How is Asana Diagnostics different from other videos?

How much yoga experience do I need to benefit from Asana Diagnostics?

I'm a yoga teacher - will Asana Diagnostics help me?

Why practice challenging poses?

What do you mean by the Asana Diagnostics method?

What is a Diagnostic? A Skill Builder? A Pose Variation?

Where did the idea for Asana Diagnostics come from?

Why is there both a video and a Companion Guide for each pose?

How is Asana Diagnostics different from other videos?

Asana Diagnostics takes a whole new approach by taking a concentrated, in-depth look at one challenging pose. Each video breaks down a pose into its actions and skills necessary to get to the final pose, and helps you determine the level of strength, balance and flexibility required to safely practice it.

In addition, while we give you the tools you need to achieve the pose, the emphasis is offering you a systematic way of practicing that engenders all the qualities of your yoga practice; steadiness, technical insight, and most importantly a playful attitude.

How much yoga experience do I need to benefit from Asana Diagnostics?

The beauty of this method is that there is an entry point for any practitioner. Everyone benefits. The parameters of the pose are clearly laid out and pathway established for anyone regardless of experience. Beginners will find working on the Skill Builders essential for cultivating the precise areas of strength, balance and flexibility required for the pose. Advanced yogis will enjoy a fresh, new approach to these poses with creative ways to practice the form of the pose! Teachers will have a whole new array of exercises and pose variations to help their students create strength and flexibility.

I'm a yoga teacher - will Asana Diagnostics help me?

Yoga teachers already adore Asana Diagnostics because it is an intensely original approach to serving students. As a teacher, you will get new ideas to share with your students while simultaneously empowering them to feel good about their current capacity. Asana Diagnostics helps you help your students progress towards a pose so that they can clearly see their improvements.

So often teachers and students avoid practicing or teaching challenging poses because there is so much opportunity for failure. This is precisely why Asana Diagnostics was developed. Challenging poses should be fun and exhilarating, not continually frustrating and humiliating.

Why practice challenging poses?

In all yoga we bring everything we are to the mat. This is particularly true when we are practicing challenging poses. When we choose to come to our very limits we strengthen not only our bodies, we also cultivate perseverance, and a willingness to witness, understand and if necessary redirect our actions and emotions. When we systematically follow a method to achieve an end goal while engendering a positive attitude and a quality of truly appreciating our selves for all the effort no matter what happens, we foster an environment where challenges off the mat can be met in this same successful pathway.

What do you mean by the Asana Diagnostics method?

The method that is presented in the Asana Diagnostics videos breaks a pose into its elements and parts. By determining the foundational entry point for any given part of a pose – whether it be how flexible the upper back needs to be, or how strong the legs have to be – we can give a student access to a beautiful expression of the pose, regardless of their level of experience.

Elements of the pose are presented in a systematic way that enables a student to practice in a safe and empowering way. Each Diagnostic helps pinpoint where your skills are today. You’ll know how to improve your skills and learn the actions of the pose by practicing the Skill Builders. And while you’re on your way to the full pose, you’ll be offered beautifully adapted Pose Variations that feel good and look fabulous.

The Asana Diagnostics method is a skillful approach to a pose that enables you to do your very best yoga, right now.

What is a Diagnostic? A Skill Builder? A Pose Variation?

A Diagnostic is a way to measure your capacity for the pose. Do you have enough strength, flexibility or balance for the full pose? Each diagnostic helps you pinpoint where you are today on one of the key elements that are necessary to approach a challenging pose.

Skill Builders are exercises designed to increase your capacity and your understanding of the actions required for the pose. Each Diagnostic is aligned with two Skill Builders. The Diagnostic measures your capacity and the Skill Builder helps you gain more capacity while practicing the necessary actions for the pose.

Pose Variations are modifications to the full pose that do not require the same level of strength, flexibility, or balance as the full pose. Pose Variations carry the same integrity as the full pose. They are equally as beautiful and give you the energetic qualities of freedom and strength inherent in the full pose. They can be practiced in addition to the full pose or as a substitute while you are journeying to the full pose. Either way, you’ll find these adaptations of the pose fun, informative and empowering.

Where did the idea for Asana Diagnostics come from?

My business partner, Stacey is also a good friend and student. She and I have logged thousands of hours together practicing advanced yoga. If Stacey couldn’t do a particular pose that we were practicing we’d stop and tear it into it. Systematically, we pulled the pose apart to isolate what was holding her back. We’d measure the strength required. We’d measure the flexibility that was needed. We would create new exercises to build the needed skills. And then for fun, we would play around with pose variations that were beautiful, energizing, and felt great!

Hours and hours of this type of analyzing poses became our favorite way to practice. I think we clearly moved over into ‘yoga geek’ category! The time would just slip by because we were laughing and having so much fun.

We began to realize that there were a lot of yogis out there who were experiencing the same challenges that we were. That started us thinking about how we could share the new approaches we were creating.

I began sharing the fun of our experience by bringing into my weekly classes some of our Skill Builders and Pose Variations. I was delighted to see my students having just as much fun and satisfaction practicing the poses in this way as Stacey and I had. That’s when we knew it was time to share this method with our community of yogis, and Asana Diagnostics was born.

Why is there both a video and a Companion Guide for each pose?

The video is the foundation of the Asana Diagnostics program. In the video the Diagnostics, Skill Builders, and Pose Variations are described and presented so that you know how to perform and practice all of the elements of a pose.

The Companion Guide is a reference tool that supplements, but does not replicate the video. It provides additional information on the pose itself and offers four sequences that incorporate all of the Skill Builders and Pose Variations. There is also a place to record your journey so you can measure your progress.

Most people find that once they have completely understood the instructions for practicing the pose by viewing the video, they can use the Companion Guide as a reference point. If you are a teacher, you can refer to the Companion Guide while prepping for class to help you remember the various Skill Builders and Pose Variations.