Pedagogical Approximation* - how much information and what kind of information you give when you are teaching (hierarchy from beginner to advanced understanding)
- global
- general
- first level complexity
- second level complexity
- third level complexity
- subtle details
*A teacher must be conscious of their audience and deliver information that is accessible and relevant, even if it is a "lie" (simplification or exaggeration) to begin.
*There is a constant assessing of the comprehension of your students before you give more subtle, complex or specific information.
*Metaphorical relations. Describing things in terms that students can understand.
* similar to the progressively adept students in "Upanishadic Learning"
Body Basics: Kinesiology and the Kinetic Chain
In yoga practice and teaching, we are looking to make all movements "closed chain movements"-
Body Basics: Kinesiology and the Kinetic Chain
The concept of the kinetic chain regarding anatomy has been around since 1955 when Dr. Arthur Steindler adapted the theory of Franz Reuleaux, a mechanical engineer.
- Reuleaux proposed that a series of overlapping segments are connected via a pin joint, and these interlocking joints would create a system that allows movement of one joint to affect the movement of another joint within the kinetic link.
- Dr. Steindler contended that the human body could be viewed the same way, as a system of rigid, overlapping segments connected by a series of joints, collectively referred to as the kinetic chain.
- This idea proposed that movements occurring within each body segment would be capable of “closed-chain” or “open-chain” movement patterns.
Anatomically, the kinetic chain describes the interrelated groups of body segments, connecting joints, and muscles working together to perform movements and the portion of the spine to which they connect.
- The upper kinetic chain consists of the fingers, wrists, forearms, elbows, upper arms, shoulders, shoulder blades, and spinal column.
- The lower kinetic chain includes the toes, feet, ankles, lower legs, knees, upper legs, hips, pelvis, and spine.
- In both chains, each joint is independently capable of a variety of movements. Dependent on whether the distal end of the chain is fixed or free to move without restriction, each movement is classified as either closed or open.
A Closed-Chain refers to a position where the most distal aspects of a given extremity are fixed to the earth or another solid object. -Focus is on general movement patterns
- This fixed position alters the movement of the joints and surrounding musculature up the chain.
- For example, if the feet are planted on the ground during a squat, the rest of the leg chain (i.e., ankles, knees, and hips) will move toward the fixed end of the extremity—the feet—as the body lowers into the squatting position. In contrast, an open chain refers to the distal end of an extremity moving freely in space—such as when performing a biceps curl with dumbbells or a seated leg extension on a
weight machine—where the movement of the distal end of the extremity is not fixed. - Closed-chain movements promote joint stabilization and have the potential to recruit more muscles and their associated joints.
- Further, closed-chain movements are transferable to many daily movements that involve more than one joint, which may lead to better neuromuscular coordination and overall joint health.
- So, many closed-chain exercises are considered “functional” and used in programming for functional training purposes [i.e., purposeful exercise that trains movement—not isolated muscle groups—and intentionally incorporates balance and body awareness (proprioception)]-YOGA
An Open-Chain movements, in contrast, involve more shearing forces at the involved joint compared to closed-chain movements and tend to recruit the musculature associated with only a single working joint in resistance training exercises like leg extensions and biceps curls.
- Even when the more distal portion is not secured on a surface of some kind
- This involves using two concepts
- hasta bandha (hand lock) and pada bandha (foot lock)-enlists all the muscles and joins, INTEGRATING the body in movement and stillness
Examples of well-executed closed-chain exercises include:
Notice that in each of the above exercises the distal end of the extremity is fixed, which results in the body moving about the fixed joint.
Examples of open-chain exercises include:
Notice that in each of the above exercises the distal end of the extremity is not fixed, and it moves about the body during the movement.
- The Kinetic Chain Needs to Include what is Between Each Link
The other big omission I often see people make when considering the kinetic chain is that they think of each link in the chain as a joint. This is a simplistic version of the kinetic chain in purely the sense of biomechanics an arthrokinematics. Instead, realize that there are many influence on the kinetic chain between each joint.---This includes the muscles, fascia, ligaments, tendons, and anything else you can think of. Basically, it’s not just the joints, but also everything in between.
IMPACTS IN YOGA ASANA:
- STABILITY
- instability in a joint will create instability in the joints CLOSEST to them and up the chain
- Instability in the more PROXIMAL JOINTS will create instability in the distal joints in that chain
- Certain joints in the chain are meant to be stable and others mobile for proper alignment.
- yoga requires a balance between mobility and stability
- MOVEMENT
- Mobility in a joint will affect mobility in the next joint in the kinetic chain
- therefore, flexion in the elbow, helps flexion in the shoulder
- flexion in the knee, helps with flexion in the hips
- rotation in the knee helps with rotation in the hips
- rotation at the elbow, helps with rotation at the shoulder.
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