Hippie Chicks - 5 - Gracie - Airplane Arms
No fear here. This girl is ready to claim the stage. Notice the perfectly horizontal collar bones and the lift? That’s what we’re talking about!
In 2017, Grace Slick licensed the Starship song "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" to Chick-fil-A to use in a TV commercial, but because she disagrees with Chick-fil-A's corporate views on same-sex marriage she gave all of the proceeds of that deal to Lambda Legal, an organization that works to advance the civil rights of LGBTQ people and everyone living with HIV. (wikipedia)
Hippie Chicks - 5 - Gracie - Airplane Arms
Find Lift, Find Freedom
Based on the “Chanukia (AY18)” Awareness Through Movement® by Moshe Feldenkrais
Gracie - what a voice. She rocked Woodstock, and set the stage for powerful woman singers. She hated her biggest $$$ hit so directed the profits Lambda Legal, eventually got clean and is still making art as a painter. She’s the inspiration for this lesson about confidently outstretched arms and a fully open chest.
When the shoulder blades rest comfortably against the ribs, the upper chest must lift, the neck is positioned to elongate, and the head balances with perfect elegance and freedom on a supportive spine. That freedom is our goal: the open chest lifting off the pelvis, with arms free to do what you want with them, when you want.
In this variation of the “Chanukia/Candelabra” lesson, we again connect the shoulder blades to each other and, via the clavicles, the sternum. This lesson starts with arms out at shoulder height, fingers magnetized to the sky, arching and releasing the spine between the shoulder blades. Gradually the arms extend fully. The finale is deep lie-on-your-back twist of the torso and ribs.
Tune into the different focal points: the top, middle and bottom shoulder blade edges, the ribs, the sternum, the spine.
Let the whole torso open and free up as the scapulae glide together across the back
Take that twist and make it your own
There’s a whole lot going on here, so take it slow. Then bring this lesson with you onto the golf course, into the kayak or your car, or any time you are reaching for something, walking, taking the stage in front of 500,000 stoned kids.
Science Nerd Candy Bowl:
Twist Yoga Poses: Active Twist versus Passive Twist: (2:21) Muscles in Motion - the whole body engagement of this lesson from the seated orientation
Anatomy Trains: The Superficial Back Line: (2:17) Muscles in Motion - not specifically connected to THIS lesson, but a great review of the lines of force from foot to crown
You can also check out the video recommendations from the “Grand Horizontals” series
Set Up:
Lying on a mat on the floor with knees bent and arms extended at shoulder height, with support for head and knees as needed
OR sitting on a firm chair with knees and hips level, with possible support for arms at shoulder height
How you might feel after this lesson: Chest lifted and open; Breath deep; Shoulder blades resting quietly over the ribs, Neck released; Upper back flexible; Connected from pelvis to sternum, head to shoulders; Connected from hands to front and back.
As the dormouse said
Feed Your Head
Feed Your Head