What is Connective Tissue...

And Why Should I be Concerned with it in Yoga Practice?

“All the great systems of the body – the circulatory, the nervous system, the musculo-skeletal system, the digestive tract, the various organs – are unsheathed in connective tissue.”( Grilley p. 6)Connective tissue is literally present throughout the entire body penetrating every bone, joint, organ, tissue and cell. Unlike muscle, which is are softer and more elastic allowing them to change shape, connective tissue is stiff and inelastic. It is important to keep in mind that all the tissues (muscle, tendons, joints, etc.) of the body are changing and adapting to environmental conditions and stresses placed on them. This may be one reason to practice yoga, to encourage a positive change in the body. Muscles are sculpted and strengthened, tendons are stretched and lengthened. Even the bones are changed. As muscles attaches to the bone it pulls on the bones and the bones in turn respond by growing thicker and stronger.

It is easy to see how muscle changes and develops in a yoga practice. Repeated Chaturanga Dandasana (plank or four-limnbed stick pose) works to develop muscles in the core (rectus abdominis, external obliques) as well as the upper body (triceps, serratus anterior, pectoralis major) and legs (gluteus maximus, hamstrings, gastrocnemius, rectus femoris) creating defined form and shape. Unlike the visual changing muscles the onnective tissue change is not easily seen but more of a felt as it lengthens and expands. Working in a variation of Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (pigeon pose) one needs to engage in a long hold in order to allow the more stubborn, inelastic connective tissue (located within the piriformis muscle) to lengthen and stretch giving stability to the hip by releasing its spindle reflex (which aides in lengthening). Slow shortening and stiffening of connective tissue throughout our body due to injuries, neglect and aging can be addressed with a dedicated yoga practice. “If we never bend our knees or stretch our spines, then the connective tissue is going to slowly shorten to the minimum length needed to accommodate our activities. If after years of abuse or neglect, we then try to flex our knees or arch our back we won’t be able to because our joints will have been “shrink-wrapped” by the shortening of the connective tissue.

Sometimes the problem with long holds is created by blockages in the mind. What to do with the mind as the connective tissue is working toward lengthening? Impatience, boredom, judgment often creeps up as one feels the challenge of the long hold on the physical body. Then yoga becomes a meditative experiences as the mind works to address its impatience, boredom or judgment in order to gain some stillness. This is said to be the true purpose of yoga, to assist the mind to adapt to changes with a sense of stillness and peace, maybe even gratitude.
So learn to embrace the long holds required to bring about stretching and lengthening knowing you are doing something good not only for your physical body but also for the busy and resistant mind. Use each challenge as an opportunity to learn, to grow and to go deeper into your practice. See you on the mat. Om Shante, Shante, Shante (Peace, Peace, Perfect Peace)

mpc YOGA well
Michele Priddy, Teaching Director
mpcpartnership@gmail.com
615-289-9300

Michele’s Current YOGA teaching schedule:
M 5:30-6;30 am Hot Yoga My Hot Yoga Place, (Gallatin Rd. Hendersonville) www.myhotyogaplace.com
M 6:15-7:30 Hot Core DC Fitness (Hwy 31W) White House www.dcfitnesscenter.com
T/Th 9;00-10;00 am Level 1 Yoga First United Methodist Church, Hendersonville
T 7:30- 8:45 pm Hot Yoga My Hot Yoga Place, (Gallatin Rd. Hendersonville)
Sun 2:30-3:30 pm Level 1 Hot Yoga DC Fitness (Hwy 31W) White House
*Private Sessions Available