Advanced Studies: Anatomy Courses
Yoga provides a context for the study of anatomy and kinesiology that is rooted in the exploration of how the life force expresses itself through the movements of the body, breath, and mind. The ancient and exquisite metaphorical language of yoga has arisen from the very real anatomical experimentations of millions of seekers over thousands of years, all sharing a common laboratory—the human body.
The structure, movement and function of the body holds an endless fascination for many of us, yet the study of anatomy and kinesiology can easily become a frustrating process of memorizing and then quickly forgetting countless details. In these anatomy courses, Leslie and Amy travel through the body addressing these subjects from an experiential perspective. They offer a guided tour of our inner territories with clear tools for research and exploration that make the material a living, breathing part of our personal and professional lives.
These courses are at the core of The Breathing Project's Advanced Studies offerings, and provide weekly and monthly opportunities to study in-depth with Leslie and Amy. Each course can be taken separately; all the courses together with additional requirements make up the Yoga Educator (EdY) Program. For other opportunities to study with Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews, click here.
| Course | Day/Time | Teacher |
|---|---|---|
| Yoga Anatomy | Wednesdays 2:00 - 4:00pm | Leslie Kaminoff |
| Embodied Anatomy & Kinesiology | Fridays 1:00 - 3:30pm | Amy Matthews |
| Somatic Synthesis Weekend Workshops | approx. one weekend per month | Amy Matthews |
Here is what some current and former students have to say about Leslie and Amy’s courses:
"Quite simply put, Leslie's a true yogi-genius, and a pioneer in his field. He gets right down to the core concepts you absolutely must know to be a truly effective teacher or student of mind/body movement. Leslie couples his immense knowledge with a refreshing ability to translate complex information into real-world terms and give us instantly applicable tools that make the world of anatomy, yoga and breath something we can deeply experience and understand.
I count him as one of my most formative teachers, and each time I leave his classroom, my worldview (and body!) has been shifted in the most powerful ways. Run, don’t walk, to his next session!"
—Sadie Nardini, founder of Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga
"Amy's teaching has introduced me to the study of movement as a study of relationships that reveal themselves from the inside out. I study with Amy because her lessons are questions, that lead endlessly to new discoveries. She shares her vast knowledge by provoking query and exploration in her students, transmitting kinesthetic information as that which one finds for and in themselves. Herein lies her enormous generosity as a teacher."
—Andrea Andersson, yoga teacher
“If you’re a yoga teacher, and even if you’re not, L.K.’s class will fundamentally change the way you teach and/or practice yoga. It did for me. Leslie is wonderful at demystifying complex subjects and making them readily accessible-- both on an intellectual academic level and on a tangible experiential level. What’s more, he’s refreshingly non-pretentious and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure everyone’s on the same page.”
—Suzanne Ausnit, yoga teacher
"Amy Matthews has thoroughly studied many somatic approaches like Laban/Bartenieff, Body-Mind Centering, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, and the spirals work of Irene Dowd, so her yoga is informed by a lot of skillful, excellent stuff. But the way her classes unfold is easy, like a treasure hunt through the body's landscape, one simple step at a time. She is flexible enough to meet each teaching moment with surprising appropriateness. When I am around Amy, I always feel better, and I am always learning."
—Doug MacKenzie
Yoga Anatomy
with Leslie Kaminoff
This course provides a practical grounding in the essentials of the anatomy of yoga practice with a particular emphasis on the relationship between breathing and healthy spinal function. Read more.
Wednesdays
2:00 - 4:00pm
Also with Leslie on Wednesdays:
Anatomy & Breath Clinic (ABCs)
(free clinic) 4:15 - 6:00pm
Hands On Yoga Lab
6:30 - 8:30pm
2013-2014: Principles
Fall Trimester • Oct 2 – Dec 18, 2013
Winter Trimester • Jan 15 – Mar 19, 2014
Spring Trimester • Apr 16 – Jun 18, 2013
2012-2013: Principles
Fall Trimester • Oct 10 - Dec 19, 2012
Winter Trimester • Jan 16 - Mar 20, 2013
Spring Trimester • April 3 - June 19, 2013
Click here for more information, including full description, schedule, prices, and registration links.
Embodied Anatomy & Kinesiology
with Amy Matthews
This course travels through the body addressing structure and movement from an experiential perspective, using principles from Body-Mind Centering®, Laban Movement Analysis and the Bartenieff Fundamentals, PNF and various yoga practices to discuss principles of alignment and therapeutic applications. Read more.
Fridays
1:00 - 3:30pm
Also with Amy on Fridays:
A&K Asana 3:45 - 5:00pm
2013-2014: Muscles Fall Trimester: Sep 27 – Dec 20, 2013 Winter Trimester: Jan 24 – Apr 4, 2014 Spring Trimester: Apr 18 – Jun 20, 2014
2012-2013: Bones & Ligaments
Fall Trimester • Sep 21 - Dec 21, 2012
Winter Trimester • Jan 11 - Mar 15, 2013
Spring Trimester • Mar 29 - Jun 21, 2013
Click here for more information, including full description, schedule, prices, and registration links.
Somatic Synthesis Weekend Workshops
with Amy Matthews
These weekend workshops are opportunities to explore advanced concepts in anatomy, kinesiology, physiology and embryology. In these workshops we pay particular attention to the development of embodied teaching skills, and explore the question of what it is to transmit information with skill. Students are challenged to use the information that is explored in the weekends in developing and practicing principles of skillful teaching.
The full series comprises twenty workshops over two years, with ten weekends each per year, approximately one per month. Read more.
Weekends (approx. one per month)
Saturday 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 9:00am - 6:00pm
2013: Systems & Fundamentals
Jan 12 - Dec 8, 2013
2014: Layers & Patterns
Feb 1 - Dec 7, 2014
Click here for more information, including full description, schedule, prices, and application form.
