Whole Yoga centers its practice on the integration of breath, proprioception, and engagement of the body’s deeper, smaller stabilizing muscles. This approach aims to facilitate seamless transitions and movement with balanced alignment, stemming from the “core” of our joints coupled with posterior chain awareness, leading to pain-free movement, longevity, and improved quality of life.

 

In Whole Yoga, we recognize that the human body is a complex, interconnected system. When we speak about our core, we often think of our abdominals. In Whole Yoga, we view each joint, whether it’s the shoulder, hip, or any other joint, as having its own “core” musculature. Practicing and learning to move from our “core” creates joint stability and facilitates safe movement.

 

Fundamentally, Whole Yoga focuses on enhancing efficiency and building endurance in our muscular and postural awareness. This approach minimizes overcompensation of our larger, global musculature, which is often our default in daily life and can lead to pain and injury. It also increases our awareness and strength in muscles that are typically underutilized. Ideally, our global musculature should come into play more significantly when our smaller stabilizing muscles fatigue, promoting stability and longevity in our joints.

 

The emphasis on efficiency is where the “intelligent” aspect of Whole Yoga emerges. It is not about exerting maximum effort or embodying complete relaxation; rather, it is about learning to engage just the right amount of intensity and focus. Achieving this balance involves both the effort to act and a degree of softness or receptivity to receive messages and make necessary adjustments. The long-term result of this practice is a reduction in pain, stress, and a heightened sense of calm in our nervous systems.