Like A Natural Woman - Extra - Great Hip Balancer

Like A Natural Woman - Extra - Great Hip Balancer

Strengthening, Balancing continued

Based on “AY 268 Hip joints by way of lengthening” by Moshe Feldenkrais

Elegance is the only beauty that never fades - Audrey Hepburn

"Elegance is the only beauty that never fades" - Audrey Hepburn

There’s more to the lesson we began last week. Last week the emphasis was on feeling the tops of the legs in the hip socket. This week we focus on moving the whole pelvis in relation to the whole body.

Again, we use an elongated leg to weigh down - constrain in Feldenkrais talk - the pelvis in order to explore how to move the pelvis easily. That means using the foot, back, ribs, breath, as support, without gripping. And perhaps narrowing in on how the pelvic floor can support the leg.

For me, this was a difficult lesson. I was reminded that, when I raise my right leg, I grip in my right glute. And how that pulls at my right ribs, neck and jaw. The gripping is so habitual for me that I hadn’t recognized the relationship.

This lesson gave my glutes the chance to allow the leg to move without ‘helping.” It was awkward to release the glute; I had to concentrate on where I held my leg in space to avoid a familiar knee twinge, and my right shoulder was totally confused.

However, standing up, i had an aha moment: my right ribs were collapsed because my right hip is relatively high. With my hips were more level, my right foot rested on the floor in an entirely new way. My right hip, though tender, was lower. That allowed the right ribs to release down, the shoulder blade to melt away from my ears, my right jaw could release and I felt balanced in an unfamiliar but much better way..

And because the second half of this lesson had such a big impact on me, the lesson continues for all.

This supine lesson also strengthens the abs and the pelvic by using the weight of the leg to amplify the sensation in the abs, ribs, glutes and deep within the hip socket. But you’ll get just as much out of it, differently, if you support the leg in a way that your elongated leg fully connects in the hip socket.

Science Nerd Candy Bowl:

Set Up for supine lesson with leg lifts:

  • Lying on your back with the support you need. Support for knees might be helpful for some.

  • If lifting a leg might be difficult for you, set up a foot support - such as a low stool, chair, even a big ball - so you can fully extend your leg and have the foot on the support.

How you might feel after this lesson: Got your groove on, girl!; Pelvis and shoulders connected; Clearer sensation of pelvis rocking with the breath; Taller; Tuned into your root chakra/pelvic floor; Open to the relationship between breath, pelvis, glutes and ring muscles; Aware of the subtle ring muscle coordination of the eyes, nostrils, lips, palms and soles of feet; Stand with the elegance of Audrey Hepburn, and sit down as well.

If you have a Wednesday 9:30 am or 6:30 pm class registration, keep using it. If you were registered for the 12:00 pm Wednesday session, you’ll need to register. Registered, paid students receive the lesson recording link on Thursday. $40/month; $15/single lesson. PayPal or Venmo to jackisue@aol.com. Or check to Jacki Katzman, PO Box 116, Bethlehem, NH 03574

For new student registration, Click Here

With her sisters in 1967

LessonsJacki Katzmanlike a natural woman, spine, pelvic floor, legs to chest, breath, ay97, feet to pelvic floor, practical pelvic floor application, AY 268