MoveCoLab Tuesday Tips

July 28, 2015

Psoftening the Psoas

Use an overball that is initially under inflated
Place ball in the abdomen directly under the navel.

Step 1

Lay on prone over the ball with your hands folded under your forehead and legs out straight with the hips rolled in.
Relax over the ball and breathe through the rib cage and back.

Step 2

Start with 30-60 seconds as tolerated

Progress by increasing time to 2 minutes and later by inflating the ball to increase firmness

Model: Maria Volpe, BFA, Polestar Pilates Teacher Trainer

Realease is on the Way!

The word psoas comes from the Greek psoa meaning the “loin region”.

STEP 1

STEP 2

1. Use an overball that is initially under inflated. Place ball in the abdomen directly under the navel.

2. Lay prone over the ball with your hands folded under your forehead and legs out straight with the hips rolled in. Relax over the ball and breathe through the rib cage and back.

Start with 30-60 seconds as tolerated.

Progress by increasing time to 2 minutes and later by inflating the ball to increase firmness.

Model: Maria Volpe, BFA
Polestar Pilates Teacher Trainer

Did this MoveCoLab Tuesday Tip help?
Share your findings with us at info@movecolab.com

July 21, 2015

Chant and Song 

Warm your body from the inside out with a chant or song! In honor of Amma’s July trip to NYC, we share her joyous chant with you:

Amma Amma Taye
Amma amma taye
Alhilan de shvari niye
Anna purne shvari taye
O O O, Adi para Shakti niye

O Mother, Mother, dear Divine Mother
Goddess of the Universe
Giver of food to all creatures
Thou art the Primal Supreme Power

MoveCoLab Tuesday Tips

July 14, 2015

Foam Roll Solve for the Millennial Spine

Do you notice your mid-back or thoracic spine changing as a result of using your smart phone, computer or tablet?

*Find length and space in your spine by lying supine on your foam roller.
*Clasp hands behind your head
*Ribs gently knitting together and downwards towards the navel

*Tailbone gently anchored to the foam roll
*Relax the throat and jaw
*Take 10 slow, relaxed breaths.
*Stay longer if it feels good.
*Roll off slowly and carefully and lay on your side for a moment before sitting up.

Did this Tuesday Tip help your posture? Share your findings with us at info@movecolab.com

July 7, 2015

ELASTICIZING THE BREATH 

How can we deepen our somatic practices and dive deeper into our understanding of how our bodies move?  Deepen your breath through timed breathing exercises.  Connect to your favorite mellow music mix and time the length of inhalation and exhalation.  How does focusing on breathing change or shift the way your body feels?  Carve out 3 minutes a day to perform this. Send us a message with your results: info@movecolab.com

• Tune into your favorite mellow playlist.
• Start by lying on your back in a Constructive Rest position.  Hands on the abdomen, eyes closed.  Scan your body with your mind’s eye.  How does your body feel?  Where are you feeling stagnation of energy?   
• Find the pulse of the music.  Try to match your internal metronome to the pulse of the music.
• Inhale for 4 beats of the song.  Exhale for 4 beats.  Repeat for 4 cycles.
• Gradually increase the inhalation and exhalation by adding a count after every 4 cycles. (ex: 5 counts inhale/5 counts exhale for 4 cycles, 6 counts inhale/6 counts exhale for 4 cycles) Repeat for 4 cycles.
• Continue until you have elasticized the breath to 10 counts for an inhalation and 10 counts for an exhalation.  Repeat for 4 cycles.
• Finish by allowing the breath to fall into its own rhythm.
• Did your depth of inhalation and exhalation change?  How does your body feel in comparison to the opening assessment?