Some Conference Notes On Moving

Many teachers have asked for opportunities at conferences for movement refinement/correction from the trainers, so we (Sandy, Pam and I) placed special focus on movement in at least one group practice, with the intention of afterward giving individual comment for refinement/correction. It might be helpful to note some common pitfalls/areas where self-study and refinement is valuable for all of us.

In Rocking Motion, many do not “release” their knees as they should.The legs should become straight without locking when forward on the “balls” of the feet (heels slightly up) and when back on the heels (toes slightly up).

In forward and backward weight shifts, when shifting backward, the back leg needs to bend continuously (to “soften”) as much as the front leg does when shifting forward. If not, there is an incomplete weight shift onto the back leg. (Perhaps the front heel is out too far?). The back leg must straighten when we have fully shifted forward.

In side-to-side weight shifts, if the legs do not bend smoothly andequally, the weight shift will not be complete and the movement will be “top heavy” (and may cause leaning to the side). It helps to feel as though the knee is leading the weight shift, so that we remain low throughout the weight shift.

Having/feeling a “swivel” in side-to-side movements does not mean that either hip rises when shifting to the side. Some folks pick up the left hip at the end of shift to the left, and pick up the right hip when shifting to the right. The side-to-side shift should feel as though you are seated on the edge of a flat surface behind you (like the edge of a table), and that you remain seated andupright as you shift and the waist turns a bit to the side.

When the weight shift completes to the left (with the right leg straight), the lower abdomen may feel that it has dropped down, and visa versa for the right side. However, the hips do not “swing” from side to side, with left hip higher than the right, or right hip higher than the left. I hope these tips help.