Are Some Muscles Magical?
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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Is the practice of labelling certain muscles as “stabilizers” and others as “movers” somewhat outdated?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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Resources mentioned in this episode:
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):
Online yoga class library & yoga anatomy workshops with Jenni
Strength for Yoga email newsletter
To find out more about Travis Pollen: website / Instagram
Music used with generous permission from Dischord A Cappella.