Yoga 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?...

Yoga 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...

Yoga 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...

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...

Yoga 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...

Yoga 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...

Yoga 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...

Yoga 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...

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...

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...

Yoga 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...

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...

Yoga 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...

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...

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...

Yoga 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...

Yoga 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...

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”...

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...

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...

In 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...

In 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...

The 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...

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,...

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...