In the fascinating world of yoga, Ariel de Gatica is a pioneer in sharing the science of biomechanics applied to yoga practice. His focus and dedication to a detailed understanding of the human body have helped thousands of practitioners and teachers prevent injuries and significantly improve their asana practice.
In this interview, Ariel shares a personal journey: from his first casual encounter with yoga to the path that led him to teach courses on biomechanics applied to yoga. His testimony inspires us to be critical of the current teaching of yoga and to continue learning with a faithful commitment to this sacred practice. Join us on this journey and discover how knowledge of biomechanics can help you achieve a deeper and more effective understanding of your yoga practice.
Interview with Ariel de Gatica @arielrocket by David A.
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How was your first connection with yoga practice, and how has that experience evolved until now?
My first contact with yoga was casual. At 18, a friend invited me to a yoga class, and although she couldn’t attend, I decided to go on my own. After the class, I remember my mind was completely clear, and I felt a sense of calm I had never experienced before.
That tranquility hooked me, and I wanted to repeat the experience. At first, progressing in the postures was relatively easy for me, and I soon began to enjoy the progress. But what really kept me faithful to the practice was the mental peace I achieved at the end of each class. So continuing with my yoga practice has been a very instinctive and natural decision. Simply put, yoga offers me a mental peace that I find nowhere else.
Yoga offers me a mental peace that I find nowhere else
What important lessons has yoga taught you over the years of practice?
Before starting with yoga, I had no discipline. Today, I am a very disciplined person. Yoga has taught me to commit and to be consistent. I’ve learned the importance of not settling and of moving forward with effort and consistency, an attitude that has benefited me in all aspects of my life.
In essence, the greatest lesson I’ve learned from yoga has been discipline, but yoga has also taught me self-control, a lesson I’ve learned through constant practice, especially when the asanas are challenging. It is in those moments when real progress is made.
The greatest lesson I’ve learned from yoga has been discipline
How did you discover the importance of biomechanics in yoga?
It all started with a wrist discomfort. At one of the centers where I practiced, they told me to keep insisting on the hand-based postures. However, insisting on these practices caused me more pain, and no one could explain why it happened or how to solve it.
Frustrated and disappointed, I decided to investigate on my own and found out I had a wrist dislocation. Shortly after, I attended a Rocket Yoga workshop where I learned about Hasta Bandha, a technique that helps distribute the body’s weight evenly through the palm and fingertips, which relieved my wrist discomfort within minutes.
At that moment, I realized that understanding the details of how the body works can make a huge difference in yoga practice and in preventing injuries.
What motivated you to specialize in biomechanics applied to yoga?
Following this experience, I started studying anatomy applied to yoga and taking more specific workshops and training aimed at physiotherapists and healthcare professionals. Little by little, I began to understand biomechanics and body anatomy better. It was a long and arduous process, but a necessary one. Today, talking about biomechanics and anatomy in yoga is more common, but there is still much ignorance about it.
In essence, anatomy tells you which muscles are contracting and stretching in a posture, but it doesn’t explain the consequences of those movements. Biomechanics helps you understand those consequences, leading to a much deeper understanding of yoga asanas. This understanding can be applied and adapted to your personal practice and that of your students.
Was there a specific moment when you realized that teaching biomechanics was your mission?
There wasn’t a specific moment but rather a series of situations that made me realize the positive impact I could have. Many people think that this knowledge is only for physiotherapists or doctors, but a lot can be achieved through movement.
With the correct guidelines, anyone can benefit from yoga practice. Many people have self-imposed limitations, often due to ignorance or fear. Through adapted practice, these barriers can be broken, and the quality of life for these people can be improved.
In fact, yoga was created to be efficient and to adapt to each individual. The idea of stagnation and conformity should not be accepted. It is important to contextualize and understand that stagnation can be part of the process, but it should not be an end in itself. With proper guidance, progress can be much faster.
Yoga was created to be efficient and adapt to each individual
How do you think understanding biomechanics can help prevent injuries?
Biomechanics helps you understand how the body works in motion. By knowing how forces act in each posture, you can identify potential problems and prevent injuries.
Preventing injuries involves moderating or adjusting the postures that may cause problems, and it’s much easier when you understand how the body works and can adjust its movements accordingly. That’s why practitioners and teachers need to delve into biomechanical study, as the body is a complex system, and multiple factors can contribute to an injury.
A good example is myofascial chains, which show how tension in one part of the body, such as the sole of the foot, can cause headaches. Understanding these connections helps to identify symptoms and limitations, allowing you to address issues before they become injuries.
Biomechanics helps you understand how the body works in motion
What relationship do you see between emotions and biomechanics in yoga practice?
The relationship is everything. Physically, emotions are hormonal manifestations that affect the body. For example, an emotion can affect the composition of connective tissue and fascia, influencing flexibility and the ability to apply force. That’s why managing emotions is crucial. Emotional imbalance often manifests as physical tension, and vice versa.
Yoga practice helps balance both dimensions. With continuous practice, emotions stabilize and do not dominate our mind or body. It helps us stay more attentive and focused, controlling mind and body simultaneously. This duality is one of yoga’s great strengths.
Emotional imbalance often manifests as physical tension
What do you think is the most important thing a yoga teacher should know about human anatomy?
It is essential for yoga teachers to understand how different joints work to teach postures safely and effectively.
The connection between different parts of the body is vital. For example, tension in the sole of the foot can affect the head due to the body's connection through fascia, nerves, and the musculoskeletal structure. That’s why it’s important to consider the body as an integrated unit and to treat any tension or problem holistically.
What mistakes do you see in traditional yoga teaching, and how do you think they can be corrected with a better anatomical and biomechanical understanding?
The biggest problem in traditional yoga teaching is that many teachers talk about things they don’t fully understand. You can have years of experience and understand your own body, but teaching others requires a rigorous and precise knowledge of the human body.
Often, myths and misconceptions that do not reflect the reality of the human body are perpetuated. A common example is the belief that the knee should not go beyond the toes in a posture, which has no scientific basis. Or insisting on keeping the back straight, which can be harmful to someone with cervical straightening. These errors are perpetuated because teachers rely on their own experience instead of anatomical and biomechanical knowledge.
The body is complex, and not everything can be felt or intuited. Often, sensations are conditioned by what we’ve been told we should feel. That’s why it is crucial to have solid training in anatomy and biomechanics, and it is essential that teachers commit to learning and teaching safely and effectively.
The body is complex, and not everything can be felt or intuited
How do you see the relationship between anatomical knowledge and traditional yoga teaching?
The relationship between anatomical knowledge and traditional yoga teaching is practically nonexistent. I’ve participated in numerous training programs, and in most of them, these topics are addressed superficially and from a place of ignorance.
Although biomechanics is gaining popularity and starting to appear in some curriculums, deep understanding is still scarce. However, I notice progress: more and more training programs are including these concepts, and some teachers are beginning to integrate what they learn into their teachings.
As students and teachers deepen their studies, this information will start to permeate future training. Many of my students, who are also teachers, are incorporating anatomical and biomechanical knowledge into their classes, which is a step in the right direction.
How do you think understanding biomechanics can change traditional yoga teaching?
Understanding biomechanics can radically transform yoga teaching. One of the major problems with traditional teaching is its commercial focus, where selling training programs and certificates is prioritized over teaching concrete and useful skills.
For example, several pranayamas are taught, but rarely is there any depth into when and how to apply them. The same goes for yoga philosophy, where basic concepts are mentioned without practical application.
To change this, we need deeper specializations. If someone wants to learn meditation, they should train specifically in meditation. If they want to learn biomechanics, they should study anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics intensively. Including these topics in a broader program is fine, but it’s not enough.
It is crucial to break down the idea that one can become a good yoga teacher quickly and effortlessly. The reality is that much more is needed than 200 or even 500 hours of superficial training. To be a good teacher and work responsibly with other people’s bodies, a deep and ongoing commitment to learning is required.
Understanding biomechanics can radically transform yoga teaching
Learn yoga biomechanics on Ariel de Gatica's YouTube channel
What are the main problems with current yoga training programs?
Nowadays, many people finish their training feeling insecure and without the necessary confidence to teach. This is due to a lack of experience and the superficiality of quick training programs. You cannot teach well without having deeply lived and experienced what you teach.
Moreover, there is a lot of job insecurity in the sector. To work professionally in yoga, you need not only knowledge but also the ability to manage a business. Without solid experience and adequate pedagogical resources, it is impossible to convey something valuable to students.
You cannot teach well without having deeply lived and experienced what you teach
What changes do you think are needed in contemporary yoga teaching?
It is crucial to reform both the supply and demand for yoga training programs. Many students seek to accumulate hours and obtain certificates, which fuels a market focused on selling titles rather than imparting valuable knowledge.
Students need to understand that it is not just about getting a certificate but about acquiring real skills. Superficial training programs are profitable but do not provide the deep knowledge necessary to teach yoga effectively. Honesty in marketing is vital; promising that everything can be learned in 200 hours is misleading.
What recommendations would you give to yoga students?
Students should be more critical and demanding with the training programs they choose. It is essential to seek quality and depth in learning, not just accumulate certificates. Talking openly about the quality of the training and not recommending those that do not meet the necessary standards is fundamental.
In summary, we need to raise the standards of yoga teaching, focusing on rigorous training and acquiring deep and applicable knowledge.
We need to raise the standards of yoga teaching
Who have been your greatest influences and inspirations in your career, and what have they taught you?
My main influence in yoga is Ramiro Calle. His approach is very grounded and close to the essence of yoga, something I value enormously in a world where it is easy to fall into the relativity of everything. I greatly admire his perspective and teaching style.
Additionally, I’ve learned a lot from the training programs I didn’t like. These experiences have taught me what not to do in our own classes and training.
Another great inspiration has been my father. He instilled in me a strong work ethic, which is an essential virtue when dedicating yourself to something you are passionate about. Striving, persisting, and working hard, even when the results are not immediate.
What core values do you hope to impart to your students, and what legacy would you like to leave with your yoga teachings?
Primarily, the values I try to convey are coherence and honesty. I believe that being honest and coherent pushes you to do things the right way, even if it requires more effort. These values ensure that what we do is sustainable and makes sense in the long term.
Regarding the legacy, I would like our yoga training programs to become a comprehensive solution for those seeking to understand and harness the true potential of yoga. Today, yoga teaching often remains superficial. I would like to offer a deeper understanding of the tools that yoga provides, from experience, knowledge, and study, so that the practice of yoga helps improve people’s lives in a deep and meaningful way.
Ariel shares with us how understanding movement involves rediscovering the practice of yoga. His commitment to education through anatomical and biomechanical knowledge inspires us to approach our practice with greater awareness and responsibility.
His story is a testament to how dedication and continuous study can transform not only one’s own practice but also that of yoga teachers and thousands of practitioners. How the current teaching of yoga must evolve towards a more specialized and profound offering of knowledge about the human body.
