Researchers explored something we all rely on in yoga: How do people judge stretch intensity? - Internal perception = “I feel a stretch here” / “this is my edge” - External perception = a teacher/therapist feeling “tension” in the body They compared the two using: - Hamstring stretch (hip flexion) - Shoulder stretch (extension) This was a small sample size, young adults and only passive stretching was tested. Key findings (translated for yoga) 1. “Feel your stretch” is valid… but not perfect. You can’t assume you feel what they feel. 2. Experience changes everything. More trained / more flexible participants had better awareness of their true edge. 3. Stretch tolerance ≠ stretch sensation. The “Edge” is partly psychological, not just physical. 4. Upper body awareness is weaker 5. Consistency matters more than method What this really means for yoga teaching 1. “Go to your edge” needs better teaching. That cue is too vague for many students. 2. Beginners need guidance, not just freedom. 3. Hands-on assists are not neutral as you could take someone further than they’d choose. 4. Build stretch literacy. Flexibility is not just physical; It’s learned perception. So your teaching should include what they are feeling, where is the resistance?, etc. 5. Consistency beats complexity. Don’t confuse students with mixed signals

Happy Sunday! April has shot by and May is a few days away. There's been something happening quietly in the background, hence why I've been quiet. I can't say what it is just yet, but I will when the time is right. How's the month going for you? Those of you who are ESSENTIAL members and have access to POCKETFUL OF GRACE, I've written something to see you through the last few days of April. PRO members - it was so lovely to spend the day with some of you last week. Tidying up the recording of the day is taking longer than usual and should be up over the next couple of days for replay.

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has published a new Position Stand summarising resistance training recommendations for healthy adults; the first major update since 2009. Have a read, and certainly something to consider with KettleflowYOGA. https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2026/04000/american_college_of_sports_medicine_position.21.aspx

I'm just doing a bit of upskill and thought I'd share these articles here in case you hadn't seen them before.

@Ann-See Yeoh Thank you for the recording. So sorry to have missed the discussion. How regularly would you recommend working through the reflection prompts please? 🧘‍♀️