Tri 1, Lesson 1:
Introduction & Foundation 

This opening trimester introduces Leslie's approach to integrating Western anatomy with the yoga teaching lineage of Krishnamacharya and his son Desikachar including:

1. The Krishnamacharya lineage.
2. Breathing as the integrating principle.
3. Anatomy as storytelling. 
4. Leslie's personal journey. 
5. Simple concepts as lenses. 

Tri 1, Lesson 2:
Prana & Apana 

This trimester digs into the foundational concepts of prana and apana, grounding them in both ancient texts and biological reality including:

1. Pranayama defined from ancient sources. 
2. The top-down breathing pattern.
3. Apana moves in both directions.
4. There is no single "right way" to breathe.
5. Sukha, dukha, and the wheel. 

Tri 1, Lesson 3:
The Most Powerful Breath You'll Ever Take 

This Trimester shifts into physiology, using the story of the first breath as a gateway into deeper understanding of circulation, metabolism, and the body's inherited rhythms including:

1. The first breath is the most powerful.
2. Babies are poor breathing models.
3. Two breathing myths debunked.
4. The heart as rhythm-keeper, not pump.
5. The brain and bone marrow as oxygen priorities.

Tri 1, Lesson 4:
Breath as Shape Change 

This Trimester introduces the core anatomical framework for the rest of the course, built around a single defining idea about what breathing actually is including:

1. Breathing is the shape change of the cavities.
2. Air and breath are not the same thing.
3. Leslie's breathing catastrophe. 
4. The diaphragm moves the rib cage.
5. The universe fills the space we make. 

Tri 1, Lesson 5: 
The Engine of Shape Change: The Diaphragm Formula (SLARA) 

The central thesis of the course is that breathing connects both yoga and anatomy. The Prana Nyasa chant taught at the start encapsulates this — prana (inhale/nourishment) and apana (exhale/release) are the foundational forces around which the entire teaching is organized.

1. Breathing = shape change. 
2. The diaphragm is higher than you think. 
3. SLARA as a learning framework.
4. The diaphragm spans nipples to navel. 
5. Strengthening requires space, not resistance. 

Tri 1, Lesson 6:
Accessory Muscles: Steering Shape Change / Brmhana & Langhana 

1. The diaphragm is the engine; accessory muscles are the steering. 
2. "Increase" and "decrease" over "inhale" and "exhale." 
3. The ribcage slides, it doesn't accordion. 
4. Kapalabhati requires the diaphragm to step aside. 
5. Brmhana and Langhana as energetic guides. 

Tri 1, Lesson 7:
The Pelvic Diaphragm 

1. Ujjayi creates structural support through valving. 
2. The pelvic floor has distinct layers with different functions. 
3. Mula bandha is deeper than the anal sphincter. 
4. The three diaphragms must coordinate. 
5. The teacher's core job is simple. 

Tri 1, Lesson 8:
The Vocal Diaphragm 

This Trimester explores the anatomy and mechanics of the vocal diaphragm, using the Sanskrit alphabet as a map of the human sound-producing system.

1. Structure of the vocal diaphragm.
2. Ujjayi as a variable valve.
3. Pitch is produced by stretching, not shortening, the cords.
4. The Sanskrit alphabet as phonetic anatomy.
5. The voice as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool.

Tri 1, Lesson 9:
Intrinsic Equilibrium / Structural Prana 

This Trimester introduces the concept of intrinsic equilibrium — built-in postural and energetic forces present in the body's structure — and connects it to a key sutra about how profound change actually occurs.

1. Three zones of pressure create a natural upward force.
2. The ribcage, spine, and pelvis are spring-loaded.
3. Good posture is an undoing, not an effort.
4. The Farmer Parable (Yoga Sutra IV.3).
5. Practice as channel-digging, not water-carrying.

Tri 1, Lesson 10:
Mahamudra / Anatomy of the Central Channel 

The final Trimester of the trimester brings together breath, bandha, and yogic philosophy through the practice of mahamudra and Krishnamacharya's distinctive view of kundalini.

1. Surrender is an act of will.
2. Mahamudra forces breath to go deep.
3. Shushumna as a kinesiological concept.
4. Kundalini as obstruction, not dormant energy.
5. The fireplace as internal ritual.

Tri 2, Lesson 1:
A Brief History of the Spine 

This Trimester traces the evolutionary and developmental origins of the spine, using the yogic concepts of sthira (stability) and sukha (mobility) as a guiding framework.

1. The spine as nature's solution to a balancing act.
2. Primary and secondary curves reflect evolutionary history. 
3. Individual development mirrors evolutionary history. 
4. Respecting the curves matters for yoga teaching. 

Tri 2, Lesson 2:
Overall Architecture of the Spine — Form and Function, Compression and Tension 

Using suspension bridge engineering as a central metaphor, this Trimester examines how the spine manages the forces of compression and tension, and challenges the dominant cultural narrative around disc herniation and back pain.

1. The spine has two complementary columns.
2. Discs function like the dampers in earthquake-resistant bridges.
3. Disc findings on MRIs are poorly correlated with pain. 
4. Dr. John Sarno's work points to emotional suppression as a key pain driver. 

Tri 2, Lesson 3:
The Five Motions of the Spine — Ranges of Motion 

This Trimester maps out the five spinal movements — flexion, extension, lateral flexion, axial rotation, and axial extension — exploring how vertebral shape governs what the spine can and cannot do, and interrogating common yoga alignment cues.

1. The spine's range of motion is dictated by vertebral architecture. 
2. The lumbar spine barely rotates — and that's by design. 
3. "Forward bending" and "back bending" are imprecise terms. 
4. Axial extension is not the same as neutral spine.
5. Healthy spinal movement is well-distributed movement. 

Tri 2, Lesson 4:
Stretching the West — Forward Bending / Spinal Flexion / The Back Line 

This Trimester explores paschimottanasana (seated forward fold) through an anatomical and functional lens, challenging common alignment assumptions.

1. "Healthy movement is well-distributed movement."
2. Paschima means the whole back surface, not just the hamstrings. 
3. Form should serve function, not the other way around. 
4. The nervous system, not just the muscles, governs range of motion. 
5. Breathing in the shape redirects prana and mobilizes the thoracic spine.

Tri 2, Lesson 5:
Breath-Centered Backbending — Spinal Extension Explorations 

This Trimester examines spinal extension and backbending through the lens of breath mechanics, myofascial anatomy, and well-distributed movement, using bridge pose, wheel, and bow as primary vehicles.

1. Extension is far less evenly distributed in the spine than flexion. 
2. The T10–T12 hinge is real and easily overused. 
3. Breath mechanics determine whether a backbend is well-distributed or compressed. 
4. In wheel pose, the legs are more important than the arms. 
5. "Lengthening the east" (purvottanasana) is a sensory goal, not a spatial one.

Tri 2, Lesson 6:
Twist and Bend, But Don't Break — Lateral Flexion & Axial Rotation 

This Trimester explores how the spine bends and twists, with a focus on understanding where movement actually originates versus where we assume it comes from.

1. The lumbar spine barely rotates. 
2. Lateral flexion and moving laterally in space are different things. 
3. Twisting from the inside out, not the outside in. 
4. Healthy movement is well-distributed movement. 
5. What feels like lumbar twisting isn't.

Tri 2, Lesson 7:
Where to Stick the Yoga Stick — Axial Extension 

This Trimester completes the series on spinal movement by examining axial extension — the lengthening or "tallening" of the spine — and questioning how it is commonly overused in yoga instruction.

1. Axial extension and neutral spine are not the same thing. 
2. The obsession with "lengthening the spine" can cause harm.
3. Axial extension is produced by the same muscles used in breathing. 
4. The body is inherently "neutral-seeking." 
5. Axial extension is a useful place to visit, not to live. 

Tri 2, Lesson 8:
Symmetry vs. Balance — Scoliosis, Osteoporosis 

The central argument is that symmetry and balance are fundamentally different things. 

1. Asymmetry is universal and structural.
2. Scoliosis is a spectrum, not a binary. 
3. Yoga practice for scoliosis is about finding your asymmetry, not correcting it. 
4. Osteoporosis requires nuanced risk/benefit thinking. 

Tri 2, Lesson 9:
The Iliopsoas Complex: The Psoas as a Sensory Organ 

This Trimester focuses on the psoas muscle, with guest Amy Matthews joining for part of the session.

1. The psoas as sensory organ, not just a mover. 
2. Three-dimensional path through the body. 
3. True psoas stretching requires lumbar flexion, not extension. 
4. The psoas minor and pelvis-spine relationship. 
5. The psoas as part of the Deep Front Line.

Tri 2, Lesson 10:
The Central and Autonomic Nervous System: Theory & Practice 

This session is largely led by Amy Matthews, with Leslie facilitating. It challenges many common yoga-world assumptions about how the nervous system works.

1. Naming is not the same as knowing.
2. Sensory input and motor response are distinct from interpretation.
3. Sympathetic does not mean "fight or flight."
4. Sympathetic and parasympathetic are both active; they are not opposites. 
5. Yoga cannot reliably produce a prescribed feeling in a group. 

Tri 3, Lesson 1:
A Brief History of the Limbs — Evolution and Development of the Extremities

This class explores how human limbs evolved and what their structure reveals about how we should use them in yoga practice.

1. Upper vs. lower extremity: sthira vs. sukha. 
2. The hand evolved for manipulation, not locomotion. 
3. Hands and feet are proportionally inverse. 
4. Embryological development mirrors evolution.
5. Learn to stand on your feet before standing on your hands.

Tri 3, Lesson 2:
Balance & Equilibrium — BOS, COG, ROM

This class establishes a clear framework for understanding balance in the body, with practical implications for how asana should be taught and sequenced.

1. Base of support (BOS) is the foundation of everything.
2. Center of gravity (COG) must stay over the base.
3. Perception powerfully shapes the experience of balance. 
4. A single, integrated center of gravity is required for stable poses.
5. BOS → COG → ROM is a hierarchy, not a checklist.

Tri 3, Lesson 1:
A Brief History of the Limbs — Evolution and Development of the Extremities 

This class explores how human limbs evolved and what their structure reveals about how we should use them in yoga practice.

1. Upper vs. lower extremity: sthira vs. sukha. 
2. The hand evolved for manipulation, not locomotion. 
3. Hand and foot are proportionally inverse. 
4. Embryological development mirrors evolution. 
5. Learn to stand on your feet before standing on your hands. 

Tri 3, Lesson 2:
Balance & Equilibrium — BOS, COG, ROM 

This class establishes a clear framework for understanding balance in the body, with practical implications for how asana should be taught and sequenced.

1. Base of support (BOS) is the foundation of everything. 
2. Center of gravity (COG) must stay over the base.
3. Perception powerfully shapes the experience of balance. 
4. A single, integrated center of gravity is required for stable poses. 
5. BOS → COG → ROM is a hierarchy, not a checklist. 

Tri 3, Lesson 3:
The Yoga of the Foot – Foundations of Standing 

1. The foot is an evolutionary all-terrain vehicle. 
2. The foot is a tripod, not a four-point structure. 
3. Weight travels through the foot in a spiral pathway. 
4. Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs stem from muscular weakness. 
5. Proprioception is the missing link in foot health. 

Amy Matthews Guest Appearance –
Foot Musculature 

1. Intrinsic muscles deserve more attention than they typically receive. 
2. The foot has extraordinary articulation potential — matching the hand.
3. Intrinsic muscles allow the foot to operate independently of the ankle. 
4. The lumbricals perform a unique dual action. 
5. Small movements in the foot have whole-body consequences. 

Tri 3, Lesson 4:
Human Gait — The Yoga of Walking 

This class focuses on how the anatomy of the foot and lower leg connects to healthy walking mechanics, with hands-on demos throughout.

1. Intrinsic vs. extrinsic foot muscles 
2. The soleus is often neglected
3. The falling step vs. the foot-swing step 
4. The leg swing originates at the psoas 
5. Weight spirals through three points of the foot

Tri 3, Lesson 5:
Yoga and the Knee — Sthira and Sukha in the Body's Largest Joint 

This class dives deep into knee anatomy, injury mechanics, and clinical assessment, anchored by Leslie sharing footage of his own arthroscopic surgery.

1. The knee is not a hinge joint 
2. The menisci are critical and vulnerable 
3. How to protect the meniscus in yoga
4. Articular cartilage is avascular and heals poorly
5. Knee pain deserves respect, not rationalization 

Tri 3, Lesson 6: The Articulate Pelvis – The Hip Joint and Pelvic Articulations 

1. The hip joint is a true ball-and-socket joint
2. "Hip openers" is anatomically misleading
3. "Tuck your tail" refers to three distinct movements
4. "Yoga butt" is inflammation traveling through the sacrotuberous ligament into the hamstrings, often mistaken for sciatica. 
5. Healthy movement is well-distributed movement.

Tri 3, Lesson 7:
The Shoulder Girdle – Articulations, Relations, Actions 

1. The shoulder involves four joints, not one: the glenohumeral, acromioclavicular (AC), sternoclavicular, and scapulo-thoracic.
2. The sternoclavicular joint is the only bone-to-bone connection between the arm and the axial skeleton.
3. The shoulder trades stability for mobility compared to the hip.
4. Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) occurs when the joint capsule becomes scarred and restricted. 
5. Arm movement should initiate from the axial body

Tri 3, Lesson 8:
The Warrior Series — A Hands-Free Practice

This class centers on a standing vinyasa sequence that avoids upper-body weight bearing, emphasizing leg strength and spinal mobility through breath.

1. The hands-free design is intentional and therapeutic.
2. A stable base enables a free upper body. 
3. Spinal spiraling, not segmental alignment cues, drives the postures. 
4. Doing one side completely before switching is deliberate.
5. Sequencing is about principles, not choreography. 

Tri 3, Lesson 9:
Arm Support Strategies — Pathways of Weight

Amy presents a detailed anatomical and experiential framework for understanding how weight travels through the arms to the spine, challenging common shoulder cues in yoga.

1. Weight travels through bones along a specific pathway. 
2. The shoulder joint's integrity is not dependent on scapular position. 
3. "Pull your shoulders down your back" is counterproductive. 
4. Superficial muscles (lats, pecs) are movers, not organizers. 
5. Stability means clarity of relationship, not immobility. 

Tri 3, Lesson 10:
Headstand – Vinyasa Krama in the Theory and Practice of Inversions

This final class of the trimester uses headstand as a model for vinyasa krama — the step-by-step science of sequencing — to explore how complex poses can be broken into learnable, individual skills.

Key Points: 

1. Headstand as a skill-set, not a goal. 
2. Three "gateway" practices. 
3. Individual anatomy matters enormously. 
4. Rooting down enables lifting up. 
5. Breath integration is the foundation.