Didi von Deck
When Didi von Deck first started Ashtanga yoga, three weeks after her third child was born, she recognized that Ashtanga is not like any yoga she had ever done before. After her first class, she found herself trying to get more yoga into her life. Despite the challenges of raising her family and her busy orthopaedic practice, she eventually started a daily practice under Kate O’Donnell and she has studied with David Swenson, Nancy Gilgoff, David Williams and Richard Freeman. She completed both 200 and 300 hour teacher trainings with Rolf Gates in order to further her understanding of how yoga works its magic. She travels to India frequently to study Ashtanga yoga with the Jois family, and is authorized by Saraswathi. While in India, she continues her studies of Sanskrit, chanting and yoga philosophy, and she takes time to work with the Odanadi Seva Trust, an organization that works to rescue, rehabilitate, reintegrate and empower trafficked and sexually exploited women and children (Yoga Stops Traffick).
Seeking new ways to help others, Didi is studying the Feldenkrais Method® and is authorized as an Awareness through Movement® teacher. The Feldenkrais Method uses small, easy movements to rewire the brain so that movement become more comfortable and efficient while the mind becomes more flexible. The Feldenkrais Method is excellent for people with injuries or repetitive strain and for anyone who simply want to move and feel better.
Because it captures her feeling about daily practice, one of Didi’s favorite yoga quotes is from Judith Hanson Lasater: “People often ask me, ‘Is it necessary to practice yoga every day?’ I tell them, ‘No, not at all. Just practice on the days you want to feel good!'”
Didi is eager to share the joy of feeling good through yoga and mindfulness practices. She is passionate about making yoga accessible to all and helped create a yoga program for the patients at Cambridge Health Alliance where she is an orthopedic surgeon. She also is an ardent supporter of yoga and mindfulness in schools. She has deep gratitude to her teachers in all walks of life.
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Ashtanga: Some Primary, Some Second • Didi von Deck • 50 Minutes
The perfect practice for when you sleep through the 6am Mysore alarm. Some primary poses mixed with some second series poses provide a well rounded practice rooted in breath, bandha and drishti.
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30 Minute Feldenkrais • The Jaw & The Pelvis • Didi von Deck
Small, deliberate movements create awareness in subtle areas of the body we often overlook. This 30 minute Feldenkrais lesson explores the relation between the jaw and the pelvis, providing a deep connection to the physical and energetic bodies.
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15 Minute Feldenkrais Lesson with Didi von Deck
Stress manifests itself in our bodies, often restricting breath and movement and leading to pain. These changes may become habits and limit our ability to feel centered and comfortable. This Feldenkrais Awareness through Movement® lesson will offer simple movements that release bodily stress and ...
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Ashtanga: Bhekasana with Didi Von Deck 11 min
Part of the second series of Ashtanga, Bhekasana is a great pose to open the hips and shoulders in preparation for a back bend.
No suggested props
Intermediate level class -
Feldenkrais: Lengthening and Strengthening the Back Didi Von Deck 16 min
Find more length in your spine and discover better posture through movements done while lying on your belly.
No props needed -
Feldenkrais: Becoming Taller through Spinal Flexion • Didi von Deck • 45 min
Find more length in your spine and neck through gentle folding of your chest, belly and spine.
Suggested props: block or cushion to sit on -
Asthanga: Pranayama • Didi von Deck • 12 min
This Ashtanga breathing sequence will focus your attention inward to quiet your mind. Short breath retentions will keep the mind steady. This practice can be a prelude for sitting meditation or as a meditation in itself.
Suggested props: whatever would make you comfortable sitting -
Feldenkrais: Oiling the hip joints • Didi Von Deck • 30 min
Find mobility and strength in the lower back and pelvis in this class done while sitting on the floor. Your hips will feel well oiled and your hamstrings will feel long and relaxed. Great for walking, running, hiking and skiing.
Suggested props: Blankets to sit on -
Feldenkrais: Hip Opening with Ease • Didi Von Deck • 30 min
Lose the struggle and find a way to soften the back and mobiize the pelvis to allow the hips to rotate and move without effort.
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How to Wake Up Early to do Yoga • Didi von Deck • 3 min
Get everything ready the night before and then set your intention and your alarm! It can be easier than you think to get up and out to early morning practice.
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Feldenkrais: Shoulders for Backbends • Didi Von Deck • 20 min
You don’t need to do backbends to benefit from this class! Your shoulders will become more open and flexible as you build shoulder awareness through movements of your wrists and elbows done while lying comfortably on the floor.
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Ashtanga: 30 min Flow • Didi Von Deck
Even if you don’t have a lot of time, you can reap the benefits of practice by moving with your breath through this selection of classic primary series ashtanga poses.
Suggested props: Blocks and Strap -
Feldenkrais: Rolling and Rounding • Didi von Deck • 34 min
Rolling, rounding and lengthening will organize your back muscles and spinal vertebrae to reduce stiffness and pain and improve posture, balance and flexibility.
Suggested Props Blanket or Towel -
Flow: Twisting and Binding • Didi von Deck • 30 min
The primary series Marichasanas are challenging to the shoulders, hips and spine, as well as to the mind. Finding some space between the ribs can help. This video shares some tips to help you find ease in these poses.
Suggested props: Towel or Strap
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Feldenkreis: Lubricating the Hips • Didi von Deck • 40 min
Increasing mobility of the pelvis and hips will allow you to move like a well-oiled machine. We'll gradually go from lying on the floor to a more upright position to help your pelvis find its optimal alignment and allow for easier walking, running, and moving as you want!
No props suggested.
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Feldenkreis: Finding Ease in the Shoulders • Didi von Deck - 15 min
Explore the relationship between the arms, ribs, and back to allow the shoulders to let go of tension and find light and graceful movement.
Your posture and breathing will improve.Props needed: Folded blanket
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Ashtanga: Drop Backs • Didi von Deck • 35 min
Dropping back into and then standing up from a backbend can be fun and empowering, and you don’t need to be a gymnast! This class starts by warming up the back, legs, and shoulders. You’ll then use a wall as a prop to practice this skill on your own.
Suggested Props: A Blank Wall
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Feldenkrais: Let Your Shoulders Find Their Home • Didi von Deck • 40min
We often don’t know where our shoulders belong. We try to pull them back to improve our posture or force them down because we sense they are too high or uncomfortable. Shoulder strain results! This class will explore how the skeleton can support your shoulders for better posture and comfort.
S...
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Ashtanga: Twisting: Marichasana C and D • Didi von Deck • 30 min
Twisting increases the mobility of your spine, cleanses and detoxifies your organs and inner body, and aids digestion. In the ashtanga primary series, twisting in Marichasana C and D with arms bounds is challenging, but in this class we will go over variations of earlier twists in the series an...
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Feldenkrais: Relieving Eye Strain • Didi von Deck • 15 min
These simple eye movements work to quickly relieve eye and neck strain. They quiet down excitation in the nervous system and can be great to do if you are having trouble falling asleep.
No suggested props.
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Feldenkreis: Better Posture, Lengthening your Spine • Didi von Deck • 30 min
Holding tension in your belly can lead to back pain as your back muscles have to work extra hard to stand up straight. Learn how to balance the muscles of your back and your abdomen in order to discover better posture and more ease in movement.
No suggested props.
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Ashtanga: Pain Free Wrists, Elbows and Shoulders • Didi von Deck • 15 min
Yoga can be hard on the wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Here are some warms ups for these delicate joints to help you prevent or rehab from injury.
Suggested Props: block, 3-5 pound weight.
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Feldenkrais: Relieving Eye Strain • Didi von Deck • 15 min
These simple eye movements work to quickly relieve eye and neck strain. They quiet down excitation in the nervous system and can be great to do if you are having trouble falling asleep.
Suggested Props: none
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Feldenkrais: Finding the Spine • Didi von Deck • 30 min
Developing better kinesthetic awareness of the vertebrae of your spine will improve posture and help relieve back pain.
Suggested props: none