When we are in pain, we can’t do anything in our lives. When we feel instability in our bodies, that instability ravages the mind. We can’t focus on anything else because all we can think about is how to get rid of this pain. Our body is the vehicle that we live in throughout our life. If you wear out your body, where are you going to live? So where do we go from here? The last episode of STOP Stretching is about YOU - you will hear some AMAZING testimonials from students who have trained in AYAMA with me. They are regular people who are just like YOU. They love Yoga and had originally understood yoga to be all about flexibility and stretching. After spending some time learning with me and experiencing the profound effects of AYAMA on the body, their understanding of yoga, and safe movement has completely transformed! I will share some deeper insight into how AYAMA fits perfectly with the yoga paradigm, and if you practice yoga correctly, what you can possibly achieve. We will also wrap up the contents you have been learning over the past episodes and help you how you should practice yoga. Yogi Aaron is the creator of AYAMA — Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, has been teaching yoga for 30+ years, is a bestselling author, and owner and yoga director at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica. A revolutionary at heart, he’s on a mission to get people back in touch with the true essence of yoga, flip the script on stretching, and help humanity live pain-free! Learn more about Yogi Aaron at yogiaaron.com and keep learning with him on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and his Facebook Group — How to Live A Pain-Free Life with AYAMA. https://YogiAaron.com To begin a practice of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, go and access the 15-Day Free challenge to begin the journey to becoming pain-free! http://smpl.ro/stop-stretching Subscribe to Yogi Aaron’s AYAMA Classes on Youtube -https://youtube.com/c/YogiAaron To see our full resource list as well as credits, please click here. https://yogiaaron.com/stop-stretching-to-live-a-pain-free-life/

A lot of people think their yoga teacher can do no wrong — placing them on a pedestal and accepting behaviors that would never be allowed in other instances. But the truth is, many so-called yoga gurus have a dark side. In this episode, I’ll shed light on the unfortunate abuse of power that runs rampant in the yoga world and what yoga students need to be aware of when choosing a yoga teacher to ensure they will be safe and respected on their mat. I’ll also share ways that yoga teachers can embody their authority without disempowering their students, how to approach hands-on adjustments, the problem with demonstrating yoga postures, and how everyone can get deeper into yoga the AYAMA way. Yogi Aaron is the creator of AYAMA — Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, has been teaching yoga for 30+ years, is a bestselling author, and owner and yoga director at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica. A revolutionary at heart, he’s on a mission to get people back in touch with the true essence of yoga, flip the script on stretching, and help humanity live pain-free! Learn more about Yogi Aaron at yogiaaron.com and keep learning with him on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and his Facebook Group — How to Live A Pain-Free Life with AYAMA. https://YogiAaron.com To begin a practice of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, go and access the 15-Day Free challenge to begin the journey to becoming pain-free! http://smpl.ro/stop-stretching Subscribe to Yogi Aaron’s AYAMA Classes on Youtube -https://youtube.com/c/YogiAaron To see our full resource list as well as credits, please click here. https://yogiaaron.com/stop-stretching-to-live-a-pain-free-life/

“Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” As we discussed in previous episodes, stretching is actually hurting your body. By passively lengthening your muscles, you are breaking the connection the brain has to that muscle, disrupting the neuromuscular connection. When you think about it, stretching is the exact opposite of enhancing or improving muscle function. In terms of yoga postures, there are three poses at the top of the list that you should never do. But there is one (probably your favorite one) that is literally ruining your body. Why? Because you are overstretching. And once again, overstretching can cause you serious problems in the long term. In this episode of STOP Stretching! you will gain a deeper understanding of why stretching is not good for you, what happens if the muscle is overstretched, and what yoga postures you should avoid to keep your body healthy in the long term. You will understand the reason behind the destruction of these asanas and how to modify them for good. I also introduce you to one of my favorite yoga poses and I show you the best resting asanas that will keep your muscles stable. Yogi Aaron is the creator of AYAMA — Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, has been teaching yoga for 30+ years, is a bestselling author, and owner and yoga director at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica. A revolutionary at heart, he’s on a mission to get people back in touch with the true essence of yoga, flip the script on stretching, and help humanity live pain-free! Learn more about Yogi Aaron at yogiaaron.com and keep learning with him on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and his Facebook Group — How to Live A Pain-Free Life with AYAMA. https://YogiAaron.com To begin a practice of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, go and access the 15-Day Free challenge to begin the journey to becoming pain-free! http://smpl.ro/stop-stretching Subscribe to Yogi Aaron’s AYAMA Classes on Youtube - https://youtube.com/c/YogiAaron Thank you to Greg Roskopf, The Founder of MAT. https://muscleactivation.com. Thank you to Katie Burdick, our second MAT expert, madetomovekatie.wixsite.com/mysite To see our full resource list as well as credits, please click here. https://yogiaaron.com/stop-stretching-to-live-a-pain-free-life/

Have you ever wondered where the “yoga is stretching” madness comes from? The history of yoga is complicated and extends back thousands of years. It started simply with the aim of unifying the body, mind, and spirit. Fast forward to today… and here we are: thinking that yoga is about stretching and flexibility, and that if you can’t touch your toes, you're not a “good yogi”. In this episode of Stop Stretching! we dive deep into the history of yoga and uncover where, when, why and how this obsession with stretching came about. You will hear about the original yogis, the very first yoga posture, the rise of Hatha Yoga, and how yoga has evolved into an ‘exercise routine’ made up of fancy poses practiced by people wearing spandex. After understanding yoga’s ancient roots and debunking our modern-day way of practicing, you’ll learn there are only 2 things you need to practice yoga — and they have nothing to do with stretching and flexibility! Yogi Aaron is the creator of AYAMA — Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, has been teaching yoga for 30+ years, is a bestselling author, and owner and yoga director at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica. A revolutionary at heart, he’s on a mission to get people back in touch with the true essence of yoga, flip the script on stretching, and help humanity live pain-free! Learn more about Yogi Aaron at yogiaaron.com and keep learning with him on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and his Facebook Group — How to Live A Pain-Free Life with AYAMA. https://YogiAaron.com To begin a practice of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, go and access the 15-Day Free challenge to begin the journey to becoming pain-free! http://smpl.ro/stop-stretching Subscribe to Yogi Aaron’s AYAMA Classes on Youtube - https://youtube.com/c/YogiAaron Thank you to Greg Roskopf, The Founder of MAT. https://muscleactivation.com. Thank you to Katie Burdick, our second MAT expert, madetomovekatie.wixsite.com/mysite To see our full resource list as well as credits, please click here. https://yogiaaron.com/stop-stretching-to-live-a-pain-free-life/

So here is the thing: when you have stability and a muscular system that is working properly, you will have less pain in your body and life. Instead of stretching, what if we IMPROVE MUSCLE FUNCTION through muscular engagement? There’s this beautiful synergy between the way the body is moving and all of these postures. So again, like really flipping the script in terms of what we are actually focusing on. We are no longer focusing on stretching, but instead, activating and stabilizing. In this fourth episode, you will be introduced to a revolutionary way to eliminate your pain for good. You will learn about anatomy, the history, importance and benefits of AYAMA, and how this revolutionary approach can greatly impact your life. I will explain to you Muscle Activation Techniques and how my life would look without practicing AYAMA. And if you wonder where stretching fits into these and to whom this revolutionary practice is being recommended, this episode is here to answer all your questions. Yogi Aaron is the creator of AYAMA — Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ has been teaching yoga for 30+ years, is a bestselling author, and owner and yoga director at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica. A revolutionary at heart, he’s on a mission to get people back in touch with the true essence of yoga, flip the script on stretching, and help humanity live pain-free! Learn more about Yogi Aaron at yogiaaron.com and keep learning with him on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and his Facebook Group — How to Live A Pain-Free Life with AYAMA. https://YogiAaron.com To begin a practice of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, go and access the 15-Day Free challenge to begin the journey to becoming pain-free!http://smpl.ro/stop-stretching Subscribe to Yogi Aaron’s AYAMA Classes on Youtube -https://youtube.com/c/YogiAaron Thank you to Katie Burdick who joined us in this interview today. Find out more information about Katie here.madetomovekatie.wixsite.com/mysite To see our full resource list as well as credits, please click here. https://yogiaaron.com/stop-stretching-to-live-a-pain-free-life/

Learn how the brain talks to muscles to start stretching correctly — and live pain-free! Today, meet Katie Burdick. She’s a Muscle Activation Technique Teacher from Colorado and one of the key people who has inspired the development of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ (AYAMA). Through dealing with several injuries, both as a gymnast and then a runner, Katie became fascinated with kinesiology and anatomy. She carried that yearning to study Exercise Science and Adult Fitness at Metropolitan State University of Denver, as well as the Muscle Activation Technique (MAT) school located in Colorado. ​Since then, Katie opened Made to Move as her own practice in MAT and continues to grow in the never-ending education that is human anatomy. In this third episode, Katie will be answering questions like what dynamic and passive stretching are and what exactly happens in our muscles when we stretch. We’ll explain how to stretch your muscles in a safe way while understanding the connection between yoga and Muscle Activation Technology. After this short interview with Katie you will really understand why AYAMA is one of the best ways to practice yoga and that flexibility is really not the key to a joyful life! If you are a yoga teacher ready to expand your anatomy knowledge or a student desiring a deeper level of embodiment on the mat - this episode is a must-listen! Yogi Aaron is the creator of AYAMA — Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ has been teaching yoga for 30+ years, is a bestselling author, and owner and yoga director at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica. A revolutionary at heart, he’s on a mission to get people back in touch with the true essence of yoga, flip the script on stretching, and help humanity live pain-free! Learn more about Yogi Aaron at yogiaaron.com and keep learning with him on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and his Facebook Group — How to Live A Pain-Free Life with AYAMA. https://YogiAaron.com To begin a practice of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, go and access the 15-Day Free challenge to begin the journey to becoming pain-free! http://smpl.ro/stop-stretching Subscribe to Yogi Aaron’s AYAMA Classes on Youtube - https://youtube.com/c/YogiAaron Thank you to Katie Burdick who joined us in this interview today. Find out more information about Katie here. madetomovekatie.wixsite.com/mysite To see our full resource list as well as credits, please click here. https://yogiaaron.com/stop-stretching-to-live-a-pain-free-life/

Do you suffer from pain? Chances are you’ve attempted to ‘stretch it out’ at your regular yoga class. And maybe you got a little relief by doing so. But then your pain comes back — again and again, sometimes with a vengeance. What if there was another way to get relief from your pain? A way that doesn’t involve stretching and even holds the potential to eliminate your pain for good? All while gaining access to the deeper elements of yoga. Curious? Well then, tune into today's episode for a BIG dose of hope! Yogi Aaron shares his story of living in pain to becoming pain-free and explains the science that backs his theory that stretching is hurting us. Plus, gain an understanding of what Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ (AYAMA) is and how he developed this approach to yoga to heal himself first, and now countless others! Whether you’re a yogi, aspiring athlete, or someone who just suffers from pain and has tried everything to get comfort, but nothing has worked — today you'll learn how to apply this revolutionary approach to movement and Yoga to change your life for the better! Yogi Aaron is the creator of AYAMA — Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, has been teaching yoga for 30+ years, is a bestselling author, and owner and yoga director at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica. A revolutionary at heart, he’s on a mission to get people back in touch with the true essence of yoga, flip the script on stretching, and help humanity live pain-free! Learn more about Yogi Aaron at yogiaaron.com and keep learning with him on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and his Facebook Group — How to Live A Pain-Free Life with AYAMA. https://YogiAaron.com To begin a practice of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, go and access the 15-Day Free challenge to begin the journey to becoming pain-free! http://smpl.ro/stop-stretching Subscribe to Yogi Aaron’s AYAMA Classes on Youtube - https://youtube.com/c/YogiAaron Thank you to Greg Roskopf, The Founder of MAT. https://muscleactivation.com. Thank you to Katie Burdick, our second MAT expert, madetomovekatie.wixsite.com/mysite I would also thank to thank Dr. Eric, my physical therapist, who inspired this work and saved me from surgery. Eric currently resides in Los Angeles. You can reach him here. https://www.deep-tissue.com To see our full resource list as well as credits, please click here. https://yogiaaron.com/stop-stretching-to-live-a-pain-free-life/

Have you been stretching and wondered why you are not a happier or more enlightened person? Maybe Stretching isn’t the answer!? Welcome to Yogi Aaron’s STOP Stretching podcast series. In this first episode, through his story, Yogi Aaron shares why he has come to the conclusion that stretching is not good for your body. While many believe that stretching helps against tightness, Yogi Aaron shows that flexibility is not the key to happiness. He shares why yoga and stretching do not help to cure tightness and that there is a cheaper and healthier way to become pain-free than choosing therapists and painkillers. The Stop Stretching Podcast series will show you exactly why yoga has nothing to do with flexibility. You will also find out why you hurt yourself during your practice and how some yoga poses cause you more problems in the long term. We take a look at the history and benefits of AYAMA (Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™). Pain and muscle tightness are symptoms of underlying problems and they are telling us that something needs to be addressed. So let’s work for a pain-free, happy and long life together with the help of the first episode, addressing: How does stretching cause more problems in the long term? Have you been stretching and wondered why you are not a happier or more enlightened person? To begin a practice of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, go and access the 15-Day Free challenge to begin the journey to becoming pain-free! http://smpl.ro/stop-stretching Subscribe to Yogi Aaron’s AYAMA Classes on Youtube - https://youtube.com/c/YogiAaron Thank you to Greg Roskopf, The Founder of MAT. https://muscleactivation.com. Thank you to Katie Burdick, our second MAT expert, madetomovekatie.wixsite.com/mysite To see our full resource list as well as credits, please click here. https://yogiaaron.com/stop-stretching-to-live-a-pain-free-life/

Introducing: Stop Stretching with Yogi Aaron! Do you want to eliminate your pain…for good? Stretching is NOT the answer, and I am here to tell you why. If you want to learn a revolutionary way to eliminate your pain for good, then tune in to this Podcast series, Stop Stretching! Make sure to hit the subscribe button to get all of the episodes. Check out https://YogiAaron.com for more information.