I met Michael back in 2005 during a teacher training in San Francisco at Yoga Tree Studios. The first thing he said when he walked into the room was, "You are health professionals first, yoga teachers second." He didn't want us teaching another Adho Mukha Savasana until we knew how the body worked, anatomically, and could feel it from our skin to our bones. He went onto say, "As yoga teachers, you help students heal their injuries, you don't help create more injuries for them to heal." These statements seemed painfully obvious, but when he threw out a statistic that at that time, a shockingly high percentage of the injuries physical therapists in certain US cities were seeing were from yoga, my ears perked up and I realized I should be paying close attention to this guy. My future as a teacher, and the integrity of the practice itself, depended on it.I developed a deep respect for Michael, his teaching and practice, from that moment forward. I learned more about functional anatomy and its application to yoga in 16 hrs with Michael than I had learned in any other course. And recently, I was reminded how brilliant he is when I heard him interviewed by Darren Main on Darren's excellent podcast, Inquire Within. Michael was talking about a new addition to his curriculum and repetoire - Kinesis Myofascial Integration (KMI). KMI is working with the web of connective tissue, fascia, throughout the body to create depth, space and a release, without overstretching.
That is why I am so excited that he and his assistant, Jennifer Dutch, agreed to my whacky plan of leaving warm, sunny Bermuda to come to cold, gray Paris in February to offer a weekend of anatomy instruction for teacher trainees and advanced level students at the Centre de Yoga du Marais. I convinced Michelle, the owner of the Centre and the director of the teacher training program, that Michael and his team are the real deal. She generously agreed and voila!
If you're in Paris the weekend of 26 - 28 February, and are interested yet haven't signed up, send me an email: amanda (at) dogayoga.net. There are ten spots left on Friday night and only two spots left on both Saturday and Sunday.
FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY FOR YOGA
WEEKEND WORKSHOP
with Michael Watson
26 – 28 February, 2010
Centre de Yoga du Marais
72 rue Vertbois, Paris
€90 for the entire weekend
Centre de Yoga du Marais is pleased to welcome Michael Watson and his assistant, Jennifer Dutch, from Mindful Integration and the Bermuda Health Coop, for a weekend exploring structural anatomy for yoga.
Friday 26 February, 19h00 – 21h00
Structural Yoga and Intro to Kinesis Myofascial Integration (KMI)
This class will explore working with the fascial connective tissue of the body in yoga. Combining both flow and slow yoga, Michael will guide you on how to create depth, volume and space in the body without over stretching. Participants should have a good working knowledge of postures.
Saturday 27 February, 16h00-19h00
Yoga Anatomy for Teacher Trainees and Advanced Yogis I –
This session will be targeted to individuals training to become yoga teachers, as well as existing teachers and serious students of yoga brushing up on or curious about exploring anatomy guidelines for a beneficial and safe practice.
Sunday 28 February, 14h00-17h00
Yoga Anatomy for Teacher Trainees and Advanced Yogis II –
This session will build on the previous day, continuing to explore the topics of: range of motion in the joints, spinal health, and anatomy application to your teaching and personal practice.
Michael Watson is a highly regarded international presenter and certified teacher of Yoga, Pilates and functional anatomy. With over 12 years of experience in alternative healing modalities, Michael has successfully taught and assisted in many international training programs for Pilates and Yoga. With a degree in sports science, Michael brings an in depth awareness to his clients based on a strong understanding of anatomy, the body and its function. Graduating from the KMI (Kinesis Myofascial Integration) school of Structural Integration, Michael combines his knowledge of ‘hands on’ therapies with the educational aspects of movement.
