I had full intentions of writing about nerve flossing today.

Think of nerve-flossing technique as non-surgical nerve decompression. We use nerve mobilization in pain care classes to decrease sensitivity of entrapped nerves and also improve health (and reduce irritation!) of tissues around nerve entrapment.

BUT THEN this happened in yesterday’s beginner yoga class, and it made me completely change my mind about today’s post.

I will write more about nerve flossing in the next couple of week (unless something drastically cool happens in class). In the mean time why don’t you come and try it out for yourself? Next FREE! Pain Care class is scheduled for March 4^th.

Now, as you know, we’ve been diligently working on lunges in most classes.

Off the mat, we talked about the importance of lunge alignment, and the dangers of tight and short psoas. And on the mat we’ve practiced – low lunges, alignment, hip openers, passive psoas lengtheners – all that fun jazz.

So yesterday in class many students discovered that all that fun jazz wasn’t quite enough, and their lunges were – ummm, how should I put it – rather wobbly?

I love these “what the heck” moments!

This is when our crafty little compensation patterns get fully exposed.

In the high lunge, the crafty little compensation is not engaging the butt muscles to stabilize the torso.

Seems like a “who cares” situation, right?

Who cares if the gluts aren’t working?

Who cares if the lunge isn’t stable?

Here is why:

~ you need active stabilization in every step of your walk – when you transfer weight from one foot to the other

~ gluts are the primary hip stabilizers; if they are sleepy – inhibited – you will most likely overuse your side-hip and side-leg muscles for stability, thus compromising your hip and knee health and alignment.

~ gluts work as a reciprocal pair to your hip flexor group – part of their job is to pry tight hip flexors open.

Sleepy gluts = tight hip flexors.

Tight hip flexors = no hip extension when walking.

No hip extension when walking = unhealthy changes in gait leading to hip and spine damage.

Sorry for all the math symbols.( "=" means "equal")

~ healthy gluts support correct pelvic alignment and appropriate length of the pelvic floor muscles, especially at the back of the pelvic floor. Tight gluts = tight back of the pelvic floor.

Here I go with the math again.

So you see, this isn’t just the yoga lunge we are talking about.

By the way, there are still a few open spots in HIPS and PELVIC FLOOR REHAB – can your hips (and the rest of you?) benefit from this class?

Hips & PF REHAB is suitable for students of all levels.

when:          February 25, 2 pm - 4:30 pm

cost:            107 $ + GST