Join Rebecca and Alex for a combination of dualities as we delve deeply into the mechanics of backbending and forward folding: The only requirement is coming with an open mind and a willingness to go outside your comfort zone!
Rebecca and Alex both practiced and taught yoga long before they discovered contortion. After plateauing in their yoga practice and struggling from injuries, contortion taught them the importance of working on strength and technique rather than flowing mindlessly through postures.
Their experience has given them a systematic approach to flexibility training which focuses on individual alignment/anatomy, drills, repetitions, the integration of props, the importance of transitions and intelligent sequencing.
Their unique approach has had a transformational impact on both their practice and teaching and is the perfect complement to anyone who wants to advance their yoga practice in a safe and intelligent way.
This Course will cover:
Backbends
Glute activation, hamstring engagement and hip extension in cobra (bhujangasana), bow (dhanurasana), camel (ustrasana) and wheel (urdhva dhanurasana)
Middle/upper back activation, shoulder rotation for flipped grip poses including pigeon (kapotasana), lunge (anjanesyasana) and dancer (natarajasana)
Upper body strength and back/shoulder opening for hollowbacks, snakes & scorpios
Folds
Spinal extension & anterior pelvic tilt in half pikes (ardha uttanasana), pikes (uttanasana) & turtles (kurmasana)
Spinal flexion in compression poses like upside down turtle and firefly (titibhasana)
External rotations in lotus (padmasana), pigeons, butterflies (baddha konasana), yogi dandasana, kandasana and leg behind head/back positions (eka pada sirsana, dwi pada sirsasana, buddhasana…)
Splits
Internal and external hip rotations for front and middle splits
Lengthening the hamstrings and the quads for beautifully aligned and balanced positions, but also for hooking
Utilization of props for standing splits, laying splits, wall splits and oversplits
Shoulders & Twists
Spinal twisting
Shoulder protraction, retraction, flexion, extension, internal and external rotation
Exploration how this can be applied to entries into wheel pose (urdhva dhanurasana), hollowback wheel (alien) and hollowback forearm stand
Further, how this can be applied to various leg behinds and folds
Inversions (Forearm- & Handstand)
Working for tomorrow: Handstand Strength and Flexibility
Handstand fundamentals: Hand placement, finger activation, shoulder activation, how to safely fall out of position and safely entering the handstand
Inversion awareness: Spending time being upside down in more accessible inversions like headstand, forearmstand and wall-handstand
Basic Shapes: Candle, Half Straddle, Straddle, Diamond, Tuck, and Press (puppy, pike, straddle…)
Schedule
FRIDAY, 27.02.2026 - Introduction & Handstand Fundamentals
17:00-17:30 Get to know us | Introduction into our training | Introduce yourself (if you like)
17:30-18:45 - Alex - Warm up/conditioning and straight line drills
18:45-20:00 - Rebecca - Straddle and compression drills and cool down
SATURDAY, 28.02.2026 - Folds, Splits, Leg Behinds & Hollowbacks
9:15-10:45: Warm up | External Rotation + Side Body
11:00-12:30: How to approach Deeper Folds & Leg Behinds
13:30-15:00: How to approach Shoulder Opening & Twisting
15:30-17:00: How to approach Hollowback based Inversions
SUNDAY, 01.03.2026 - Backbends & Splitty Bends, Shoulders, Twists & Contortion Handstands
9:15-10:45: Glutes, hip flexors and hamstrings - lunges and splits
11:00-13:00: Skills and Drills including modifications/body assessment/advancements
14:00- 15:45: Mid and upper back engagement - cobra, bow, camel and wheel
16:00 - 17:00: Scorpion based arm balances and inversions
WHO IS IT FOR?
Whilst this course isn’t recommended for complete beginners we aim to break down and explore how postures can be adapted for different body types. This will include how to assess and understand where your restrictions lie and how to build a practice that works for you and your body.
About Rebecca Hannah
Rebecca’s intention as a teacher is to help students discover presence through play, teaching sequences that are fun, innovative, creative and smart. She believes in a strong focus on developing the strength to safely support flexibility, while using movement as a tool for mindfulness, communication, creativity and self-expression.
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Rebecca was introduced to yoga through physical theatre and performance. As a performer she was initially attracted to the physical side of yoga and how it could be used as a tool for creative expression. After her 200hr YTT in hatha followed by an additional 200 hours in ashtanga, she discovered a passion for creativity in different styles of movement disciplines. This interest was channelled into further trainings, including 200 hours of Yogic Arts with Duncan Wong (a fusion of martial arts, Thai massage and yoga), 50 hours Tripsichore Yoga Choreography, calisthenics, and circus arts. She has taught workshops, retreats and teacher trainings in over 20 different countries across four continents. This includes her signature training ‘The Art of Flex-ability’ which combines drills, assists, and transitions inspired by yoga, contortion, dance and Thai massage.
About Alex Hammer
Alex has always been passionate about movement and sports. His first passion that could be related to his today´s practice, however, was bodyweight training and calisthenics. After several injuries due to inflexibility, he was fortunate to discover yoga through YouTube and started practicing the very same night. Shortly afterward, he began attending classes with great commitment. About two years into his yoga journey, after showing up on the mat daily, he completed his 200-hour Hatha YTT in Rishikesh, India, but later dedicated himself to Ashtanga for a couple of years. In addition to Ashtanga, he soon started experimenting with hand balancing, which became a significant part of his practice.
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Always in search of something new, he stumbled upon circus-style contortion, which ignited a new flame of inspiration within him. Influenced by various movement disciplines such as bodyweight training, yoga, and contortion, among others, and by spending countless hours on the mat daily, he began to experiment with an approach that combined elements from multiple disciplines he had explored over the years. His approach aims at achieving a holistic balance of flexibility, mobility, and strength – a goal accomplished through a deep and profound connection to one’s own breath and body, as well as the ability to truly enjoy working, moving, and stretching both the body and mind.
Today, Alex is known for his holistic flexibility and strength, particularly excelling in his frontbending practice. He views movement as an art and a form of self-expression and places high value on a healthy mind-body-breath connection. He knows from personal experience that our feelings towards our practice can be ambivalent. Therefore, in his workshops and retreats, he focuses on helping practitioners connect with their bodies and breath, as well as finding joy within the practice itself. This is achieved through the development of a skill he refers to as “intensity management”, the joyful experience of surpassing perceived limitations, and by accessing the practice as a form of self-expression.
PRICING:
Early Bird COMING SOON
Regular pricing – COMING SOON
Reserve your spot in advance below or via the Dharma Studios Berlin app. [COMING SOON]