starting conversations on Functional Awareness
I am hoping this blog will be a place where you can check an have a daily thought about how the body/mind functions, and provide sources to consider mindfulness in daily actions.
At Towson University’s Sci Bi class we are examining the anatomical function of the pelvis and it’s relationship to pelvic weight shift, and how tension in the head/neck spine affect range in hip flexion for battement. Check out this website for an interesting experiement on the relationship of neck tension to hip flexibility. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxpbQLHuJg8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DdxpbQLHuJg8
In the ATMidatlantic Teacher Training, we are considering ATs principles of the means whereby while exploring monkey and deep squat. Here is an interesting web article on individual anatomical factors affecting a squat position. They also affect turnout for dancers. http://themovementfix.com/the-best-kept-secret-why-people-have-to-squat-differently/#
Tell me what you think. Offer some other links.
Yes, understanding that we can have skeletal differences can allow us to let go of trying to force a particular ‘position’
and let ourselves think of moving in the direction of a personal balance for any movement.
I found it extremely interesting looking at the different femurs and pelvises. It makes me consider my own body: because I do not have a full turn out, could it be because I have a larger femoral head (fitting into a deep hip socket), a short femoral neck, or a restrictively angled femoral head? I appreciate that the author says “no amount of soft tissue treatment will change that” so I can accept the fact that my bones are structured differently and move within that range.
Being able to look at the differences from one pelvis to another really helped me to better understand that the weaknesses that I notice in my turnout may mainly have to do with my anatomical structure. Observing these variations in the pelvis and femur and how they limit movement from person to person make me consider the way I am built and question what I could do to make the most of the movement that my body is limited to.
I find the article about the neck massage and battemats very interesting because it was shocking to see such a large difference. I liked that it was something that we could try ourselves and how we were able to see the difference. I am thinking about looking into physical therapy as a career after dance and then specializing in dance so this is very useful to know.
I love how we as humans tend to look at things so hard and make things so difficult for ourselves when it comes to our bodies. All we need to do is realize that everything is connected and where one thing is working there is something else keeping it in gear. This blog has already opened my eyes and showed me that as a dancer releasing tension in my neck can ultimately help my leg flexibility! Who knew?! Than you Ms.Romita
I found the experiment on how everything in our bodies is connected very helpful. I think that whenever I feel something is tight, I need to stretch that specific part of my body when really I could be in of a full body stretch. Knowing everything is connected gives dancers a better body awareness.
First of all… WHAT IN THE WORLD? This experiment completely blew my mind in terms of it actually being proven not I ly in the video but my body as well. I hav learned that holding tension in any part of the body can cause a deficiency in any movement that I may be trying to accomplish. My main thing is that how would one be able to tap into this right away without massaging in order to release tension. I’m not going to go into an audition and say “wait! Let me massage my neck real quick so that I can get my leg higher”…
The next Functional Awareness for Alexander Teachers workshops will be
Sunday March 8, 2015 in Baltimore MD
Saturday and Sunday May 2 and 3 In NYC at ACAT
As dancers it is important for us to understand that each one of our bodies are built differently. This article explains how different built pelvises can affect how athletes perform. The beauty about dance is that it allows is to make the most of what we we’re given. We should work in our true turnout instead of forcing something or body can’t do because the dancer next to us has a true turn out of 180 degrees. We should continue to work and improve our weaknesses throughout our dance careers. 🙂
Yes, working with the triad of structure, function and use is key to this!
I felt that this experiment was truly helpful in finding that we have different ways to move through our turnout. Although the experiment helped me better my turnout I was able to see first hand improvement as my partner completed the activity. I saw noticeable improvement after the experiment from when I first lifted her leg to the second time. With the little techniques and experiments that we try it can truly help improve our mobility in our hips. It definitely made me more aware of what my body is capable of doing.
Watching this video and observing the difference in the dancers extension and experiencing the difference in my own leg extension and turn out really opened my mind to what and how are bodies are capable of moving and operating without much effort. Breathing is another concept that is fairly new to me and it is required in everyday movement as a dancer. Experiencing how my body relaxed as my partner massaged my head and neck I could almost feel how the tissue running from my feet to my head was lengthening and relaxing.
I found it interesting to apply the information from the article about squat positions and turnout and apply it to dancers. I constantly see dancers comparing themselves to others (myself included) and beating themselves up over not having as much turnout as the person next to them. The article greatly explains the differences in pelvic structures and the limits that these pelvises have in terms of extension and turnout. I would find it beneficial to figure out which pelvic structure I have and research which exercises and stretches would be the most helpful or harmful.
Very good post. I absolutely love this site. Stick with it!
More to come this week.
🙂
Thanks. More will on the way next week.