For the last few months, Kateri and I have been reading and working our way through "The Evolution of Movement: A Guide to the Procedures Originated by Raymond Dart" by Robin John Simmons. It's a book that we both reference often in our individual teaching practices, and it's a lot more accessible than the title suggests. This week's lie down is based on what Simmons calls the "Fish Body Exercise." Don't worry - I'm not going to ask you to do any swimming, real or imagined, during your constructive rest. It's just a way of thinking about your trunk as a supportive central structure.
If you look at the fish skeleton below, you can see many places where the tiny bones of the spine articulate. All of those places are opportunities for movement! Our spines are also quite flexible, and allow us a wide variety of movements. Unfortunately, that also means that we have plenty of chances to interfere with the integrity of that supportive central structure.
Bonus: What a great image to aid with direction! See how the bones radiate out from the spine?
We use our limbs to pull us around. We reach for things that are too far away and contort our torsos because we don't want to move closer (or maybe haven't considered it). We use long strides and pull our pelvises forward, trying to keep up with our legs. Too often, we end up hinging somewhere along the trunk in a way that might not really be useful. We're misusing or overusing all of those lovely places along the spine that allow movement.
How can you allow your central structure to support the movements of your limbs instead of letting your limbs pull you around? Sometimes, all it takes to maintain the integrity of your spine when you go into movement is a thought about it. A simple reminder - or maybe a question. Are you being supported?
Alexandra & Kateri
Shadow of my trunk on a trunk!
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