pnf

it stands for proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), which involves both the stretching and contraction of the muscle group being targeted. my yoga teacher discussed it with us in class this morning as an alternative to the "pushing it" mentality that has been in vogue for quite some time--particularly in high-adrenalin sports like bicycle racing, running, etc. but interestingly enough--that desire to push beyond your limits has also been the cause of many injuries in what is presumed to be a far more benign mind/body activity--yoga. apparently many injuries that involve the separation of muscle from bone, tendon tears, sprains, etc. occur in yoga classes. provoked by an all too enthusiastic teacher making "an adjustment" (i.e. pushing the person's body more into position) or by the yoga student herself pushing her own body beyond what is her current limit. so the lesson here is clear: listen to your body.

back to pnf. the idea here is that all the muscles in the body, including the heart, are happier with warm up stretches, followed by a pause (relaxation), followed by activity, then pause, and the pattern continues. it's only logical when you think about it. if the heart is beating madly to keep up with your demands, it only stands to reason that it could "pop." and as a matter of fact, reports of heart attacks while jogging are not uncommon -even among people who have been running 20 or more miles a week for years. the idea of 'less is more' seems to apply. recent medical findings are telling us that the heart as well as the rest of the body appreciate the pattern described above.

my teacher (lynn) reported hearing about private sessions in NYC for pnf going for an impressive $250/hour. and what it's really about is "don't push it. relax." for now i'll give myself my own private sessions and continue my group yoga classes with lynn.