It has been our experience that our community would benefit from a safe place to explore and ask questions about movement.
As professional dancers and athletes, we have each experienced either being critical of our bodies ourselves or having others be critical of our bodies: how they move, their inefficiencies, weaknesses and strengths. Each of us has gravitated towards a more compassionate approach to our own bodies and to movement. This is not to say that this is easy. It is a huge challenge, just as it is challenging to accept yourself for who you are. Our belief is that as you try to accept your body and embrace it, you are also embracing your spirit and vice versa. This is a continual and endless process and journey, one, which despite its challenges, can be fun, rewarding and offer us a deeper sense of ourselves and gratitude for all that we are and all that we are not.
Having said that, and having looked at this gorgeous picture of Melissa's daughter Nell, our message for today is to be playful. Just like a child explores new things daily with a sense of curiosity and non-judgement, kick up your feet and shake a leg. To help you relax into this new playful state, experiment with this:
Remember, comfort and relaxation are the focus:
- Lie on your back (use a small pillow or book under your head if you'd like).
- Place a blanket or soft pillow underneath your sacrum or pelvis
- Allow your legs to rest on a chair (knees bent), or slide your legs up against a wall (straight or bent)
- Breath easily and deeply (let the breath be comfortable and allow it to deepen slowly and naturally over time). Notice the space between the inhale and exhale. Feel where the breath moves in your body. Allow your belly to expand with the inhale and soften with the exhale. Experiment with taking your breath into sore or tender parts of the body (even your hips, knees or neck)
- Do this anywhere between three and twenty minutes.
Benefits
- Decompression of the lower back (this is a great posture for low back pain and/or injuries)
- Overall relaxation and rest: it allows the parasympathetic nervous system (aiding digestion, lowering blood pressure, decreasing anxiety and depression and increasing relaxation). Be like a whale, diving down into the deep, calm waters.
- A good posture to focus on deep breathing, which can calm the mind and body
- Shoulders can relax and open naturally with the help of gravity and a small pillow if your neck/shoulders feel tight.
