Are Some Muscles Magical?

Yoga Meets Movement Science

Mar 7 2023 • 1 hr 21 mins

Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss the phenomenon of “magic muscles”: the tendency in the yoga, fitness, and rehab worlds to treat some muscles as more important or more special than other muscles.

Points of discussion include:

  • What is a magic muscle?
  • Muscle-based approaches in strength training & bodybuilding
  • Teaching yoga with a  “teach movement, not muscles” approach
  • What research suggests about these specific magic muscles:
    • Quadratus Lumborum (QL)
    • Vastus Medialis Obliquus (VMO)
    • Transverse Abdominis (TvA)
    • Psoas
    • Glutes
    • Piriformis
  • What do all magic muscles have in common?
  • Is the practice of labelling certain muscles as “stabilizers” and others as “movers” somewhat outdated?
  • The trend in evidence-based rehab to use non-specific vs. specific diagnoses for persistent pain conditions
  • What are “corrective exercises”, and are they evidence-based?
  • How well does yoga, specifically, help with low back pain?
  • …And much more!

Enjoy this engaging and eye-opening discussion for yoga, movement, and fitness geeks!

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

Jenni’s email newsletter

Strength for Yoga Remote Group Training – ongoing, interactive monthly strength program for yogis designed by Jenni & Travis

Take Jenni’s course: “When to Be Anatomically Specific in Yoga” for free!

Podcast episodes referenced in this episode (in order of appearance on the show):

Online yoga class library & yoga anatomy workshops with Jenni

Strength for Yoga email newsletter

To find out more about Travis Pollen: website / Instagram

Music used with generous permission from Dischord A Cappella.

Support the Show.


**Become a supporter of the Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast – starting at $3/month!

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