Yamuna Body Rolling neck-shoulder workshop
Heini, the service and administration manager at Helsinki Adult Education Centre, is testing the centre's courses. This time Heini has chosen an office worker's dream, the Yamuna Body Rolling neck-shoulder workshop.
An office worker can easily start to resemble a hunchbacked pine tree instead of a gallant swan. It is difficult to keep your posture straight and your shoulders in the right position despite interval exercises and stretching. Sometimes your neck and shoulders feel so stuck that the tension starts to creep into your hat. Yamuna Body Rolling can be warmly recommended to anyone who feels the same way.
“The idea of Yamuna is to melt away tension by sliding the body against balls of different sizes, using its own weight as an aid. You can pause on tight spots for a longer period of time. You can also breathe on the ball, opening one spot. The sensations can be regulated by increasing or decreasing the pressure of the body against the ball and by breathing.”
Heini
Service and Administration Manager, Helsinki Adult Education Institute
Wonderful! Heavenly!
The friendly, firm teacher Merja Snellman reminded me to listen to my body and use as much force as I felt was appropriate: the aim was not to forcefully release the blockages. The body was always treated one side at a time. I could literally feel and even see the difference when the first side was treated: my shoulder was back in its right place, somewhere much lower than where it had gone unnoticed. I felt a sweet pain in the tight spots, but despite that, two words were alternating in my thoughts: “wonderful” and “heavenly”. The feeling was almost meditative. It would not have been tiring to get up from the ball all the time. According to the teacher, however, it is not a good idea to stay on one spot for too long, no matter how good it feels. The end result may be a headache.
Thoughts from the class
The class had a relaxed and easygoing atmosphere. I borrowed balls from the teacher and wore comfortable, stretchy clothes. I did some of the exercises under a blanket, as it was a bit cool in the gym. However, that didn't hinder the class. Even a first-time student could easily join in, as the exercises were shown clearly and the instructions were clear. The teacher clearly knew her stuff inside out.
After the course, I felt relaxed and light-hearted: my shoulders settled into place, my upper body felt flexible and breathing was comfortable. The course also brought relief to my sore lower back. Throughout the day, I remembered to lower my shoulders, which were reaching up to my ears. The spring sun was shining outside. Could the weekend start any more wonderfully?
Text: Heini, Helsinki Adult Education Institute
Photos: Klara Kulikova, Unsplash