03/28/2026
I recently taught this class, which is very focused on a small and subtle range of motion to activate the deep core muscles. For example, when we twisted in this class, all of the twists were very small with our hands, kept in front of our sternum the entire time this insured, we weren’t twisting by sending one hip forward or by just moving our arms out to the side, it was all about being accountable to the muscles that are actually engaged in working and not recruiting side muscle to compensate for core strength.
This flow was also mandala/infinity style since we moved around on the mat in a circle and one side automatically lead into the other side.
In the warm-up, we focused on these very tiny transitions from sphinx to what I will call a forearm plank on our knees, making sure that this curl up is happening from the activation of core muscles and not just the lift of the hips-that action is just a result of the core engaging.
Similarly, when we did, our tiger kicks here, it wasn’t about finding the large range of motion that we have in other poses like bird dog, it was more about using the core to pull the knee in and stretch it back out, so it was a very small move and you’re trying to forget about using the leg, you want the movement to be happening from your core.
The twisted plank to pike as the spiciest part of this warm-up and you will feel it even more if you make sure to drive those heels into the floor and don’t let them lift back up as you are moving forward to that plank position.
Follow along for the rest of this flow, which I will post in sections.