My friend Nicole is a Yoga buff and reached out to me because she was experiencing neck + shoulder pain.

As soon as she assumed the position, the reason for her pain became obvious. Can you see it too?

Let’s break it down…Her shoulders + lower back are hyper-extended. This causes a sort of collapse in the shoulder girdle + spine that allows her to “sit” on her joints.

Resting on the joints creates instability resulting in unnecessary tension + pain gathering in her neck, shoulders, and low back.

But once she implemented this “quick fix”, her whole Yoga practice changed…

“I've injured my right shoulder multiple times and since then it's never been quite right. I was dealing with pain, flexibility issues, and it was affecting my yoga practice. Paige guided me through fixing my physical alignment with great knowledge and care. Now, even years later, I still use her tips and guidance!”

THE SHOULDER JOINT

The shoulder joint is highly mobile.

And when there’s that much range of motion in a joint, it’s easy for something to go wrong; especially if you’re athletic and use your shoulders frequently.

Check out the image of Pratima below. Notice the straight line that she’s achieved throughout her back by implementing the same corrections I gave Nicole.

It’s easy to see that subtle differences in form DO contribute to overall shoulder function + pain.

And practicing downward dog directly relates to lifting something overhead. Easier + more supported postures translate effortlessly into more challenging + dynamic moves...

Now, it’s your turn…

Get on your mat in front of a mirror and give this a try. Can’t wait to hear how it works for you! Leave a comment below.

P.S. - FYI, I have 1 space left in February to create your custom Pilates program. If you’re ready to secure that spot, click here.