| As the newsletter is usually focused on Pilates and health & wellness topics, it only seemed right to share a little about Yamuna® Body Rolling. Here are some fun and interesting facts you may not know about Yamuna. Hope the following article is illuminating and inspires you to get rolling or stay on the ball with your fitness routine! |
- How do you pronounce Yamuna?
It is pronounced ya-mu-na like the river in India of the same
name.
- Why the unusual name?
Like Pilates, Yamuna is named after the person who developed the method, Yamuna Zake.
- What is Yamuna® exactly?
“Yamuna® Body Rolling (YBR) is a completely orignal fitness and therapy practice that combines healing, wellness and injury prevention in a single, simple workout.”* YBR uses balls to release muscles from beginning to end. It also releases restrictions and fascia and is mild weight bearing exercise.
The Yamuna® work has grown and evolved. Originally, it began as hands-on work that was called Yamuna® Body Logic (YBL). Eventually, the principles from YBL were adapted to the ball and that become Yamuna® Body Rolling (YBR).
In addition to YBL and YBR, the method has expanded to the extremities of the body. There is Yamuna® Foot Fitness (YFF) that uses half spheres underneath the feet (and even the hands) and there are smaller balls specifically designed for the muscles of the face!
- Is Yamuna® safe for everyone? What if you have a particular condition? Can you get hurt doing Yamuna?
Yamuna® is safe for most people to practice as long as you have the right ball, follow the routines as recommended, observe any cautions given and listen to your body. Similar to Pilates, there are routines that are appropriate for those rehabilitating and other routines that challenge the most advanced athlete. There are routines that can be done seated in a chair and Yamuna has even developed an “In Bed” series.
- Is there an App for that?
Yes, actually, there is a Yamuna® app, called AnatomyU! Yamuna came out with the app a few years ago and it shows exactly where the ball goes to release different muscles throughout the body. It’s perfect if you would like to learn more about anatomy (and do something beneficial for your body at the same time)!
- Is there anything the App can’t do?
As the app is focused on anatomy, if you have a special condition, Yamuna has other programs that may be more appropriate. For example, for low back issues, the app would only show muscles of the spine. However, the “Save Your Lower Back” download is a more holistic program that would address back concerns specifically.
- What is the difference between Foam Rolling and Yamuna Body Rolling?
This is a good question. As both foam rolling and YBR release muscles, on the surface, they seem pretty similar. Besides the obvious difference (size and length of the equipment etc.), the answer to this question is a bit more complex and maybe even surprising. To appropriately address this topic, the next edition is going to be devoted to exploring this topic more in depth.
| *YBR Foundations: Experiential Anatomy, page 2 |