and understand where your restrictions lie and how to build a practice that works for you and your body.
REBECCA HANNAH
Rebecca’s intention as a teacher is to help students discover presence through play, teaching sequences that are fun, innovative, creative and smart. She believes in a strong focus on developing the strength to safely support flexibility, while using movement as a tool for mindfulness, communication, creativity and self-expression.
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Rebecca was introduced to yoga through physical theatre and performance. As a performer she was initially attracted to the physical side of yoga and how it could be used as a tool for creative expression. After her 200hr YTT in hatha followed by an additional 200 hours in ashtanga, she discovered a passion for creativity in different styles of movement disciplines.
This interest was channelled into further trainings, including 200 hours of Yogic Arts with Duncan Wong (a fusion of martial arts, Thai massage and yoga), 50 hours Tripsichore Yoga Choreography, calisthenics, and circus arts. She has taught workshops, retreats and teacher trainings in over 20 different countries across four continents. This includes her signature training ‘The Art of Flex-ability’ which combines drills, assists, and transitions inspired by yoga, contortion, dance and Thai massage.
ALEX HAMMER
Alex regards movement as art and a means of self-expression. He knows that our feelings towards our practice can be ambivalent sometimes, so in his workshops and retreats he focuses on connecting practitioners with their bodies and finding joy within the practice, i.e. while practicing. This is achieved by the development of a skill that could be called ‹ intensity management ›, by the joyful experience of going beyond what we think our limits are and by finding access to our practice as a means of self-expression.
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Alex has a background in bodyweight training and calisthenics. After a couple of injuries due to inflexibility he luckily discovered Yoga through YouTube and started the exact same day. Two years later he had done his 200hr Hatha YTT in Rishikesh India, but dedicated himself to ashtanga for a couple years afterwards.
Always in the search for something new and by spending hours and hours on the mat daily he slowly started to experiment with an approach that combines training elements and yoga elements. In particular by practising with the circus artist Alexander Batuev a method was developed that aims at balancing out strength and flexibility and allows the practitioner to stretch not only their bodies but also their limits.
PRICING
EARLY BIRD until May 1st €400
REGULAR PRICE €450
JOIN ONLY FOR THE FRIDAY PRACTICE (16:30-19:30)
€65
JOIN ONLY FOR THE MORNING PRACTICE (09:15-10:45):
€40 1 day
€70 Saturday & Sunday