Course Overview

The spine is our central axis of support and our unifying scaffold for movement. Its unique structure makes it incredibly strong and mobile at the same time. Protector of the spinal cord, the spine is the home of our extended nervous system and provides the vital corridor for extending our brain into our body.

Many people struggle with back and spine issues from daily activities such as sitting, driving, and working at desks. Yoga can be a very therapeutic practice for creating spinal awareness as well as strengthening the postural muscles that can become weakened by daily life. The yoga practice also provides a unique opportunity to move the spine in all directions through a full range of motion.

By understanding the anatomy of the spine, you will be better equipped to confidently and safely teach asana in a way that can help safeguard and improve the spinal health of your students.

Course Curriculum

211: Anatomy Of The Spine

  • 1
    WELCOME AND COURSE ORIENTATION
    • START HERE
    • HOW TO TAKE THIS COURSE
    • SYLLABUS
    • ABOUT YOUR FACULTY
    • COURSE MATERIALS
    • Q&A
  • 2
    LESSON ONE: OVERVIEW OF THE SPINE
    • LESSON OVERVIEW
    • JOURNAL REFLECTION #1
    • PURPOSE OF THE SPINE
    • STRUCTURE OF THE SPINE
    • ACTIVITY #1: SELF-PALPATION AND JOURNAL REFLECTION #2
    • STRUCTURE OF THE SPINE AND ACTIVITY #2
    • HUMAN VARIATION AND ACTIVITY #3
    • ACTIVITY #3 DEBRIEF
    • QUIZ: LESSON ONE
    • LESSON SUMMARY
  • 3
    LESSON TWO: INTERVERTEBRAL DISCS
    • LESSON OVERVIEW
    • OVERVIEW OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISCS
    • DISC DYSFUNCTION
    • SPINE-PELVIS RELATIONSHIP AND JOURNAL REFLECTION #3
    • JOURNAL REFLECTION #3 DEBRIEF
    • QUIZ: LESSON TWO
    • LESSON SUMMARY
  • 4
    LESSON THREE: APPLICATION TO ASANA
    • LESSON OVERVIEW
    • OVERVIEW OF THE CERVICAL SPINE
    • MOVEMENTS OF THE CERVICAL SPINE AND JOURNAL REFLECTION #4
    • CERVICAL SPINE IN ASANA
    • OVERVIEW OF THE THORACIC SPINE
    • MOVEMENTS OF THE THORACIC SPINE AND JOURNAL REFLECTION #5
    • THORACIC SPINE IN ASANA
    • OVERVIEW OF THE LUMBAR SPINE
    • MOVEMENTS OF THE LUMBAR SPINE AND JOURNAL REFLECTION #6
    • LUMBAR SPINE IN ASANA
    • QUIZ: LESSON THREE
    • LESSON SUMMARY
  • 5
    LESSON FOUR: TEACHING FOR SPINAL HEALTH
    • LESSON OVERVIEW
    • PRACTICE TEACHING EXEMPLAR
    • UNIVERSAL PAIRED ACTIONS AND ACTIVITY #4
    • QUIZ: LESSON FOUR
    • LESSON SUMMARY
  • 6
    CONCLUSION
    • FINAL ASSESSMENT
    • ACADEMIC HONOR
    • CONCLUSIONS & OUTSIDE PRACTICE

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the functions of the spine, and accurately describe the structure of the spine and intervertebral discs.

  • Teach backbends safely to accommodate spinal mobility and health.

  • Analyze how the structure of the spine and spinal issues will impact the performance of a given yoga asana.

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Self-Paced options below; Cohorts also available

Meet Your Instructor

  • Fiji McAlpine

    Senior Instructor

    Fiji McAlpine

    Fiji McAlpine is an ERYT 500 yoga instructor and is one of the founding yoga teachers featured on DoYogaWithMe.com. Fiji’s personal practice and classes focus on vinyasa flow, infused with power, strength and precision. Having trained extensively in California, Costa Rica, and Canada, her classes are often described as a strong practice that allows students to face challenges with support and guidance, inspiring them to move forward fearlessly and more consciously. Over the past decade, yoga has helped Fiji through personal transformation, she openly shares about finding yoga to be a vital tool of healing as she overcame an eating disorder.