Orchestra and Balcony - 2 - Lift and Separate - Gliding Ribs Front and Back, plus a Shoulder Blade Detour

A Young Shakira - Ojos Asi - Demonstrates opening and lifting the front ribs. No question her pelvic floor is working.

Orchestra and Balcony - 2 - Lift and Separate

Gliding Ribs Front and Back, with a Shoulder Blade Detour

Based on “Gentle Fingers” Lesson as taught by Alan Questel, GCFT

This is not a descent into some misogynistic fantasy about the ideal female body. Ick.

No! This is a celebration of the interconnections between ribs, shoulder blades, spine and pelvis. And an affirmation that with a little attention, time, and instruction, beautiful chest circles are yours. Not just for belly dancing, but for stirring pots, hitting golf balls, enjoying yoga twists, swimming and kayaking, skiing, sitting with Audrey Hepburn poise, playing an instrument. You get the picture. Part of the secret is support from the pelvic floor.

This lesson is familiar, one of my favorites. It’s sometimes called the ‘Gentle Fingers, Pretty Ribbons.” The images of gentle, external guidance with opening and closing, lifting and rounding the chest, back and pelvis light up the brain for total engagement. This ‘Orchestra and Balcony” variation builds support from the pelvic floor up through the ‘pyramid’ of the lumbar spine to enable complete freedom in the thoracic spine, ribs front and back, shoulders, and clavicles.

Like last week, this is a side-lying lesson designed to give thoracic spine and ribs lots of flex. We will also connect to last week’s side-to-side rib sliding. From there, chest circles are yours. Have some cheek support and maybe something for between your legs for maximum comfort..

This is another side lying lesson. Be sure to set up for maximum comfort. image source: https://newmexico.networkofcare.org

Lots and lots of science nerd candy videos offering different perspectives of the spine, shoulder girdle, shoulder blade, and the musculature. I’ve added a number of views of the clavicles and shoulder girdle as we haven’t explored them - yet. The shoulder blades, as you know but may not yet experience, are not attached to the ribs and only articulate with the arms. I watch at 2x speed with the sound off, which is fine. Learn more:

• Shakira – Ojos Asi – young Shakira sings and shimmies 2007 – the gist of this lesson’s movements (~7 min) and simply beautiful

• The Shoulder Girdle – 3D Anatomie Lyons - movements of the scapulae    (~2 min)

• The Serratus Anterior – 3D Antatomie Lyons – details of the muscles around the shoulder blade and ribs (~2 min)

• The Shoulder – 3D Anatomie Lyons – comprehensive movement of arm in shoulder socket with spine and ribs (~5 min)

• KINESIOLOGY OF THE SHOULDER GIRDLE ANIMATION: Sternoclavicular Joint Arthrokinematics.  - All about the clavicle (~5 min)

• Back Muscles in a Nutshell – Anatomy Tutorial – Anatomy Zone – good overview of the layers of the back muscles (~5 min)

• SPINE KINESIOLOGY ANIMATION | Factors Influencing Spinal Mobility – overview of spinal motion  (~6 min)

“Orchestra and Balcony” will continue a few more weeks:

• The Cork Lesson - soft lips that illuminate the pelvic floor

• The Tongue Lesson - a soft tongue connects (energetically) right down into the pelvic floor

• Eyes to Ilia or Fingertips to Floor - student choice

How You Might Feel After This Lesson: Open Ribs, Front, Back, Side to Side; Deep breath; Chest to Pelvic Floor connection; Taller and leaner; Balanced side to side and top to bottom; Active pelvic floor; Chest circles with steady hips; Improved bending and twisting for golf, kayaking, swimming, skiing, yoga; Lifted chest for poised and comfortable sitting; All around alignment.