Welcome to the Art and Science of Hands-on Assists and Yoga Anatomy

Dear Yogis,

A fresh Kingston smile to you. We are very excited to welcome you to the in-depth 25 fun hours of offering hands-on and deepen our yoga anatomy knowledge in early and late September 2025. The gap between the two weekends will give us a chance to put our learning into practice, especially if you are currently teaching or you can try it on a friend or family member.

Below are all the details for the training. We invite you to smile and enjoy your breathing as you read through them.

2025 Dates & Times

  1. Saturday, September 6, from 9:30am to 4pm

  2. Sunday, September 7, from 9:30am to 4pm

  3. Saturday, September 27, from 9:30am to 4pm

  4. Sunday, September 28, from 9:30am to 4pm

    Please arrive 10-15 minutes early each day to settle in so we can start on time.

Books

You’ve probably noticed there are countless yoga books on anatomy, cueing, and assists. Which style is best? The truth is: they all have value, depending on who steps onto the mat. In this training, I’ll share four approaches Sarah and I have studied and connected with: Paul Grilley, Mark Stephens, Anusara, and Ellen Saltonstall. We especially appreciate their insights into both structural and energetic alignment. You won’t need to buy their books as we’ll explore each style in detail together. Along the way, you may find yourself resonating with one, or a blend, just as we have. I’m so excited to share our practices with you soon!

Location

At light-filled fitness studio in the east end of Kingston called Kopifit. 812A John Marks Avenue, Kingston, Ontario. The studio is right beside the Lovell Drugs Store. Breathe easy with loads of free parking on weekends in the KOPI campus.

Kindly park behind the building to get the main entrance - turn right after you pass Lovell Drugs.

What to Bring

  1. Please bring along your lovely smile and a beginner’s heart.

  2. We’ll be sitting on the floor on a yoga mat and blocks for the lecture parts of the training. The studio will have plenty of yoga mats and blocks for us to use. Bring along anything else you think you might need to help you feel comfortable such as your own props i.e. a bolster, a blanket. There are several chairs and stability balls in the studio for you to use as well, if sitting on the floor isn’t comfortable.

  3. A notebook and pens. We'll provide a manual.

  4. Nut-free lunch and snacks. There’s a medium-sized fridge at the studio if you need to refrigerate your food. Or purchase your own lunch nearby. There are a handful of shops in the area, including Food Basics, Maki Sushi, Domino’s Pizza, Pita Pit, Tim Hortons.

  5. Water bottle. The studio has Brita filtered water.

  6. Please wear comfortable exercise attire as we’ll be moving around quite a bit.

  7. A thermos for tea/coffee. We’ll have a kettle and plenty of herbal tea to keep your kidneys warm.

  8. Indoor runners or slippers. The studio has a no outdoor shoes policy. The rubber flooring makes it hard to keep the floor 100% clean so we don’t recommend wearing only socks.

What to Wear

Please wear comfortable yoga/gym clothes that cover your knees and torso, as we'll be moving around quite a bit. Feel free to layer up and bring a small blanket if you tend to get cold easily during lecture time. Keep in mind it’ll be September when we meet.

Schedule

We’ll be weaving in and out of yoga anatomy and offering hands-on through the four days.

DAY 1 - FOUNDATIONS

Theme: Principles of Anatomy & Safe Assisting

  • Morning

    • Welcome + setting intentions

    • Led gentle yoga class with focus on spine, pelvis, and breath

    • Yoga Anatomy Basics: planes of movement, joint actions, skeletal variation

    • Functional anatomy: spine, pelvis, breath mechanics

  • Afternoon

    • Principles of safe assisting (consent, observation, intention, types of assists)

    • Practice lab: grounding and stabilizing assists (Tadasana, Warrior 2, Chair, Mountain → foundational standing poses)

    • Group reflection & Q&A

DAY 2 - LOWER BODY FOCUS

Theme: Hips, Knees, Feet in Yoga & Hands-On

  • Morning

    • Led class with focus on lower body

    • Anatomy: hip joint, pelvis alignment, hamstrings & quadriceps, knee safety

    • Functional range of motion (Paul Grilley style exploration of skeletal variation - Hang loves his work!)

  • Afternoon

    • Hands-on labs: Warrior 1, Pyramid, Forward Fold variations, Wide-Leg Folds

    • Techniques for stabilizing vs deepening assists

    • Peer teaching practice + feedback circle

DAY 3 - UPPER BODY FOCUS

Theme: Shoulders, Arms, Spine, Breath

  • Morning

    • Anatomy: shoulder girdle, scapula-humeral rhythm, core + spinal alignment

    • Breath mechanics + diaphragm anatomy

  • Afternoon

    • Hands-on labs: Triangle, Extended Side Angle, Half Moon, Warrior 3, Down Dog

    • Energetic vs directional assists - when less is more

    • Teaching practicum: cueing + hands-on for 2-3 poses each (peer-led)

DAY 4 - INTEGRATION

Theme: From Anatomy to Empowered Assisting

  • Morning

    • Anatomy review game / quiz (interactive learning)

    • Trauma-sensitive + inclusive touch practices

    • Energetic principles of assisting (Saltonstall’s somatic style + Anusara’s uplifting heart cues vs Stephens’ pragmatic clarity)

  • Afternoon

    • Teaching practicums: each trainee teaches a mini-sequence including cues + optional assists

    • Group feedback + closing circle

    • Integration discussion: How do we balance anatomy, energy, and ethics in assisting?

TRAINING FLOW

  • Each day blends:

    • Anatomy lecture/demo (theory)

    • Asana practice lab (embodiment)

    • Hands-on practice (partner/peer learning)

    • Integration (reflection, practicum, Q&A)

  • Progression:

    • Day 1 = Foundations (why we assist, how bodies differ)

    • Day 2–3 = Deep dive into lower/upper body + hands-on labs

    • Day 4 = Integration, trauma-sensitivity, teaching practicum

Injuries & Medical Conditions

Please let us know via email if you have any injuries, limitations or medical conditions that we should be aware of. This will help us accommodate you at the training.

Scent-Free

In consideration of others who have allergies, including Hang and Sarah, please attend the training scent-free: no perfume/fragrance/cologne/scented products/essential oils. Thank you.

Photography

We respect your privacy and would like to ask for your permission to take photos during the training for social media to help promote the healing restorative yoga practice. Please privately talk to us at the training if you do not wish to be in the photos.

Phone Number

Hang's phone number is 613-449-9026, in case you’re running late, not feeling well, coming over with baked goods etc.

We look forward to sharing the beautiful practice of hands-on assists and yoga anatomy with you. Please let us know if you have any questions before we meet.

With a hop, skip, and a jump of joy,
Hang & Sarah