Hippie Chicks - 9 - Rickie Lee - The Second Time Around - The Hug Lesson

Hippie Chicks - 9 - Rickie Lee - The Second Time Around - The Hug

Find Lift, Find Freedom

Based on the “Flexors and Extensors” lesson by Moshe Feldenkrais

Before RICKIE LEE JONES, the genre of singer songwriter was derived entirely from the folk singers of the 50’s and 60’s. She brought jazz to the rock stage, a teenaged recklessness and a flair for drama. From the get-go, it was unclear which genre she was to rule. RICKIE LEE was voted best jazz singer in Playboy and Rolling Stone polls two years in a row. (source: rickieleejones.com/bio/)

As a transitional musician, Rickie Lee is the last inspiration for this “Hippie Chick” series. (Yes, there are so many more to cover - another series to come, one day, maybe.) Her sexy, coy, warm and wise interpretation of the classic “Second Time Around” - first sung by Bing Crosby - is one of my favorites.

This lesson is a bounty of favorites, and a return to a favorite lesson - the one where, lying supine, the knees tip in one direction while “triangle arms” tip in the other direction. Eventually, the arms wrap into a cross-chest hug - so wonderful to love yourself.

Unlike most of the lessons in this series, the shoulder blades are mostly gliding outward, away from the spine, rounding the back instead of arching and lifting the sternum. Rounding has its educational benefits - making it easier to sense the shoulder blades, their relationship to the spine, and their flexibility compared side to side. The over-emphasizes on the back rounding is a classic Feldenkrais technique: overdo a habit to release habitual tension. Here we release the chest to open and rise.

This lesson also loosens the waist to lift the whole torso. up off the pelvis.

Enjoy the lightness, the lift, the freedom, and the confidence of the ‘hippie chicks!”

Science Nerd Candy Bowl:

Twist Yoga Poses: Active Twist vs Passive Twist | 3D Yoga Anatomy (2:20) How twists work in spine, ribs, sternum and associated muscles - the basic movements of this lesson

Set Up:

Lying supine on a mat on the floor with knees bent, with support for head and knees as needed
OR sitting on a firm chair with knees and hips level

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; Ready to be your own best friend.

Rickie Lee Jones on the Broken Record Podcast - so funny, so smart. Just don’t ask about Tom Waits.

No live videos of this song, which appeared on “Pop Pop.” Her voice on this early song is … just listen.