Yogi Aaron is the founder and creator of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ (AYAMA), a revolutionary methodology that challenges conventional approaches to yoga. Using a science-backed approach, he prioritizes muscle activation over traditional stretching.
With over three decades of dedicated study, mentorship, and hands-on experience, he has established himself as a leading expert in yoga therapy, alignment, and pain-free movement.
As owner and operator of Blue Osa Yoga Retreat + Spa in Costa Rica, Yogi Aaron leads transformative programs that combine his expertise in yoga instruction, retreat facilitation, and wellness business operations. His work spans both in-person immersive experiences and digital education through The Yogi Club online platform and the AYAMA™ Certification Program.
Yogi Aaron’s teaching methodology represents a paradigm shift in modern yoga practice. AYAMA focuses on activating and engaging muscles to enhance range of motion, build strength, improve stability, and optimize alignment—while reducing pain and injury risk. This evidence-based approach has positioned him as a thought leader challenging the status quo in the yoga community.
His mission extends beyond the mat: to liberate individuals from chronic pain and guide them toward discovering yoga’s authentic purpose through intelligent, body-informed practice.
Learn more about training opportunities with Yogi Aaron at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat + Spa.
Yogi Aaron is the founder and creator of Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ (AYAMA), a revolutionary methodology that challenges conventional approaches to yoga. Using a science-backed approach, he prioritizes muscle activation over traditional stretching.
With over three decades of dedicated…
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Why are my muscles tight? What causes muscle tightness?
"Why are my muscles tight?" Have you ever asked yourself this? Tightness and tension are regular occurrences for many of us. But where does this tightness come from? Why do we feel tense? And what is really the best way to release it? I know a lot of people turn to yoga and stretching to deal with their tightness. That's what I did, too, for so many years. I also used stretching to deal with my pain (it's what all the fitness and wellness professionals touted). But while stretching sometimes gave me some relief for a little bit of time — it didn't resolve the underlying reason of why I was tight in the first place or what was actually causing my pain. And in many cases, my pain would come back even more ferociously after a good yoga stretch sesh. Long story short, after a couple of decades of stretching daily to keep my tension and pain at bay, I finally discovered why I suffered daily from pain. It was the very thing I was told to do (and doing with great discipline) that was the culprit... Stretching!!!
Psoas Muscle SECRETS You Never Knew Existed | Episode #5
Welcome to Episode 5 of The Stretching Police! In this episode, Yogi Aaron dives deep into the often-overlooked psoas muscle. He debunks common misconceptions about psoas tightness and reveals why the often prescribed stretching exercises contribute to back and hip pain, spinal misalignment, and other physical discomfort. You'll also discover why this key muscle is crucial for core strength, posture, and overall health.
Thank you… keep spreading the ‘accurate and safe’
@June Smith thanks!!!
60-Minute Yoga To Strengthen Your Core + Side Body
Open your capacity to breathe fully and receive life’s abundant energy! During this 60-minute yoga practice with master teacher Yogi Aaron, you will explore a series of yoga postures to open the lateral sides of the body and free up your ability to breathe completely and take in the goodness of life. This 1-hour Yoga Practice includes: A seated centering with a simple pranayama practice to cultivate balanced inhalations and exhalations A gentle warm-up with breath-based movements to release tension that inhibits the fullness of your breath An empowering sequence of poses using Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ techniques that will enliven your entire body and reveal a greater capacity to breathe freely Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™, created by Yogi Aaron, is a revolutionary way to practice yoga that focuses on activating and engaging muscles rather than stretching them — and it isn’t being taught by anyone else! This yoga methodology reduces pain and risk of injury while increasing range of motion, muscle strength, stability, and alignment. Learn more about Applied Yoga Anatomy + Muscle Activation™ here! Have you read my most recent article yet on how stretching may actually be causing you more harm? If not, check it out.
Namaste Yogi Aaron! I have lots of work to do….laterally speaking 😆 wowza
Great class🙏
@Meghan Boschin some of my favorite postures to practice. 😁
@John Love little adjustments can shift the entire pose and its effects. 😃
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Child's Pose Alternatives: Rest Properly!
Move Smarter, Feel Better: Rethink Stretching & Child's Pose! (10-minute Class) Ditch the pain and unlock a stronger, more mindful practice! This 10-minute class challenges common yoga beliefs: Why Stretching Isn't Always the Answer: Discover alternative methods to improve flexibility and prevent injury. Rethinking Child's Pose: Learn if this popular resting pose is truly beneficial for your body. Powerful Alternatives: Explore effective resting postures that you can do in place of child's pose to help you stay activated and strong throughout your yoga practice. This mini-instructional class is perfect for both yoga students and teachers seeking a fresh perspective on movement. Take control of your practice and embrace a pain-free life!
That’s a really interesting point about breathing. I’m a classically trained, if amateur, singer and by the time I started yoga in my late 20s I’d been singing for over a decade. So patterns of deep diaphragmatic breathing were normal for me, even in everyday life. The first time I did child’s pose I thought I was going to suffocate because my diaphragm felt like it was being squashed. My teacher at the time assured me that I’d quickly learn to breathe into my back. But I never have, and I e never felt comfortable in child’s pose. Now I know why. I really don’t miss it!
@Claire Warwick our inner wisdom is often screaming at us. But people who have now knowledge about what they are talking about often gaslight us unknowingly. Bless to those teachers, but they need to up their game. 🫢😂
@John Love this was one of the classes I really love to teach a lot.
May I please ask what, is the neck exercise technique that helped the woman’s arm motion?
@John Love , These were actually addressing the core muscles, which are responsible for stability, and our core muscles' main function is actually trunk rotation. Check out the back series. https://members.theyogi.clu... and review the trunk rotators in the book.
Just what I’ve been looking for !. Thank you for explaining it so well.
@Audrey you are welcome!!