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There are few poses I have clear memories of doing for the first time. I don’t remember my very first Downward-Facing Dog (do you?), but for some reason, I can recite every detail of my first attempt at Natarajasana (Lord of the Dance Pose).
It was 20 years ago, and I was in my sophomore year of college (yes, do the math). I remember seeing the teacher on the VHS tape do it and saying to myself, “Whoa, I will never be able to do that.” They hadn’t even done the variation with both hands grabbing the foot overhead.
The glutes are the largest muscles in our body. Underusing these important tissues can ultimately lead to knee and back pain. And when we sit for long periods of time, they can basically “forget” to fire and support the pelvis a condition known as gluteus medius tendinopathy, gluteal amnesia, or dead butt syndrome (DBS). That’s right: Dead butt syndrome is real! And although it mostly affects the sedentary, active people may also experience DBS if they sit for hours at a time.
Our glutes are responsible for acceleration and balance when we move. They’re also key for supporting our back, our sacrum, our core, the healthy functioning of our lower joints, and even for stimulating the pelvic floor. Lack of effective glute engagement may tilt the pelvis and cause strain on the low back or knees even in some of our favorite yoga poses.
Dealing with a pesky twitch in your shoulder? Having trouble moving your arms around? A tight shoulder may be the culprit, and yoga can help provide relief.
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body and is used in many different activities, from reaching for an object on a tall shelf, raising your arm to use a hand rail, or carrying heavy bags of groceries. Because of this, it’s understandable that it may get tweaked accidentally or feel a little sore from overuse, even if you weren’t consciously working those muscles.
The shoulder itself is actually a complex band of eight muscles that protect the shoulder joint, or glenohumeral joint. When thinking of the shoulder, most people think of the deltoid, the triangular-shaped capsule covering the glenohumeral joint that provides the bulb-like appearance. It’s used when you raise your arm and protects the glenohumeral joint from dislocating when carrying something heavy. But the shoulder also includes the muscles of the ro