I offer many different options to help students step the front of the mat from downward dog. It’s a challenging movement, and I don’t want my students to suffer or feel stuck! A few weeks ago I offered an option that had almost no weight bearing on the hands. You can check that out right here if you missed it.
This option is very different. It trains the body to put all the body weight on one arm, just like you would in side plank! Watch the video, try it out and let me know how it goes!
Thank you Francesca! I was introducing Side Plank to my New to Yoga group and was really having a hard time. I came home that night and found your video! So timely! I have tried this approach with two of my more experienced yogis and have gotten positive feedback. I plan to try again tomorrow with my newbies and see if they like it. Love your videos! Love your podcasts! Thanks for everything!
Okay, awesome! I can’t wait to hear how it goes with your newbies. I love YOU, Mary! 🙂
Love, love love. Also great if you can execute with both hands down. Often in a practice you can just get tired depending on the intensity of the specific practice so this is an awesome tool for all of us. You rock!! Using this tomorrow with drills.
Awesome! I’m so glad you like it! Let me know how it goes! 🙂
Hi Francesca! Would you share the preparatory poses you use to activate the shoulder muscles? I see this as an area of weakness in many of my students. Also, what modifications/adaptations do you suggest for individuals with rotator cuff injuries. I thinking of a particular student who has no rotator cuff in one shoulder. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Beverly! This is a great question. It’s perfect timing too! I *just* recorded a short class that covers exactly this stuff for Jenni Rawling’s online library. It has a series of therapeutic strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff and posterior shoulder in general. It is supposed to go live this week! Feel free to email Jenni at [email protected] to find out when that class will go live. <3
https://www.jennirawlings.com/classlibrary/francescacerveroclasses
Hi Beverly! I completely forgot when you asked about this that I had already recorded a video with exactly the exercises you are looking for! I’ll link it below. 🙂 It is a shorter version of what I teach in Jenni’s class. Let me know if this brings up any other follow up questions. xo
https://www.francescacervero.com/video-sequences-to-strengthen-shoulder-external-rotators/
Thank you for these videos. I am embarking on renting space to start my own yoga studio and privates are something I want to offer. It is amazing that YTT doesn’t really spend enough time on working with students. I will definitely use the exercises you offer.
You are so welcome! I’m so happy to be on this journey with you Melinda.
Thank you so much for this! This is great. I am always trying to think of ideas for transitions, especially coming up to downdog.
You are so welcome Zoe! I’m so happy it is helpful. I love coming up with creative transitions between asanas!