Stop Stretching

Have you ever wondered why stretching does not help you against tightness? Do you suffer from pain? Chances are you’ve attempted to ‘stretch it out.' And maybe you got a little relief by doing so. But then your pain comes back — again and again, sometimes with a vengeance. What if there was another way to get relief from your pain? A way that doesn’t involve stretching and even holds the potential to eliminate your pain for good? Curious? Welcome to Stop Stretching with Yogi Aaron! In this 8-part podcast series, Yogi Aaron will share his story from living in pain to becoming pain-free, how he came to develop his signature yoga methodology, AYAMA - Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, the science behind why stretching is actually hurting us, and how mainstream yoga has become fixated on flexibility even though it has nothing to do with enlightenment — which is the true purpose of the practice. Yogi Aaron is the creator of AYAMA — Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, has been teaching yoga for 30+ years, is a bestselling author, and owner and yoga director at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica. A revolutionary at heart, he’s on a mission to get people back in touch with the true essence of yoga, flip the script on stretching, and help humanity live pain-free! Learn more about Yogi Aaron at yogiaaron.com and keep learning with him on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and his Facebook Group — How to Live A Pain-Free Life with AYAMA.

Episode 8 - How to live your life purpose pain-free! 01/17/2023

Episode 8 - How to live your life purpose pain-free! When we are in pain, we can’t do anything in our lives. When we feel instability in our bodies, that instability ravages the mind. We can’t focus on anything else because all we can think about is how to get rid of this pain. Our body is the vehicle that we live in throughout our life. If you wear out your body, where are you going to live? So where do we go from here? The last episode of STOP Stretching is about YOU - you will hear some AMAZING testimonials from students who have trained in AYAMA with me. They are regular people who are just like YOU. They love Yoga and had originally understood yoga to be all about flexibility and stretching. After spending some time learning with me and experiencing the profound effects of AYAMA on the body, their understanding of yoga, and safe movement has completely transformed! I will share some deeper insight into how AYAMA fits perfectly with the yoga paradigm, and if you practice yoga correctly, what you can possibly achieve. We will also wrap up the contents you have been learning over the past episodes and help you how you should practice yoga. Yogi Aaron is the creator of AYAMA — Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, has been teaching yoga for 30+ years, is a bestselling author, and owner and yoga director at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica. A revolutionary at heart, he’s on a mission to get people back in touch with the true essence of yoga, flip the script on stretching, and help humanity live pain-free! Learn more about Yogi Aaron at and keep learning with him on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and his Facebook Group — How to Live A Pain-Free Life with AYAMA. To begin a practice of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, go and access the to begin the journey to becoming pain-free! Subscribe to Yogi Aaron’s AYAMA Classes on Youtube - To see our full resource list as well as credits, please . /episode/index/show/45ba19c4-8818-4e6e-909c-4251c2d35a4c/id/25580340

Episode 7 - The Dark Side Of Yoga 11/15/2022

Episode 6 - The ONE yoga pose you should NEVER do 09/13/2022

Episode 6 - The ONE yoga pose you should NEVER do “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” As we discussed in previous episodes, stretching is actually hurting your body. By passively lengthening your muscles, you are breaking the connection the brain has to that muscle, disrupting the neuromuscular connection. When you think about it, stretching is the exact opposite of enhancing or improving muscle function. In terms of yoga postures, there are three poses at the top of the list that you should never do. But there is one (probably your favorite one) that is literally ruining your body. Why? Because you are overstretching. And once again, overstretching can cause you serious problems in the long term. In this episode of STOP Stretching! you will gain a deeper understanding of why stretching is not good for you, what happens if the muscle is overstretched, and what yoga postures you should avoid to keep your body healthy in the long term. You will understand the reason behind the destruction of these asanas and how to modify them for good. I also introduce you to one of my favorite yoga poses and I show you the best resting asanas that will keep your muscles stable. Yogi Aaron is the creator of AYAMA — Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, has been teaching yoga for 30+ years, is a bestselling author, and owner and yoga director at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica. A revolutionary at heart, he’s on a mission to get people back in touch with the true essence of yoga, flip the script on stretching, and help humanity live pain-free! Learn more about Yogi Aaron at and keep learning with him on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and his Facebook Group — How to Live A Pain-Free Life with AYAMA. To begin a practice of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, go and access the to begin the journey to becoming pain-free! Subscribe to Yogi Aaron’s AYAMA Classes on Youtube - Thank you to Greg Roskopf, The Founder of MAT. . Thank you to Katie Burdick, our second MAT expert, To see our full resource list as well as credits, please . /episode/index/show/45ba19c4-8818-4e6e-909c-4251c2d35a4c/id/23787404

Episode 5 - The History Of Yoga and Stretching 08/09/2022

Episode 5 - The History Of Yoga and Stretching Have you ever wondered where the “yoga is stretching” madness comes from? The history of yoga is complicated and extends back thousands of years. It started simply with the aim of unifying the body, mind, and spirit. Fast forward to today… and here we are: thinking that yoga is about stretching and flexibility, and that if you can’t touch your toes, you're not a “good yogi”. In this episode of Stop Stretching! we dive deep into the history of yoga and uncover where, when, why and how this obsession with stretching came about. You will hear about the original yogis, the very first yoga posture, the rise of Hatha Yoga, and how yoga has evolved into an ‘exercise routine’ made up of fancy poses practiced by people wearing spandex. After understanding yoga’s ancient roots and debunking our modern-day way of practicing, you’ll learn there are only 2 things you need to practice yoga — and they have nothing to do with stretching and flexibility! Yogi Aaron is the creator of AYAMA — Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, has been teaching yoga for 30+ years, is a bestselling author, and owner and yoga director at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica. A revolutionary at heart, he’s on a mission to get people back in touch with the true essence of yoga, flip the script on stretching, and help humanity live pain-free! Learn more about Yogi Aaron at and keep learning with him on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and his Facebook Group — How to Live A Pain-Free Life with AYAMA. To begin a practice of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, go and access the to begin the journey to becoming pain-free! Subscribe to Yogi Aaron’s AYAMA Classes on Youtube - Thank you to Greg Roskopf, The Founder of MAT. . Thank you to Katie Burdick, our second MAT expert, To see our full resource list as well as credits, please . /episode/index/show/45ba19c4-8818-4e6e-909c-4251c2d35a4c/id/23787194

Episode 4 - What is AYAMA? – A revolutionary approach to eliminate your pain for good 07/12/2022

Episode 4 - What is AYAMA? – A revolutionary approach to eliminate your pain for good So here is the thing: when you have stability and a muscular system that is working properly, you will have less pain in your body and life. Instead of stretching, what if we IMPROVE MUSCLE FUNCTION through muscular engagement? There’s this beautiful synergy between the way the body is moving and all of these postures. So again, like really flipping the script in terms of what we are actually focusing on. We are no longer focusing on stretching, but instead, activating and stabilizing. In this fourth episode, you will be introduced to a revolutionary way to eliminate your pain for good. You will learn about anatomy, the history, importance and benefits of AYAMA, and how this revolutionary approach can greatly impact your life. I will explain to you Muscle Activation Techniques and how my life would look without practicing AYAMA. And if you wonder where stretching fits into these and to whom this revolutionary practice is being recommended, this episode is here to answer all your questions. Yogi Aaron is the creator of AYAMA — Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ has been teaching yoga for 30+ years, is a bestselling author, and owner and yoga director at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica. A revolutionary at heart, he’s on a mission to get people back in touch with the true essence of yoga, flip the script on stretching, and help humanity live pain-free! Learn more about Yogi Aaron at and keep learning with him on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and his Facebook Group — How to Live A Pain-Free Life with AYAMA. To begin a practice of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, go and access the to begin the journey to becoming pain-free! Subscribe to Yogi Aaron’s AYAMA Classes on - Thank you to Katie Burdick who joined us in this interview today. Find out more information about Katie here. To see our full resource list as well as credits, please . /episode/index/show/45ba19c4-8818-4e6e-909c-4251c2d35a4c/id/23471468

Episode 3 - The Science Behind Muscle Activation 06/14/2022

Episode 3 - The Science Behind Muscle Activation Learn how the brain talks to muscles to start stretching correctly — and live pain-free! Today, meet Katie Burdick. She’s a Muscle Activation Technique Teacher from Colorado and one of the key people who has inspired the development of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ (AYAMA). Through dealing with several injuries, both as a gymnast and then a runner, Katie became fascinated with kinesiology and anatomy. She carried that yearning to study Exercise Science and Adult Fitness at Metropolitan State University of Denver, as well as the Muscle Activation Technique (MAT) school located in Colorado. Since then, Katie opened Made to Move as her own practice in MAT and continues to grow in the never-ending education that is human anatomy. In this third episode, Katie will be answering questions like what dynamic and passive stretching are and what exactly happens in our muscles when we stretch. We’ll explain how to stretch your muscles in a safe way while understanding the connection between yoga and Muscle Activation Technology. After this short interview with Katie you will really understand why AYAMA is one of the best ways to practice yoga and that flexibility is really not the key to a joyful life! If you are a yoga teacher ready to expand your anatomy knowledge or a student desiring a deeper level of embodiment on the mat - this episode is a must-listen! Yogi Aaron is the creator of AYAMA — Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ has been teaching yoga for 30+ years, is a bestselling author, and owner and yoga director at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica. A revolutionary at heart, he’s on a mission to get people back in touch with the true essence of yoga, flip the script on stretching, and help humanity live pain-free! Learn more about Yogi Aaron at and keep learning with him on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and his Facebook Group — How to Live A Pain-Free Life with AYAMA. To begin a practice of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, go and access the to begin the journey to becoming pain-free! Subscribe to Yogi Aaron’s AYAMA Classes on Youtube - Thank you to Katie Burdick who joined us in this interview today. Find out more information about Katie here. To see our full resource list as well as credits, please . /episode/index/show/45ba19c4-8818-4e6e-909c-4251c2d35a4c/id/23252513

Episode 2 - How Is Stretching Hurting Us? 06/14/2022

Episode 2 - How Is Stretching Hurting Us? Do you suffer from pain? Chances are you’ve attempted to ‘stretch it out’ at your regular yoga class. And maybe you got a little relief by doing so. But then your pain comes back — again and again, sometimes with a vengeance. What if there was another way to get relief from your pain? A way that doesn’t involve stretching and even holds the potential to eliminate your pain for good? All while gaining access to the deeper elements of yoga. Curious? Well then, tune into today's episode for a BIG dose of hope! Yogi Aaron shares his story of living in pain to becoming pain-free and explains the science that backs his theory that stretching is hurting us. Plus, gain an understanding of what Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ (AYAMA) is and how he developed this approach to yoga to heal himself first, and now countless others! Whether you’re a yogi, aspiring athlete, or someone who just suffers from pain and has tried everything to get comfort, but nothing has worked — today you'll learn how to apply this revolutionary approach to movement and Yoga to change your life for the better! Yogi Aaron is the creator of AYAMA — Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, has been teaching yoga for 30+ years, is a bestselling author, and owner and yoga director at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica. A revolutionary at heart, he’s on a mission to get people back in touch with the true essence of yoga, flip the script on stretching, and help humanity live pain-free! Learn more about Yogi Aaron at and keep learning with him on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and his Facebook Group — How to Live A Pain-Free Life with AYAMA. To begin a practice of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, go and access the to begin the journey to becoming pain-free! Subscribe to Yogi Aaron’s AYAMA Classes on Youtube - Thank you to Greg Roskopf, The Founder of MAT. . Thank you to Katie Burdick, our second MAT expert, I would also thank to thank Dr. Eric, my physical therapist, who inspired this work and saved me from surgery. Eric currently resides in Los Angeles. You can reach him here. To see our full resource list as well as credits, please . /episode/index/show/45ba19c4-8818-4e6e-909c-4251c2d35a4c/id/23168603

Episode 1 - Does Flexibility Make You Happier? 06/14/2022

Trailer: Stop Stretching 05/19/2022

Stop Stretching

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