Practicing yoga is a process of refinement: the more we practice, the more we learn about who we are. The most effective laboratory for self-understanding is through the body. Uncovering the patterns and postural habits that we hold, helps to balance the relationship between mind and body.

This continuing education course is for yoga teachers and curious yoga practitioners. We'll bring anatomical knowledge to life and real-world application. Instead of simply memorizing muscle names, we explore an integrated approach to understanding anatomy and movement to enhance your understanding of yoga asana and better support a wide variety of people.

We work our way from the ground up through the whole body, identifying long-held patterns of tension, connect into the more subtle layers and experience movements and techniques to create lasting change. Even the most familiar of yoga postures will feel new again as this course takes what you thought you knew about yoga and expand your practice and teaching into a supportive, sustainable and functional experience.


Weekend One: From the ground up: Feet + Hips

This workshop explores the applied anatomy and biomechanics of the hips to build stability and mobility. We will redefine what "hip opening" actually means while gaining a better understanding of the concepts of flexibility, mobility and stability.

We build a strong foundation of healthy movement from the ground up. Covering all of the major joints from the feet to the hips, we focus on how to integrate functional mobility into yoga asana. To support joint mobility, we explore how to build posterior leg strength (the glutes, hamstrings) to support the health of the low back. A combination of body reading, assessments, short lectures, and creative movement explorations will deepen and expand your understanding of the hips, feet and legs.

Weekend Two: Supple Shoulders and Spine

Building on the knowledge from the first weekend, this workshop explores the applied anatomy of the spine and shoulders. We demystify the complexity of the shoulder complex to understand and improve postural habits such as rounded shoulders, "text neck" and breathing restrictions.

Using a variety of techniques and specific postures, you will gain an embodied experience of anatomy from the neck, shoulders, down the wrists and hands. Learn how to build supple strength for hypermobile shoulders and discover sustainable ways to support the shoulders to find more strength and mobility in yoga poses such as chaturanga and downward dog.

You will become well-versed in functional spine mobility and successfully apply that knowledge into twists and backbends so that they enhance rather than hurt the health of the spine.

*Attendance on both weekends is mandatory. After completion of the course, you will receive a certificate of completion for 24 hours of applied anatomy continuing education.

Dates and Times:

October 26th 12:30pm-8:30pm
October 27th 12:30pm-5:30pm
November 16th 12:30pm-8:30pm
November 17th 12:30pm-5:30pm

*one hour break on Saturdays, no break on Sundays (please pack snacks)

EARLY BIRD PRICE: $625 +hst for BOTH weekends.
* Price increased to $675 on September 1st 2019.

Brea Johnson has been a yoga teacher and movement educator since 2003. A teacher, mentor and community builder, with a focus on a functional and sustainable approach to yoga, Brea teaches international workshops and teacher trainings. She is the founder of Heart + Bones online yoga studio and online yoga teacher continuing education courses. She is known for providing a safe foundation of healthy movement while remaining focused in the heart of the yogic teachings. As the popularity of yoga increases along with yoga-related injuries, this approach has made her a sought-after teacher in the yoga and movement communities.