As winter comes to a close, set your foundation for the warmer weather. Whether that means starting a new habit or releasing an old one, now is the best time to make it happen.
You could be doing it in your body: In all my vinyasa classes this week, we'll discover how to keep a tall torso in your movement practice. This isn't just for looking pretty, it's to train your body to find length in the center- your spine. Typically, we allow the weight of the ribs and shoulders to fall into the pelvis, pushing it into too much tilt forward (when you stick out your butt), or backward (when you tuck the tail through the legs). A tall torso means the S of the spine is more perpendicular to the ground, which also puts it more in harmony with gravity. To find this feeling, follow these steps. From standing:
1) Push down through feet.
2) Tuck tail through legs 2%, or just until you feel the low back lengthen out.
3) Engage core muscles and low ribs toward your back.
4) Pull up through center of head.
It's a lot to think about at first. After a few minutes of playing with it, you'll have programmed yourself a personal, portable fidget. Feel free to take this fidget out any time you're standing in line, waiting for a bus, walking about town, etc. Long spine = long life.
You could be connecting to your foundation in your mind. Direct your attention to the place where your low-rise jeans button would touch. This place goes by many names- the hara, svadhistana, center of gravity, dan tien. Find it by underlining your navel with your index finger, then counting four finger widths down. Close your eyes. Direct your inhales and exhales to the whole area around this space- the front, back, sides, and even middle that goes through your organs. Imagine this sphere growing larger with each successive breath. Use this fidget interchangeably with the first.
For a serious challenge, perform both fidgets simultaneously.
May you live a long life, with your tall torso connected to the core of your being.
See you on the field.
Warmly,
Corey
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