The core is our physical, emotional & energetic center. Its power is not found in isolation but rather in relationship to our whole being and
it’s interaction with the world around us.
Working from this premise, our core musculature needn’t be ‘held’ in stabilization but rather activated by the way we move.
To achieve that we are going to focus - consistently and systematically
- on restoring awareness and function in the hip joint and all of the muscles surrounding it.
We will isolate the movements that underlie our most common daily tasks – such as walking and sitting, for example – to build a more functional base for our daily activities.
Our foremost goal - to begin with - is to learn to release tension and to also begin to recognize where our movements are coming from (as in: what is driving your leg movement as you walk? what stabilizes you as you stand?)
Here is a great test to start with:
Stand in front of the mirror; it might be helpful to place
your hands to the front of the pelvis.
Lift one knee up - just slightly is enough - and observe the changes in your pelvis + rib cage position.
Did your pelvis or rib cage change shape or position when you lifted the knee?
Did your movement
originate from the hip joint or someplace else?
In class, we did a similar movement while lying on our backs with the knees bent - this particular position changes our relationship to gravity and also shortens the levers of our legs to make the pure movement (from the hip!) more accessible.
Once you've tried this movement while standing, do the same while lying on your back: start on your back with the knees bent; observe the position of your pelvis and rib cage against the mat. Practice lifting your knees - one at a time - while noting the changes in your body's relationship to the mat. In class we've placed a core ball under the pelvis to improve relationship between pelvis and rib cage.
This is a primary movement of our hip joint - hip flexion - and something we are going to practice for the next several weeks. So, to build a better awareness about your movement patterns, also pay attention to how you sit and walk - do these movement come from flexion at the hip or misplacement of the pelvis and rib cage?
