Jules Mitchell

Jules’work blends biomechanics with the tradition of yoga to help people move better, and while looking into the research on stretching she discovered some pretty eye-opening things. I've eagerly listened and read everything that she has put out into the world in the last 6 months or so and it has led me to question so much of what I thought I knew. I've changed a fair bit about the way I cue postures in class and think through sequences as a result. I highly recommend checking out here online classes on udaya.com, especially the Passive Restorative classes. Bliss. 

Here she is talking about her work with Brooke Thomas of Liberated Bodies.

Episode 9: Jules Mitchell: The Science of Stretching
 

And this is the video that led me to her (through much interned searching)

Stretching and muscle activity

Jules Mitchell's Yoga blog is a great resource. Go check it out!
As a biomechanist drawing directly from her experience of movement (specifically in the yoga sphere) she is questioning the common aphorisms of asana instruction and applying modern understandings of the human body in movement to this practice. Its fascinating and very useful.

Here's a little piece...click here to read the rest.

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) describes a stretching style that recruits muscle activation of the target muscle somewhere during the stretching process, usually right before. There are at least 9 different methods with slightly varying techniques and durations of contractions (concentric, isometric, and eccentric), holding times and subsequent relaxation/stretching procedures. A detailed review of the methods is too much for this post, so just understand the PNF involves muscle contraction followed by muscle relaxation – often referred to as “contract relax”. 

The most common method of PNF stretching that I have encountered in the world of yoga comes in the form of an “adjustment” by the teacher. For example, during a supine single leg hamstring stretch (Supta Padangusthasana or Recline Big Toe Pose) the teacher provides resistance by firmly holding the leg while the student strongly contracts her hamstring for 6 seconds, pushing leg against the direction of the stretch. The teacher then instructs the student to relax and the teacher passively stretches the student into a new and greater range of motion. Everyone is impressed by how effective the method is – the teacher is brilliant and the student is pleased by her sudden flexibility.

Unfortunately, the momentous increase in range of motion is transient. It is temporary. Within hours ROM will be what it was. The acute improvement of ROM during PNF stretching is really just an illusion. No biomechanical adaptations to the tiss ues occured instantaneously. Short tissues did not suddenly become long. So what happened?

stretching

Illustrations by Emily Isabella

Dear Fellow Funny Shape Makers,

I am signing out for the rest of the summer. My body is telling me that I need to take a break...realign, recharge and refocus...literally from head to toe, but fear not, I won't shut down. I will be back in September full of stories, new inspirations and silly things.

In the mean time here are a few things that caught my attention this past week and on retreat this weekend...

1.  Everything is Connected by Peter Liversidge

2.Wise words...

3. Rising Mountain

4. Ido Portals Hanging challenge. This is good stuff!

5. next on my list of things to listen too...Jules Mitchell on The Science of Stretching.

6. And finally, since the sun has disappeared from this little island of late this quote from Anne Fadiman,

“It is a grave error to assume that ice cream consumption requires hot weather.”

I'm of to take a listen to the magic John Fahey makes with his guitar for the rest of the day now.
See you on the other side.
xx

Tiny frames.

(found here)

Turn of the century stretching!

Found at SurrenderDorothy