Yoga, Core Strength, and Back Health:
Keys to Pain-Free Living

It is well-known that core strengthening is one of the most important ways to keep your back healthy and enjoy pain-free living.

However, when most people hear the term “core strengthening,” they think of strength work for the abdominals, such as crunches, curl-ups, and sit-ups. Unfortunately, these exercises tend to strengthen mainly the superficial muscles on the front of the abdomen, the so-called mirror muscles. In reality, the deeper muscles of the abdominal wall are much more important in supporting the spine and pelvis.

Not only that, but abdominal work is only part of the picture: strengthening only the abdominals can create an imbalance between the abdominal and back muscles that can contribute to back pains and strains.

In this online course, Iyengar teacher and physical therapist Julie Gudmestad will show you the keys to strengthening the core in a balanced and holistic way to protect your spine. The focus will be on working with the key muscles of the core cylinder, including the back muscles, while ditching painful sit-ups.

Julie will also show why it’s critical also to strengthen key hip muscles that help align and center your pelvis, which is, after all, the foundation of your spine. These thigh-to-pelvis muscles include the hip abductors and extensors.

By the end of the program, you’ll have a routine to practice 2-3 times per week, including poses that strengthen all the essential torso and pelvis muscles needed for strong core integrity and keep the spine balanced and healthy. We’ll also include some more complex options for those who are looking for greater challenges.

This Course Also Includes:

• Yoga Practice Video: Enjoy a yoga practice video that accompanies this course designed by Julie Gudmestad.
• Recordings of All Webinar Sessions: It’s generally acknowledged that many people only retain 10-20 percent of what they learn in a workshop. You will get access to the recordings of all webinar sessions - both MP3 (downloadable) and MP4 (streaming online), enabling you to go back and listen to the workshop as many times as you like.
• Transcripts of All Sessions: Ever wanted to refer to a certain part of a course? Even the best note-takers miss a point every so often. With the transcripts of the webinar sessions, you can go back and refer to particularly important passages or clarify sections you were in doubt about.​​

Take a Sneak Peek at Julie's Slides:​​