The Science of Stretch
The word “flexibility” is often associated with yoga. But what does it mean to be flexible? In this online course, Anatomy Trains founder Tom Myers walks you through the latest science on stretching, including the roles that fascia and your nervous system play, as well as common yoga injuries and postural patterns associated with both stiffness and hypermobility. You’ll learn how to work with both in your practice, or with your yoga students.
We all have either experienced injury, instability, or tightness; or we have had students who have come to us for solutions for them. This course will help you understand the basics of stretch—what anatomical systems are in play. But most importantly, body reading and postural clinics within the course will help you start to identify postural patterns in yourself and your students and adjust what you are teaching in ways that will lead to integrated wellness.
Learning Objectives
- The anatomy of stretch
- New science on stretch
- The relationship between fascial systems and stretch
- The relationship between your nervous system and stretch
- How to identify postural patterns
- How to apply these principles to asana
- Lectures that help you understand anatomical systems in the context of stretch
- Body reading clinics and asana practices that help embody what you’ve learned
- Homework to prepare you for the next lesson
Course Procedure
- Enroll in the course.
- View the course content.
- Take the test. (You must score 80% to pass. If you do not pass, you may retake the test.)
- Print your certificate of completion.
Course Content
- Welcome to the Science of Stretch
- Here's What to Expect
- Meet Your Teacher
- Meet the Models
- Suggested Reading
- Glossary of Terms
- The Science of Stretch Full Manual
- Open Your Presence Webinar
- Tissues & Cells
- What is Your Body?
- Stretch Systems
- Types of Stretch
- The Digestive System
- How Your Gut is Constructed
- Holistic Communicating Systems
- Holistic Communication
- Breath and the Respiratory System
- Yoga Stretch 1
- Yoga Stretch 2
- Yoga Stretch 3
- Mechanotransduction
- Homework
- Fascia 101
- Joints, Muscles and "Dynaments"
- Fascial Properties
- Bone & Cartilage
- Fascial Genetics
- Fascial Injuries
- Myofascia: Stretch vs. Glide
- Myofascial Meridians
- Stretch vs. Glide
- Fascia & Proprioception
- Homework
- Yoga & Motor Control
- Muscle Sensory Endings
- Reciprocal Inhibition
- Fascial Sensing
- Fascial Neurology
- Yoga & Trauma
- The Breath
- The Spine: Learning the Bones
- The Spine: Muscles on the Back
- The Spine: Muscles on the Front
- Facet Joint Prayer
- Spinal Practice
- Prayer Twist
- Homework
- Individual Questions: Addressing Neck Rigidity
- Individual Questions: Yoga in Pregnancy
- Individual Questions: Addressing Explosive Injuries
- Individual Questions: Working with Asymmetry
- Individual Questions: Retraining Your Body
- Body Reading: Chanel
- Body Reading: Maya
- Body Reading: Kelly
- Body Reading: Caitlin
- Body Reading: Bria
- Body Reading: Ashley
- Body Reading: Jeanie
- Body Reading: Susan
- Homework
- Science of Stretch Final Exam
- A Message from Tom