Are Some Muscles Magical?

Written By Jenni Rawlings

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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  • Is the practice of labelling certain muscles as “stabilizers” and others as “movers” somewhat outdated?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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Jenni Rawlings
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