Shows
Yoga Meets Movement ScienceYoga and Artificial Intelligence w/ Jules Mitchell, MSYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by Jules Mitchell, MS to discuss yoga and artificial intelligence (AI).Points of discussion include:What is AI?How do we commonly interact with AI in today’s world?What would an AI for yoga look like on a practical level?What was Jules’ experience like consulting with a company that wanted to develop AI for yoga?What are the strengths of AI for yoga?What are the limitations of AI for yoga?Is AI yoga safer than practicing to non-AI prerecorded yoga video clas...
2023-12-191h 18Yoga Meets Movement ScienceWellness Myths in the Yoga WorldYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by Dr. Jessica Steier and Dr. Andrea Love (co-founders of the Unbiased Science Podcast) to discuss wellness myths in the yoga world.Jessica Steier, DrPH, PMP is a public health scientist and data scientist, and Andrea Love, PhD is an immunologist and microbiologist.Together, they run the Unbiased Science Podcast and all of its associated educational resources. Through their work, Jessica and Andrea are devoted to objective, critical appraisal of available evidence on science and health-related topics. They are a much-needed powerhouse of...
2023-11-121h 28Yoga Meets Movement ScienceThe Top 7 Most Misused Movement TermsJenni and Travis discuss the top 7 most misused movement terms in yoga. Why did each of these movement terms make the list? How are their common uses in the yoga world unhelpful? How can we update our movement-based yoga language to be more in line with movement science?Jenni and Travis are also offering a free *written guide* to the top 7 most misused movement terms! Grab your free guide here: https://www.jennirawlings.com/yoga-language-clarified-sign-upResources mentioned in this episode:Free written guide: Top 7 Most Misused Movement T...
2023-10-011h 27Yoga Meets Movement ScienceWhat Yogis Should Know About CardioYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by special guest Alec Blenis to discuss what yogis should know about cardio.Alec Blenis is a hybrid athlete, strength and conditioning coach, and science nerd. He holds a B.S. in physics from Georgia Tech and is a former professional obstacle course racer and ultrarunner (he’s completed over 50 ultras.) Alec is also the current world record holder in Murph, a CrossFit workout we discuss in the show. As a coach, he’s worked with everyone from endurance athletes to powerlifters, first responders, weekend warr...
2023-08-221h 34Yoga Meets Movement ScienceYoga Myths About the KneesYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss yoga myths about the knees.Points of discussion include:Will running wear out your knees?What is a systematic review with meta analysis?Should we avoid locking our knees in yoga?Are knee pops and clicks bad?Are open chain knee extension exercises bad?What’s the deal with knee alignment in chair pose?Is knee valgus in our standing yoga poses bad?Should you *not* square your hips in warrior 1 in order to protect your back knee?…And much more!Enjoy this engaging and...
2023-08-011h 06Yoga Meets Movement ScienceABCs of the Knees: Anatomy, Biomechanics, & CueingYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the anatomy, biomechanics, and cueing of the knees.Points of discussion include:What is the structure of the knee joint?What are the ligaments of the knee?Are quadriceps-targeted exercises the only way to strengthen the knee?Is the knee joint only a hinge joint?What’s the screw home mechanism of the knee?What are knee valgus and knee varus?What is knee hyperextension and what is terminal knee extension?How can we load or target the knee in our yoga, strength, and/or mo...
2023-07-111h 08Yoga Meets Movement ScienceWhat is a Yoga Teacher's Scope of Practice?Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by the amazing Catherine Wilkinson to discuss a yoga teacher’s scope of practice.Catherine Wilkinson is the founder of Wellness Connection Yoga School, where she also serves as the course designer and lead trainer for their 200hr and 500hr yoga teacher trainings (offered both in-person and online). Catherine holds a BSc/MSc in Health Sciences, and she strives to be as evidence-based as possible in her approach to training yoga teachers.Points of discussion include:How has Catherine’s opinion about the...
2023-06-201h 35Yoga Meets Movement ScienceFascia Myths & Fascia Facts Part 2: Yin Yoga, Myofascial Release, & MoreYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the topic of fascia in part 2 of a 2-part series. This second episode of this 2-part series focuses on the questions:1) Does Yin Yoga target fascia?2) Does myofascial release work?(Part 1 of this series focused on the questions: What is fascia? And: Can we train fascia through active movement?)Points of discussion in this episode include:A review of the definition of fasciaWhat claims does Yin Yoga make about fascia?What is Yin Yoga?What’s the difference between Yi...
2023-05-301h 14Yoga Meets Movement ScienceFascia Myths & Fascia Facts Part 1: Can We Train Fascia?Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the topic of fascia in part 1 of a 2-part series. This first episode focuses on the questions:1) What is fascia?2) Can we specifically train fascia through active movement?(Part 2 of this series focuses on the questions: Does Yin Yoga target fascia? And: Does myofascial release work?)Points of discussion in this episode include:Travis and Jenni’s personal backgrounds with the fascia communityThe “Fascial Fitness” system designed by Robert SchleipThe “Fuzz Speech” by Gil HedleyWhat is fascia?The 4 tissue types of t...
2023-05-161h 27Yoga Meets Movement ScienceThe Great Wild Thing DebateYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss wild thing – a yoga pose that many yoga practitioners have strong opinions about! Jenni and Travis discuss the anatomy and biomechanics of wild thing, as well as a controversial kerfuffle that happened in the yoga community surrounding this yoga pose a few years ago.Points of discussion include:The anatomy & biomechanics of wild thingThe controversial kerfuffle about wild thing in the yoga communityThe difference between “wear and tear” vs. “wear and repair”How would one go about researching the prevalence of yoga injuries in a scientific...
2023-05-021h 18Yoga Meets Movement ScienceCan Stretching Make You Strong? w/ Greg NuckolsYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by Greg Nuckols to discuss whether stretching can make you strong. Greg has an M.A. in exercise and sports science and is the co-founder of Stronger by Science and MacroFactor (the best nutrition app on the market). He’s held three all-time world records in powerlifting, is an international speaker, and is the author of multiple books. He’s also the co-host of the Stronger by Science podcast.Points of discussion include:8:50 What is strength?12:25 When muscles grow in size, is i...
2023-04-182h 10Yoga Meets Movement ScienceThe ABCs of Hip RotationYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the anatomy, biomechanics, and cueing of hip rotation.Points of discussion include:A brief intro to hip joint anatomyOpen vs. closed chain hip rotationWhat is the average ROM of hip external & internal rotation?What are hip anteversion and retroversion?What does research suggest about the connection between lack of hip rotation and hip pain?The difference between alignment/position and muscular action in a yoga pose or movementWhat’s the hip rotation alignment in warrior 1?What’s the hip rotation alignment in warrior 2?What’s the hi...
2023-04-041h 20Yoga Meets Movement ScienceShould We Always Listen to Our Body?Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss what research suggests about whether we should truly “always listen to our body”.Points of discussion include:A review of interoceptionDo yoga & mindfulness practices actually improve interoception?What’s the connection between interoception and anxiety?Does what we feel in our body necessarily reflect what is actually taking place in our body?Do feelings of back stiffness correlate to actual biomechanical back stiffness?The conundrum of treating pain in a rehab context when pain does not necessarily correlate with tissue damageShould rehab exercises be painful or not...
2023-03-211h 23Yoga Meets Movement ScienceAre Some Muscles Magical?Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the phenomenon of “magic muscles”: the tendency in the yoga, fitness, and rehab worlds to treat some muscles as more important or more special than other muscles.Points of discussion include:What is a magic muscle?Muscle-based approaches in strength training & bodybuildingTeaching yoga with a “teach movement, not muscles” approachWhat research suggests about these specific magic muscles:Quadratus Lumborum (QL)Vastus Medialis Obliquus (VMO)Transverse Abdominis (TvA)PsoasGlutesPiriformisWhat do all magic muscles have in common?Is the practice of labelling certain muscles as “stabilizers” and others as “mo...
2023-03-071h 21Yoga Meets Movement ScienceWhat Yoga Teachers Should Know About Breathing PhysiologyYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by special guest Joe Miller, MS to discuss the physiology of breathing.Joe Miller has been teaching yoga since 2000, and he has a master’s degree in applied physiology from Columbia University. He teaches anatomy and physiology in yoga teacher trainings nationally and worldwide. He’s also a Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA.Points of discussion include:Joe’s yoga backstory and how he got into physiologyHas the yoga world historically been insular by natu...
2023-02-211h 28Yoga Meets Movement ScienceNasal vs. Mouth Breathing: Does It Matter?Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss what scientific research suggests about nasal vs. mouth breathing.In addition to nasal vs. mouth breathing as a general topic, Jenni and Travis also take a closer look at the Buteyko Breathing Method, as well as and 2 popular books on breathing: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor (2020) and The Oxygen Advantage by Patrick McKeown (2015).This episode features a special guest interview at the end specifically about the book Breath by James...
2023-02-071h 36Yoga Meets Movement ScienceWhat's the Deal With Complementary & Alternative Medicine?Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by the knowledgeable science educator Jonathan Jarry, MS to discuss complementary and alternative medicine.Jonathan Jarry is a science communicator for McGill University’s Office for Science and Society. He has a master’s degree in molecular biology, and he brings his experience in cancer research, human genetics, rehabilitation research, and forensic biology to the work he does for the public. Jonathan also co-hosts the award-winning medical podcast The Body of Evidence, and he is frequently quoted in local, national and international media on issues of s...
2023-01-241h 31Yoga Meets Movement ScienceYoga Alignment Rules That Don’t Make SenseYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss a selection of yoga alignment cues that don't make sense! These cues all have one thing in common: they are each used inconsistently across similar (or the same) positions. By examining these carefully-chosen examples, we gain insight into whether or not these cues are actually important. And we improve our ability to think critically about the information we’re taught!Yoga alignment rules covered in this episode include:Stack the shoulder over the wrist in plank poseStack the shoulder over the wrist in side plank po...
2023-01-101h 34Yoga Meets Movement ScienceMyths About Women & Strength Training w/ Claire Zai, MSYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by the knowledgeable and inspiring Claire Zai, a strength coach with Barbell Medicine and a competitive powerlifter with her bachelor’s degree in physiology & neuroscience and her master’s degree in physiology with a focus on biomechanics.They discuss myths and evidence-based information about women & strength training, including these topics:How societal gender stereotypes influence how we view women’s and men’s bodiesStrength training around the menstrual cycle – is this something women should think about?What role do hormones like estrogen and progesterone play in ou...
2022-12-271h 33Yoga Meets Movement ScienceThe ABCs of Down Dog: Anatomy, Biomechanics, & CueingYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the anatomy, biomechanics, and cueing of the yoga asana downward facing dog (adho mukha svanasana).Points of discussion include:The anatomy and joint positions of down dogThe biomechanical effects that down dog has on the bodyShould we externally rotate our shoulders in down dog?What is “shoulder impingement”, and why is this an outdated model for shoulder pain?Should we ground our inner hands down in down dog?What’s the right hand-to-feet length in down dog?Should our heels be on the ground in down d...
2022-12-131h 30Yoga Meets Movement ScienceShould We Stop Teaching Yoga for Low Back Pain?Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by the legendary Paul Ingraham, owner and operator of www.PainScience.com, to discuss the connection between yoga and low back pain.Points of discussion include:How and why pain is weirdWhat’s the difference between acute, chronic, and persistent pain?When back pain is connected to a serious medical condition (which is rare), what are some of these possible conditions?Is back pain usually a biomechanical or structural problem, or is it caused by something else?How well does general exercise help with lo...
2022-11-291h 25Yoga Meets Movement ScienceWhich Yoga Educators Should I Trust?Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss helpful tips for how to discern whether or not to trust a source of information in the yoga, fitness, and rehab worlds.Points of discussion include:Concrete tips for how to think more scientificallyJenni and Travis’ personal experiences with being taught misinformation in trainings they’ve takenHow to look on the bright side about having been taught misinformation in the pastCommon biases we are all prone to that we should be aware ofWhat is “bro science”?What is pseudoscience?Common logical fallacies and examples of their us...
2022-11-151h 34Yoga Meets Movement ScienceIs Rounding Your Back Dangerous? w/ Dr. Sam SpinelliYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by the knowledgeable Dr. Sam Spinelli to discuss all things lumbar flexion!Sam is a doctor of physical therapy (DPT), a certified strength & conditioning specialist (CSCS), co-founder of E3 Rehab, and co-founder of Citizen Athletics. He does a fantastic job bringing evidence-based education on the topics of rehab and exercise to the general public through his social media presence (especially on his E3 Rehab channel on YouTube), and he is very respected in the rehab community.Points of discussion include:The basic...
2022-11-011h 35Yoga Meets Movement ScienceABCs of the Shoulder: Anatomy, Biomechanics, & Cueing in YogaYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss all things shoulders!Points of discussion include:The anatomy and biomechanics of the shoulder joint complexCommon micromanaging shoulder cues we hear in the yoga, movement, & fitness worldsThe biomechanics of how to strengthen the shouldersDoes yoga really strengthen the shoulders?How can we protect the shoulders from pain and injury in yoga?Why do many people’s shoulders pop and click so much?Should we fix rounded-forward shoulders?Is transitioning from side plank to wild thing inherently risky for the shoulder?…And much more!Enjoy this...
2022-10-111h 23Yoga Meets Movement ScienceAll Things Hamstrings: Cramps, "Yoga Butt", Flexibility, Strength, & MoreYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss all things hamstrings!Points of discussion include:The anatomy of the hamstrings musclesThe biomechanics of how to strengthen the hamstringsDoes yoga strengthen the hamstrings?What’s the connection between hamstring strengthening and hamstring flexibility?What is “yoga butt” (a.k.a. proximal hamstring tendinopathy)?What causes yoga butt? Who tends to develop this condition?How is yoga butt generally treated? What measures can be taken to reduce the risk of developing yoga butt?Does bending the knees in forward folds protect the hamstrings?Why do the ha...
2022-10-041h 27Yoga Meets Movement SciencePosture is Overrated w/ Todd HargroveYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by Todd Hargrove to discuss the controversial topic of posture and alignment in the yoga, movement, and fitness worlds. Todd is a Feldenkrais practitioner, Rolfer, former attorney, author of the books A Guide to Better Movement and Playing With Movement, and more.Points of discussion include:What do the terms “posture” and “alignment” mean?What does society’s idea of “good posture” look like?The distinction between seeing posture through societal vs. biomechanical lensesDoes research support the widespread claims that bad posture has causal links with pai...
2022-09-201h 26Yoga Meets Movement ScienceInteroception, Emotions, Pain, & YogaYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the fascinating and hugely relevant topic of interoception and its connection to yoga, mindfulness practices, emotion, pain, and more.Points of discussion include:Pain science and interoception science are intimately relatedThe hugely integral role that interoception plays in how we experience and feel our bodies in the world is generally overlookedInteroception research is rapidly evolving, and it’s important for yoga teachers to stay on top of these developing insightsCommon claims we hear about interoception and yoga & mindfulness practices may be questioned by scienceThere’s a pl...
2022-09-061h 28Yoga Meets Movement ScienceDoes Yoga Count as Exercise?Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss whether yoga can be considered “exercise” – and why this is a much more complex and nuanced question than it might appear to be on the surface!Points of discussion include:Is a yoga practice challenging enough to be considered “exercise” by exercise science definitions?What is the technical definition of “exercise”, and how is it different from “physical activity”?Can a yoga practice by itself give our body everything it needs to be healthy from a movement/exercise perspective?How a person can be considered both an “exerciser...
2022-08-231h 32Yoga Meets Movement ScienceThe Connection Between Strength Training & Range of Motion w/ Greg NuckolsYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by Greg Nuckols to discuss the connection between strength training and range of motion. Greg has an M.A. in exercise and sports science and is the co-founder of Stronger by Science, MASS (a monthly research review on strength sports), and MacroFactor (a nutrition app). He’s held three all-time world records in powerlifting, is an international speaker, and the author of multiple books.Points of discussion include:What is Greg’s surprising personal connection to the yoga world?How does strength training affect one’...
2022-08-091h 33Yoga Meets Movement ScienceThe Surprising Science of Asymmetry, Injury, & YogaYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the topic of asymmetry in yoga, rehab, and fitness contexts.Points of discussion include:The nature of the major asymmetry that exists in Travis’ own bodyAsymmetries with regard to body alignmentWhat is a leg length discrepancy?How is a leg length discrepancy measured? How is it treated?Are common treatments for leg length discrepancies and other minor body asymmetries evidence-based?Can “correcting” body asymmetries have unexpected negative consequences?Do we always need to do the same thing on both sides in our yoga sequences?Do side-t...
2022-07-261h 26Yoga Meets Movement ScienceChair Pose: Knees Over Toes and Other Hot-Topic WoesYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss chair pose (utkatasana), squats (malasana), and the common alignment questions and confusions that arise about these poses.Points of discussion include:The anatomy and biomechanics of chair poseThe differences and similarities between yoga’s chair pose and the strength world’s squatVariations of chair poseIs a bodyweight yoga practice a good way to build strength for chair pose?The difference between a knee-dominant or hip-dominant chair pose and why you might choose one over the otherJenni’s personal evolution about chair pose alignment in her yoga t...
2022-07-121h 25Yoga Meets Movement ScienceLanguage, Fear, & Science in the Yoga Studio w/ Matthew Huy, MScYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen are joined by Matthew Huy, MSc to discuss his recent dissertation: “Language, Fear, and Science in the Yoga Studio”. Matthew is a longtime yoga teacher and an anatomy and physiology teacher in yoga teacher trainings worldwide. He also holds a master’s degree in Exercise Science and is the co-author of the book The Physiology of Yoga, published by Human Kinetics in June 2022.Points of discussion include:How can the yoga world improve its scientific literacy?What type of content has historically been included in yoga anatom...
2022-06-281h 35Yoga Meets Movement SciencePigeon Pose: Friend or Foe?Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the ins and outs of pigeon pose.Points of discussion include:A description of the anatomy and biomechanics of pigeonThe different variations of pigeon pose and their unique effects on the bodyIs pigeon pose risky for the front knee?The relationship between pigeon pose and the piriformis muscle of the hipDo we ever realistically stretch one muscle in isolation?Is pigeon pose a good treatment for sciatica?Should the front shin be parallel to the front edge of the mat in pigeon?Should...
2022-06-141h 25Yoga Meets Movement ScienceStop Micromanaging Your Yoga Students!Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the topic of micromanaging in yoga and movement classes.Points of discussion include:What does “micromanaging” mean in a yoga or movement context?Do we see micromanaging tendencies in other movement fields, such as personal training, physical therapy, or somatics-based practices?What are some examples of micromanaging that we see in yoga classes?Why is it common for yoga instructors to use a micromanaging approach in their teaching?How can micromanaging in yoga be unhelpful?In what contexts can teaching in a deta...
2022-05-311h 23Yoga Meets Movement ScienceWhat’s the Best Way to Teach Yoga? Visual, Verbal, & Kinesthetic CueingYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss verbal, visual, and kinesthetic cueing in yoga and movement teaching. Using the tool of movement science, they examine what scientific evidence suggests about how these various teaching tools can best be utilized in a yoga/movement setting to optimize learning.Points of discussion include:Is it true that there are 3 types of learners: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic? Or is this a neuromyth?Is teaching yoga or movement without demonstrating (or minimizing demonstrating) a superior method?Is there a difference in attitudes about verbal cueing vs...
2022-05-171h 06Yoga Meets Movement ScienceAre Headstand & Shoulder Stand the King & Queen of Yoga Poses?Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the widely varying viewpoints on headstand and shoulder stand in the yoga world. On the one hand, these two inversions are often proclaimed to be the “king and queen of yoga poses” and are therefore treated as almost essential yoga poses. On the other hand, there’s a growing belief in the yoga world that these two poses are inherently injurious and should not be taught in yoga classes.Jenni and Travis examine both of these extreme points of view (and everywhere in between!) using the helpfu...
2022-05-031h 23Yoga Meets Movement ScienceThe Truth About Polyvagal Theory w/ Dr. Laura BaehrYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the nervous system and take a science-based look at the popular polyvagal theory with Dr. Laura Baehr, PT, DPT, and PhD candidate in Rehabilitation Sciences.Points of discussion include:A brief primer on nervous system structure and functionThe relationship between the “fight or flight” and “rest and digest” nervous system responsesThe definition of “resilience” and how a movement practice can enhance this qualityA brief summary of polyvagal theory, which was introduced by Stephen Porges in 1994The widespread prevalence of polyvagal theory and its concepts today in yoga, yog...
2022-04-191h 27Yoga Meets Movement ScienceThe Glutes: Peachy Keen or Not All They Seem?Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the glutes and the many beliefs and claims about this area of the body we tend to hear in the yoga, fitness, and therapeutic worlds.Points of discussion include:A brief overview of the functional anatomy of the glutesShould we relax or contract our glutes in backbends in yoga?The difference between internal and external movement cuesIs glute strengthening important for preventing and treating pain?What’s the connection between anterior pelvic tilt and back/hip pain?Is gluteal amnesia a widespread issue we should be...
2022-04-051h 09Yoga Meets Movement ScienceIs Restorative Yoga Truly De-Stressing?Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss a controversial study that found that stretching was more de-stressing than restorative yoga. Could this assertion possibly be true?Points of discussion include:The temptation to make definitive conclusions based on the results of a single studyWhat is the “stress response” (a biological process in the human body)?What’s the relationship between restorative yoga and the stress response?What’s the relationship between exercise in general and the stress response?Foundational tips for reading and analyzing a research articleWhat did the rese...
2022-03-211h 05Yoga Meets Movement ScienceHot Yoga, Cold Yoga, & The Science of Body TemperatureYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss how hot yoga and cold yoga affect the body and the eye-opening and geeky science of body temperature!Points of discussion include:How does temperature affect our bodies in general, and what role does it play when we’re moving our bodies in yoga or any other movement practice?Is hot yoga a safe type of yoga, or does it pose significant risks we should be aware of?Does the sweating that we do in hot yoga detoxify our body?Do hot yoga and cold yo...
2022-03-081h 12Yoga Meets Movement ScienceYou Can't Go Wrong Getting Strong... Or Can You? w/ Adam MeakinsYoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the many nuanced connections between strength and pain with Adam Meakins, a brilliant and influential physiotherapist and strength and conditioning coach.Points of discussion include:What is strength, and what parameters need to be met in order for an activity to be strengthening?If someone adds strength work into their movement practice and they end up feeling better in their body, why do they feel better?Do weak muscles cause pain?Are “tight” muscles simply weak, and is the solution always to strengthen them?What’s the...
2022-02-221h 08Yoga Meets Movement ScienceDo We Store Emotions in Our Hips?In this episode, yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen dive into the topic of whether or not we store emotions in our hips (or in our body in general).Points of discussion include:Is this claim accurate?What’s the explanation for why and how emotions are stored in our hips or in our body, and does this explanation hold up to scrutiny?Is the psoas muscle a magic muscle?What’s the connection between “hip-openers” and emotion?The “recovered-memory therapy” movement from the 1980s and 90s and what lessons and insights it has to of...
2022-02-081h 05Yoga Meets Movement ScienceIs Chaturanga a Shoulder-Shredder?In this episode, yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen dive into the topic of chaturanga, or yoga’s push-up-like asana. Points of discussion include:The anatomy & biomechanics of chaturangaThe differences between chaturanga and a typical push-up you’d find in the fitness worldWhy chaturanga is actually a much more difficult pose than many people realizePotential injury mechanisms of chaturangaShould the elbows hug in in chaturanga or not?Should we only lower halfway down (to 90°) or not?Should we shift forward onto the toes before lowering down into chaturanga?What should the shoulder blades...
2022-01-251h 09Yoga Meets Movement ScienceCan We Prevent Yoga Injuries?In this episode, yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the hot topic of how to prevent yoga injuries. Travis is a recognized expert in the field of injury prevention, having researched and written his dissertation on the topic, as well as creating a masterclass on injury prevention for Physio Network. His insights on preventing injuries in yoga are therefore especially valuable and insightful!Points of discussion in this episode include:How is an “injury” defined in the scientific literature?How are injuries classified and categorized in research on injury prevention?What are...
2022-01-111h 02Yoga Meets Movement ScienceIs Ashtanga a Cult? And the Value of StrengthIn this episode, yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen cover a ton of ground regarding yoga, strength, and movement, including these hot-button topics (and more!):Is Ashtanga Yoga a cult?Are repetitive movement activities a bad idea?4 distinct phases that a movement science-based yogi might go through on their yoga journey over timeThe common tendency to see yoga as a magical practice that offers everyone everything they needHow a strength training practice can be about so much more than aesthetics and how we lookIs adding resistance bands and weights to a yoga practice a...
2021-12-271h 12Yoga Meets Movement ScienceStretching Myths and Stretching Facts w/ Greg LehmanIn this episode, yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the science of stretching with one of their mentors and biggest inspirations, Greg Lehman, BKin, MSc, DC, MScPT. As is the norm with this podcast, an abundance of common myths about this topic are highlighted and busted. We hope this discussion helps inspire a change in the dialog around stretching in the yoga, movement, and fitness worlds!Topics discussed include:What is stretching?What’s the distinction between active and passive stretching – and does it really matter?How does stretching affect the tiss...
2021-12-1456 minYoga Meets Movement ScienceThe Truth About Core TrainingThe core is a multifaceted and somewhat controversial topic in the yoga, movement, and fitness worlds. In this episode, yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen dive into the topic of the core, busting many myths about this region of the body along the way!Points of discussion include:What is the core?What is the function of the core?Should the core be trained isometrically (without movement) or dynamically (with movement)?Is there a recommended order or progression for training the core?Do you need to do direct core training?Is core...
2021-11-291h 00Yoga Meets Movement ScienceIs Yoga Functional Movement?In this episode, yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the confusing and not-well-defined term of “functional movement” and whether this term should be used to describe yoga. Topics covered in this episode include:What does the term functional movement mean?How is the term functional movement commonly used both in the yoga world and in the fitness/strength & conditioning world?Are “pretzel”-like yoga poses non-functional?Are isolated, single-joint movements non-functional, while compound, multi-joint movements are functional?Is weight training in machines less functional than weightlifting with free weights?Is functional movement a yes/no...
2021-11-0959 minYoga Meets Movement ScienceWhat’s the Best Way to Sequence a Yoga Class?This episode might change the way you think about yoga sequencing!In this episode, yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen have a thorough, nuanced discussion about yoga sequencing. Using a movement science lens, they cover what yoga sequencing is, why it matters, some common approaches to sequencing, and they include a special focus on “peak pose sequencing” – arguably the most popular style of sequencing out there!Jenni and Travis cover some of the advantages of peak pose sequencing as well as some very surprising disadvantages of this sequencing style that seem to be...
2021-10-2657 minYoga Meets Movement ScienceStability: Clearing Up a Confusing Term!Learn all about the term “stability” as it applies to the human body and movement!Stability is a buzz term in the yoga, movement, and fitness worlds today, and it’s often used in multiple different ways to mean different things, which can make for a confusing and not well-understood concept.In this episode, yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen cover the varying definitions and uses of this complex term, including:the biomechanical definition of stabilitycore stabilityjoint stabilitythe relationship between stability & mobilitydynamic vs. static stabilityinternal vs. external perturbations…and much more!...
2021-10-1147 min
The Optimal Body109 | Can You Improve Your Yoga Practice While Building Strength?Is Yoga your only form of exercise? Wondering why only Yoga is not enough Fear you will lose flexibility from strength training? Jenni & Travis break down strength training, through the context of Yoga, and provide insight into why movement variety is important. As they explain their respective drivers to their passion in promoting strength training through the Yoga practice, they explain the different types of Yoga and explain how certain Yoga practices dominate as an endurance-based movement. They unveil the Yogi advantage to already having the range of motion to build true strength and the ease in coaching Yogis...
2021-06-0943 min
On and Off Your Mat Yoga PodcastStrength Training for Yoga, with Jenni Rawlings and Travis PollenDo you think yoga is a complete practice that gives your body everything it needs? More and more, it seems that science movement experts suggest differently…For today’s episode I sat down with Jenni Rawlings and Travis Pollen to talk about the place of strength training for yogis.Jenni has completed a wealth of training and learning in the fields of yoga, anatomy, and movement science. She writes regularly for Yoga International and for her own body geek-focused yoga website, where she also offers science-based yoga classes and continuing education courses for yogi...
2021-04-1254 min