Topic 6.01.11 Movement

Topic 6.01.11 Movement. VERSION CONTROL: 1 August 2017

In both lower and upper limbs emerge from the pelvis, waist, spine and key joints of knee, hip and shoulder.

• The pelvis and waist are also sometimes the anchor and at other times the pivot for movements of the shoulders, neck, head and face.

• Lengthen your back and lift your sternum.

• Only bend as far forward as you can with your back straight and your torso lengthened.

• The more you can lift your sternum, the more your upper back will straighten; and the more you can lengthen your back, the straighter your lower back will be. Keeping your back straight strengthens the muscles and allows your posture to improve quickly. If you round your back when it should be straight, you train your spine to curve, which is appropriate if this is the result you are looking for.

• Move from the hip crease…the hip joint, the place where the front of the hip and the leg meet.

• Lengthen your hamstrings (the muscles at the back of your thighs) and lift your quadriceps (muscles at the front of your thigh).

• Lengthen your arms as much as possible.

• Keep your head in line with your spine. Tilting the head backwards as the poses are performed can give you a headache.

• Keep your throat, neck, shoulders and jaw soft … relaxed.

• Consider
– Form i.e. overall shape
– Function i.e. why we’re doing the posture – purpose
– Fuel – energy and breath

• Fine tune: when the mind touches the body, cells respond.