It’s likely at one time or another you’ve thought to yourself “I should do more yoga” or “I should stretch more”. Your reasons for this may have varied from just seeming like it’s something you should do because your friend or doctor said you should, or perhaps because you think your back may not be so achy if you did it.
It’s no secret that regular yoga, mobility work & relaxation can be immensely beneficial for both mind and body. But what if you could get personalized 1 on 1 instruction that is tailored to exactly the type of stretches you need? Not to mention not having to worry about fitting a group class in your schedule or wasting 15 minutes scrolling through YouTube to find the perfect video only to realize you hate the instructor’s voice & none of the stretches are really what you need.
We have a better solution. 1 on 1 Stretching & Recovery Sessions at Functional Phyzio!
In this blog we are going to break down what a stretching & recovery session is, the benefits of individualized sessions, who & what conditions can benefit from it and what a session looks like!
What is a stretching & recovery session?
Stretching & Recovery sessions are an opportunity to work one-on-one with a trained instructor for 30 or 60 minutes. During the session she will take you through targeted stretches, provide hands on adjustments and stretching and incorporate relaxing breath work. It’s like personal training only focused on mobility.
You might think, “well, I can just go to a regular group yoga class or find a video on YouTube and get the same benefit!” While there is no doubt a class or video can provide benefit, in my experience as a teacher, clients get much more out of private sessions. This is because in a group setting, you are at the mercy of the group rhythm.
Postures are called out in rapid succession and you’re dependent on looking around at other students in a game of monkey see, monkey do. Although a group yoga teacher is highly trained, the teacher can only call out so many cues in a class moving so fast, with so many different bodies, levels and needs.
You run the risk of improperly entering and exiting postures (and at a fast pace, at that!) and setting up postures with unhealthy alignment. Over time, practicing yoga in this way can have terrible effects on the body, leading to knee pain, back pain and a number of injuries.
Additionally there are 1000s (if not millions) of home stretching videos you can find online and while these provide convenience, you also won’t know if you are doing stretches correctly and they won’t be tailored to your body’s needs.
Stretching & Recovery Sessions guarantees you are performing all poses correctly
By working individually with an instructor, you are guaranteeing that you’re making the poses work for you. The instructor is able to provide cues based on your body’s needs & alignment and ensure you are actually entering and exiting all poses correctly.
At Functional Phyzio our private sessions are tailored to all bodies and levels of practice. This means we can assess which areas of flexibility, strength or balance you need to improve and create a session with specific poses based on this.
Other benefits of Stretching & Recovery Sessions
In addition to the benefits listed above, private sessions allow for a more continuous practice and tailored progress as even if you miss a week here and there you can pick up exactly where you left off at the last session. Your teacher can specifically monitor your progress from session to session and month after month, thus ensuring you are continually being challenged.
Who can benefit from Stretching & Recovery Sessions?
The short answer: Anyone!
Stretching & Recovery sessions can be used as an adjunct to training, for preventative care & maintenance or to help overcome pain & injuries!
Below are just a few populations & conditions that can benefit:
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Runners
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Pregnant Moms
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Postpartum Recovery
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Fitness enthusiasts
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Low back Pain
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Weightlifters
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Pelvic Pain
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Hip Pain
What does a session look like?
First, we’ll spend about 5-10 minutes establishing your experience with exercise & stretching, what’s motivated you to pursue improved flexibility and what your goals are. In addition I’ll ask about your current exercise & training and any relevant past medical and injury history.
We’ll spend the first few minutes establishing the breath, assessing breathing patterns and teaching you how to make the most out of the breath. A balanced recovery practice always includes breathing techniques to detoxify and balance the mind before movement.
Once we’ve established the breath, we’ll take you through a few basic movements to determine where your strengths & limitations are and what muscles are tight. We will also assess your balance & coordination.
Future sessions will dive deeper into the identified areas of improvement and may include more standing postures looking for those who want to improve balance and strength or longer holds of floor based postures for those who want to improve flexibility & mental well-being.
Overall, private stretching & recovery sessions offer a personalized and supportive environment for individuals to deepen their practice, achieve their goals, and experience the transformative benefits of yoga on a physical, mental, and emotional level.
Ready to get started? Contact us today!
