This past weekend, I attended a weekend workshop with Matt Giordano. A local studio always hosts really great teachers, and after a little research, I absolutely had to learn from this handstand master!
I took the 3 workshops below:
Shoulders: Boundless Freedom: 2 hours
Shoulder Openers Dissolve tension and tightness in your shoulders and learn the biomechanics that make it easy! Many of us fall into patterns where we believe if we continually repeat an action, our goals will eventually workout. This only rings true when we are repeating a recipe for success. Matt Giordano will offer you a yoga practice that gets you into your body and gives you a strong understanding of a complex joint that can otherwise be a bit of a mystery. Having rehabilitated his own shoulder from a nearly shattered collarbone and fractured scapula, Matt’s knowledge speaks from experience and an excitement to share the tools he has picked up along the way. Boundless Freedom is appropriate for all levels. This course can be used for therapeutic and/or advancement purposes.
Discover the Joy of Backbending: 2 hours
The back bending practice can be some of the trickiest poses in Yoga, and can seem like either something you just can or can not do. While some people naturally have more flexibility in an arched position others have to take a more studied approach. In this workshop we will go over techniques that will bring joy and ease to your back bending practice. Those that are less flexible will focus on techniques to unlock tension. Those that have an established back bending practice will be able to take themselves to a whole new level using precision in their approach!
Handstand!: 2 hours
Learning to handstand is a process, abundant with discovery and amazement. Whether this is your first inversion workshop or you are well versed in the art of handstands, brace yourself as we delve into alignment, work toward mastery of the shoulder girdle, and explore acrobatic principles so you can build confidence and manifest a greater sense of balance. You will learn exercises that unify body and mind to create a solid foundation for a lifetime of standing on your hands. As a group we will create a safe and transformative space that will be appropriate and for all levels of practice. Take your handstand practice to the next level!
Obligatory handstand pic 🙂
I’m always looking to learn new things about the anatomy of the body, and different & better ways of doing/teaching all things yoga. While I’ve been having shoulder issues, backbends are my least favorite thing to do, and handstands are my favorite thing to do, these workshops aren’t just for me… I love learning & expanding my knowledge for my yoga students! I’ve only been teaching for about a year, and I feel like I know nothing… I want to be able to teach my students the best & most safe ways to practice, and workshops provide a wealth of info to help me & my student’s progress!
Anyways – I have been to a lot – A LOT – of workshops from “famous” or well-known yogis, and this weekend has by far been the most beneficial out of any teacher I have ever learned from. The technical & anatomical breakdown was taught in such an easy way to understand – and if you didn’t understand it – Matt would take the time to work one-on-one with each person to figure out exactly what was going on. It was so refreshing to work with someone who genuinely loved teaching and helping people, no matter their level.
More specifically with my own issues – Matt was able to pinpoint shoulder weaknesses in my everyday practice AND handstand practice – something I have been trying to find answers for a while now. I know I am a pretty strong person, but there are areas of my practice I felt like I was hitting a wall. No other teacher was able to look at what I was doing and tell me exactly what I needed to work on, and now I know exactly what to focus on. I already pre-ordered the handstand strength training video series on his site – you’ll know where to find me as soon as it’s released!! (My apartment, locked up, phone turned off, for the next month until I see improvement from these videos LOL)
Overall, while I teach my own workshops, I know I still have so much to learn. Continuous yoga education is so humbling, and I love every second of it!
Has anyone taken a workshop with Matt? Or any other amazing yoga teacher? If not, what do YOU love to learn about, just for fun??
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