Movement Blog
All training videos in one place: tutorials, Open Flow, and more. Practice moving along with me.
CCC Fundraiser
Hi Everyone,
Come play around with some mixed movement goodness that will help you build strength, flexibility and control, so you can do what you really love (like chase your kids or roll around on the ground).
Date: Saturday, April 22nd
Time: 10-11 AM
Who: CCC friends, family, and community
What: Learn to move better with Movement Trainer Matt Toy
Where: Live Oak Park Basketball Courts
How:
1) Donate via Venmo @mtyoga or Paybee
2) Send me an email once you’ve paid so I can reserve your spot (limit 20), m@mattoy.com
3) You can also donate and not participate if that’s your jam, just let me know
See you there!
Love,
Matt (and Luca)
Student Question: What Else?
Hi Everyone,
Wishing you well. A student recently asked me what else I work on outside of yoga. I put these two short videos together as a way to demonstrate what I practice (and teach) in my classes and how they translate to other, possibly more challenging activities I play with off the mat.
In the first video I briefly go over my three favorite things to do movement/fitness wise.
Periodized running, usually capping my mileage around 10 miles, tapering off or maintaining depending on my energy levels, schedule, etc.
Unrestricted play with my kids. This is by far the most fun. They like it when I turn into a gorilla or jumping frog!
Everything you see in my class is what I’m working on! This I often equate to very focused training with an emphasis in moving mindfully—a caring attention to my movement, breath and the world around me.
This second video is a short tutorial demonstrating a transition from Warrior 2 to Chatturanga. We often breeze by it in class, but take a look here for some modifications and clarifications in how to practice it at a skill level that works for you. You might gradually increase the challenge over time once you get used to the leverage and mechanics.
Be well everyone. If you ever have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
-Matt
Warrior Positioning & Leg Structure
“Find your structure. Engage with it fully.
Release everything else.”
Hi Everyone,
Wishing you well. This short form flow goes out to Emma, a regular student in my outdoor classes. The other day she brought up the concept of learning when to push and when to back off, particularly in rock climbing. She mentioned feeling tired and shaky on the wall, but decided to do something a little different than her norm: she pushed through, tested her body and continued to climb.
Sometimes we forget just how strong we are.
Here is a sequence that will test your leg strength, coordination, and focus. Notice when you want to give up. Notice when you get distracted. Notice when you back off or break form. There is a level of structure, tension and discipline that are required to hold these movements well, that’s why it’s titled warrior positioning. Imagine you’re the archetypal warrior, the samurai, the archer, etc.
However, there is also a softness that must compliment this intensity and focus. The warrior builds tension, heck, even invites it, but also learns to release it, never getting stuck in just one disposition. Play with this balance and make it your own. Learn how to cultivate the intensity of the warrior while still remaining open, pliable and observant to all that surrounds you.
I’ll end with a quote from a book I’m reading titled, Awake at Work by Michael Carroll. In it he mentions a passage from the War of Art by Sun Tzu relating warrioship and leadership.
Carroll writes, “Sun Tzu teaches that the warrior leader must be relaxed and open to the present moment at all times. The more at ease the warrior is with the situation at hand, the more open and powerful and fearless he or she becomes as a leader. Sun Tzu’s instruction on engaging the extraordinary is to first “know oneself” and, through that knowing, to work directly with conflict, appreciate the immediate moment, and let natural intelligence arise.”
Down Dog to Bear
Hi everyone,
Matt here, wishing you well. I made this little teaser video for you, consider it our playful challenge of the week.
You can decide to do it with your kids, or not, but I know you like a good challenge so try it out with the extra weight.
We’ll be moving in and out of down dog into more dynamic and playful expressions like bear and the bear press. Both are great exercises to build shoulder strength, locomotion, and flexibility in the legs. Just a reminder, have fun with this, practice along with me in the video if you can’t make it to class, and listen to your body. When you’ve had enough, take a break, move around, and play some more. When you notice yourself forcing the movements to try and get somewhere fast, slow it down, breathe and remind yourself why you’re practicing all this in the first place.
One last thing, rather than just watch the video, move along with me. See you soon.
-Matt
