WELCOME TO MONTHLY THROUGH LINES

Hey all – it’s Simon here from Chromatic Yoga.

For the past five years, I’ve been diving deep into the system of Chromatic Yoga with Matt Giordano, and it’s completely transformed not just how I feel in my practice, but how I approach teaching. Using the step-by-step progressive methodology of Chromatic Yoga has brought so much clarity and purpose to my classes, and it’s given me a new level of confidence in guiding students toward higher levels of body awareness and improved strength and flexibility.

If you’re anything like me, you’re a bit of an anatomy nerd who lights up at the mention of biomechanics. It’s a passion – but with the sheer volume of information out there and the complexity of the human body, it can feel overwhelming at times to plan and sequence consistently transformational classes. That’s why I love the structure and depth Chromatic Yoga offers – it helps cut through the noise and brings everything together in a way that truly supports both teacher and student.

That’s where CHROMATIC MONTHLY THROUGH LINES comes in!

In Chromatic Yoga, we keep things straightforward. That’s why we’ve launched this “Monthly Through Line” community initiative. It’s designed to help you – our Chromatic Teachers – focus and intelligently design your classes to best support your students. If you’re just here to practice, that’s great too. You’ll be able to apply these through-lines to gain more insight in to body biomechanics and potentially access the poses you’ve always wanted to do but perhaps haven’t gotten yet. 

How it Works:

1. On the first of every month, we announce the Chromatic Monthly Through-Line. We zoom in on one body part and explore all the ways it affects our yoga practice throughout the month.
2. We highlight a Physical Through Line (PTL) you can incorporate into your classes each week, along with pose suggestions and cueing techniques.

• WHAT IS A PHYSICAL THROUGH LINE? 

• A Physical Through Line is a term we use in Chromatic Yoga that is defined by the muscle engagement, or joint action that we focus on through the duration of the yoga class. Certified Chromatic Teachers construct their classes around a PTL (Physical Through Line) in order to create a more effective learning environments for students. As a student you can expect that each Chromatic class will include a PTL. Of course, you will do other postures and other muscle engagements within a Chromatic class, however there is a strong emphasis on the PTL.

3. Share how you’ve used the PTL by tagging us on IG and in our Global WhatsApp Group! 

For July, the Chromatic Monthly Through-Line will be….

The Function of Flexion

If extension is your body’s way of expanding, opening and reaching back, then flexion is its invitation to folding forward, rounding, and drawing in. It’s the action of decreasing the angle between two body parts or bones, like when you draw your thigh toward your belly, reach your arms overhead, or round your spine. We experience it constantly – on our mats (from seated forward folds to arm balances) or at our desks, even in the way we hug someone.

But in yoga, flexion isn’t just about curling in – it’s about strength, control, and intentional folding. When used with awareness, flexion can create depth in postures, stability in transitions, and clarity in alignment. This month, we break down how flexion shows up in four key areas: the wrists, spine, shoulders, and hips.

Week 1: Wrist Flexion – Building Awareness and Strength at the Edge

Wrist flexion occurs when the palm moves closer to the inner forearm, such as when your fingers are drawing in or the back of the hand is weight-bearing. While wrist extension is more common in yoga (e.g., Downward Dog), flexion is just as essential – especially in counterbalancing repetitive loading patterns and improving grip strength.

Week 2: Spinal Flexion – Rounding with Purpose

Spinal flexion is the action of rounding the spine—bringing the head, shoulders, and pelvis toward one another. While we often think of this as “forward folding,” true spinal flexion involves segmental movement, especially in the thoracic and lumbar regions. It’s essential for developing core strength, awareness, and safe transitions.

Week 3: Shoulder Flexion – Reaching with Intention

Shoulder flexion happens when you lift your arms forward and overhead, as in Urdhva Hastasana or Downward Dog. It’s a major component of sun salutations, inversions, and any pose that involves overhead reach. Flexion at the shoulder is often limited by tightness or misalignment in the thoracic spine or lats, so awareness and support are key.

Week 4: Hip Flexion – Folding, Balancing, and Stabilizing

Hip flexion occurs when the thigh moves toward the front of the torso. It’s the basis for countless yoga poses, from Warrior III to Boat Pose, and also essential for seated postures and transitions. Balanced hip flexion supports both strength and range—particularly important for core stability and healthy lower backs.

Simon’s RECAP AND TOP TIPS

sPEAK POSTURES TO CONSIDER FOR FLEXION:

Week 1 Wrists: TUESDAY, JULY 1 Any pose where your hands are required to grab your mat, especially where your fingers are digging in. Although your wrists are likely to be in extension, the balancing action required from the wrist flexor muscles brings it in to the flexion category. Think Plank, any arm balances like Crow Pose (Bakasana), 8 Angle Pose (Ashtavakrasana), Side Plank (Vashistasana), think also how the hands are in Eagle (Garundasana) (if you get the double twist of the arms and hands). 

Week 2 Spine: MONDAY, JULY 7 Cat Pose (Marjaryasana) is a classic way to explore full spinal flexion with breath. Childs Pose (Balasana) with passive flexion that offers length and rest. Finally Happy Baby (Ananda Balasana) offers both hip flexion and spinal flexion in a more playful yet satisfying pose.   

Week 3 Shoulders: MONDAY, JULY 14 Upward Salute (Urdhva Hastasana) is a foundational standing pose that emphasizes full shoulder flexion. Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) strengthens the shoulders in flexion while encouraging length through the spine.

Week 4 Hips: MONDAY, JULY 21 Boat Pose (Navasana) – A classic core pose that strengthens the hip flexors and spine. Low Lunge (Anjaneyasana – Front Leg Focus) encourages deep flexion in the front hip while opening the back leg. Supine Leg Lifts are an excellent for isolating and strengthening the hip flexors and depending on your peak pose could be done while maintaining spinal flexion. 

BONUS WEEK this month: Pop Quiz – can you come up with a Peak Pose and appropriate PTL for a pose that either combines all 4 of these actions OR apply flexion to another part of the body not already covered this month. 

FOR TEACHER’S: VERBAL CUE’S

For some of the following actions of Flexion, in the below example postures, try saying: 

Wrists – Crow Pose: “as you lean forward grip your fingers in to your mat until you feel the muscles of your forearm engage. These are your wrist flexors” 

Spine – Cat: “press yours hands in to your mat as you straighten your arms rounding your back to flex your spine” 

Shoulder – Upward Salute: “reach your arms up and overhead to the sky until you feel your shoulders lift toward your ears”  

Hips – Seated Wide-Leg Leg Lifts: “pull your thigh to your stomach as you lift the leg, feeling your hip flexor muscles fire up”  

FOR CHROMATIC STUDENTS:

As a practitioner of Chromatic Yoga you may hear these as well as many other PTL’s in Chromatic Classes around the world. You can also practice these yourselves within any yoga class without the guidance of a teacher.

CHROMATIC TEACHERS:

Let’s see what you come up with this month. What peak postures will you be using? After you teach your class, share in our Global WhatsApp Group which layering postures worked best for you, which did you find students struggled with? We look forward to our collective collaboration to offer top level yoga experiences world wide.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON flexion

While flexion may not look as expansive or dramatic as extension, it’s foundational to your mobility, stability, and functional strength. From folding forward to lifting a leg or stabilizing a joint, flexion allows you to draw in – physically, mentally and emotionally – and create powerful, conscious movement. It offers a chance to move inward with strength, clarity, and control.

As you move through each week, notice where flexion feels easeful or effortful. Pay attention to the balance between strength and mobility, and see how cultivating this often-overlooked action can bring more clarity and depth to your practice. With awareness and intentional practice, flexion becomes not just a direction—but a dynamic way to build resilience, stability, and deeper embodiment.

Chromatic Yoga is a global community. No matter where you are in the world, we hope you’ll join us this July for a deep dive into the vast possibilities of flexion available in your body. Share and tag your poses on Instagram. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram if you don’t already for all the updates! 

Wishing you an intentional and transformative practice, 

~Simon Darroch

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