Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the phenomenon of “magic muscles”: the tendency in the yoga, fitness, and rehab worlds to treat some muscles as more important or more special than other muscles.

Points of discussion include:

• What is a magic muscle?
• Muscle-based approaches in strength training & bodybuilding
• Teaching yoga with a  “teach movement, not muscles” approach
• What research suggests about these specific magic muscles:
  • Quadratus Lumborum (QL)
  • Vastus Medialis Obliquus (VMO)
  • Transverse Abdominis (TvA)
  • Psoas
  • Glutes
  • Piriformis
• What do all magic muscles have in common?
• Is the practice of labelling certain muscles as “stabilizers” and others as “movers” somewhat outdated?
• The trend in evidence-based rehab to use non-specific vs. specific diagnoses for persistent pain conditions
• What are “corrective exercises”, and are they evidence-based?
• How well does yoga, specifically, help with low back pain?
• …And much more!

Enjoy this engaging and eye-opening discussion for yoga, movement, and fitness geeks!

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

Jenni’s email newsletter

Strength for Yoga Remote Group Training – ongoing, interactive monthly strength program for yogis designed by Jenni & Travis

Take Jenni’s course: “When to Be Anatomically Specific in Yoga” for free!

Podcast episodes referenced in this episode (in order of appearance on the show):

• Ep 35: Nasal vs. Mouth Breathing: Does it Matter:
• Ep 6: Is Ashtanga Yoga a Cult? And the Value of Strength
• Ep 4: The Truth About Core Training
• Ep 9: Do We Store Emotions in Our Hips?
• Ep 13: The Glutes: Peachy Keen or Not All They Seem?
• Ep 18: Pigeon Pose: Friend or Foe?

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