Mark your calendars!
The next 6-week session of Feldenkrais® lessons begins to day, Wednesday, April 7 at Health Track on Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn.
For particulars contact: Cheryl McDermott at 630-942-9600 ext. 508.
Getting this notice after the fact? Ask Cheryl to pro-rate your enrollment.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
COMING SOON to THE YOGA PLACE
Beginning April 30th I'll be doing a once-a-month Friday evening workshop at The Yoga Place in downtown Glen Ellyn. If you're in the area, you're welcome to participate. Here are the details:
MOVE with EASE
A FELDENKRAIS® approach to effortless, elegant movement.
• Deepen your yoga practice
• Reduce pain
• Improve function
• Choose more efficient, effective and comfortable ways of moving
Fridays: 6:30 – 8:30 pm
April 30 ** Just Breathe integrating movement and breath
May 21 ** Finding Your Feet bringing balance to life
June 25 ** Pelvic Power the core of strength
Fee: $35 per session, or two punches for The Yoga Place card members.
Registration: on-line @ www.theyogaplacege.com
or call 630-534-6463
Credit Cards Accepted
Bring a friend.
See you there!
Julie
MOVE with EASE
A FELDENKRAIS® approach to effortless, elegant movement.
• Deepen your yoga practice
• Reduce pain
• Improve function
• Choose more efficient, effective and comfortable ways of moving
Fridays: 6:30 – 8:30 pm
April 30 ** Just Breathe integrating movement and breath
May 21 ** Finding Your Feet bringing balance to life
June 25 ** Pelvic Power the core of strength
Fee: $35 per session, or two punches for The Yoga Place card members.
Registration: on-line @ www.theyogaplacege.com
or call 630-534-6463
Credit Cards Accepted
Bring a friend.
See you there!
Julie
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Hinging and Bending - Finding the Hip Joints
If I were to ask you to touch your toes, how would you do it? Without straining, go ahead and give it a try. What do you do with your back as you reach for your toes?
If you're like most people, chances are you rounded your back and tried to bend at the waist. While we can do a bit of bending at our waists by tilting the top of the pelvis back, it's not necessarily the most efficient or effect way of reaching toward the floor. A far easier way would be to hinge at the hip joints. But where are the hip joints?
Most people believe the hip joints correspond with what I like to call the Butterick® pattern image, i.e., that broad expanse of pelvis resting at the top of your legs. If I ask people to point to their hip joints, they most often point to the bulgy bits out to the sides that serve as repositories for all those tasty snacks we can't resist. While this is where a seamstress will take your "hip" measurement, the actual hip joints are at the front of your pelvis.
To find your hip joints, place your fingertips right above the middle of your kneecaps and slide your hands upward until you reach the very top of your legs. Eureka! Hip joints. This is where we are designed to bend or rather fold forward most efficiently. Give it a try.
Place your fingertips into the creases where the top of your legs meet your pelvic area. Straighten your back. Keeping your back straight but not stiff and your head in line with your spine, fold forward over your fingers as if you were closing a hinged box lid, the kind you'd find on a piano or child's toy box. Notice how much easier it is to bring your upper body toward the floor.
Once you're in this position, let your arms hang down toward the floor. Do your fingertips touch the floor? Do they get closer than they did when you first tried to reach toward the floor?
To come up, simply reverse the movement. Keeping your back straight but not stiff and your head in line with your back, lift upward as though opening a hinged lid. Voila!
If you're like most people, chances are you rounded your back and tried to bend at the waist. While we can do a bit of bending at our waists by tilting the top of the pelvis back, it's not necessarily the most efficient or effect way of reaching toward the floor. A far easier way would be to hinge at the hip joints. But where are the hip joints?
Most people believe the hip joints correspond with what I like to call the Butterick® pattern image, i.e., that broad expanse of pelvis resting at the top of your legs. If I ask people to point to their hip joints, they most often point to the bulgy bits out to the sides that serve as repositories for all those tasty snacks we can't resist. While this is where a seamstress will take your "hip" measurement, the actual hip joints are at the front of your pelvis.
To find your hip joints, place your fingertips right above the middle of your kneecaps and slide your hands upward until you reach the very top of your legs. Eureka! Hip joints. This is where we are designed to bend or rather fold forward most efficiently. Give it a try.
Place your fingertips into the creases where the top of your legs meet your pelvic area. Straighten your back. Keeping your back straight but not stiff and your head in line with your spine, fold forward over your fingers as if you were closing a hinged box lid, the kind you'd find on a piano or child's toy box. Notice how much easier it is to bring your upper body toward the floor.
Once you're in this position, let your arms hang down toward the floor. Do your fingertips touch the floor? Do they get closer than they did when you first tried to reach toward the floor?
To come up, simply reverse the movement. Keeping your back straight but not stiff and your head in line with your back, lift upward as though opening a hinged lid. Voila!
LESSON 3: Easy Rotating (Improving Your Swing)
Whether teeing off, returning a lob or backing out of the driveway, the ability to rotate your spine is essential. This lesson offers a simple warm-up for golfers and tennis bums as well as a gentle reminder for those who simply want to improve daily function.
TO BEGIN:
Stand with your feet parallel, your legs as far apart as your hips are wide. (Do you know where your hip joints are? Check out the earlier blog - Hinging and Bending - if you're not sure.)
Feel your weight in your feet. Is it the same Left and Right?
Notice if your weight is more on your heels or more toward your toes.
Rotate to the Left going only as far as you can go comfortably. Pause and notice how far you went.
Rotate to the Right going only as far as you can go comfortably. Pause and notice.
Did you rotate the same amount to both Left and Right? Was it easier to turn toward one side or the other?
DO:
1. Cross your arms, Right arm over Left. Rotate to the Right and remain there.
2. Shift your weight back and forth from Right foot to Left foot. Do this several times. If you can, try marching in place.
3. Rotate back to your starting position and drop your arms.
4. Rotate to the Right. Did you go farther? Was the movement smoother?
5. Cross your arms, Left arm over Right. Rotate to the Left and remain there.
6. Shift your weight back and forth from Left foot to Right foot. Do this several times.
7. Rotate back to your starting position and drop your arms.
8. Rotate to the Left. Were you able to rotate further? Was the movement easier?
NOTICE
As you shift your weight from one foot to the other, notice what happens between your shoulder blades. Can you feel your spine moving? bending?
OPTIONS
Try the lesson again but switch which arm is on top. When you rotate to the Right try having the Left arm on top. When you rotate to the Left, let the Right arm be on top.
TO BEGIN:
Stand with your feet parallel, your legs as far apart as your hips are wide. (Do you know where your hip joints are? Check out the earlier blog - Hinging and Bending - if you're not sure.)
Feel your weight in your feet. Is it the same Left and Right?
Notice if your weight is more on your heels or more toward your toes.
Rotate to the Left going only as far as you can go comfortably. Pause and notice how far you went.
Rotate to the Right going only as far as you can go comfortably. Pause and notice.
Did you rotate the same amount to both Left and Right? Was it easier to turn toward one side or the other?
DO:
1. Cross your arms, Right arm over Left. Rotate to the Right and remain there.
2. Shift your weight back and forth from Right foot to Left foot. Do this several times. If you can, try marching in place.
3. Rotate back to your starting position and drop your arms.
4. Rotate to the Right. Did you go farther? Was the movement smoother?
5. Cross your arms, Left arm over Right. Rotate to the Left and remain there.
6. Shift your weight back and forth from Left foot to Right foot. Do this several times.
7. Rotate back to your starting position and drop your arms.
8. Rotate to the Left. Were you able to rotate further? Was the movement easier?
NOTICE
As you shift your weight from one foot to the other, notice what happens between your shoulder blades. Can you feel your spine moving? bending?
OPTIONS
Try the lesson again but switch which arm is on top. When you rotate to the Right try having the Left arm on top. When you rotate to the Left, let the Right arm be on top.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
SPECIAL EVENT - March 14, 2010
If you're itching for a chance to get on the floor and experience a full Awareness Through Movement® lesson, Sunday, March 14th is your chance. I'll be doing a FREE demo at Health Track in Glen Ellyn. Members and non-members are invited. Here are the particulars:
When: Sunday, March 14th
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Where: Health Track Sports and Wellness
875 Roosevelt Road
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Bring: Just bring your smiling self and a friend or two if you'd like
Sign Up:
Members - just show up
Non-members - Call Cheryl McDermott, Group Fitness Director 630-942-9600 x 508 who will make sure your name is at the front desk on the 14th.
When: Sunday, March 14th
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Where: Health Track Sports and Wellness
875 Roosevelt Road
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Bring: Just bring your smiling self and a friend or two if you'd like
Sign Up:
Members - just show up
Non-members - Call Cheryl McDermott, Group Fitness Director 630-942-9600 x 508 who will make sure your name is at the front desk on the 14th.
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