.The skull is the top body weight, balanced effectively on the spine
•It is comprised of the 8 bones of the cranium to hold and to protect the brain and the 14 bones of the face
•Tension can cause muscles of the scalp to constant the structures, blocking the responsiveness of the skull
•Structure massages in hands on work can relax the muscles and thus alleviate pressure built up within the skull and allow realignment of the plates in relation to each other.
•In a relaxed state, the jaw would hang open, pulled by gravity
•Keeping your mouth shut necessitates constant contraction of the masseter muscles, which can be felt by massaging your jaw and cheek.
•The hyoid bone is a delicate free floating bone on the front of the neck shaped like a small horseshoe. Changes in spinal patterns often involve work with this small, but important, bone of the axial skeleton
Showing posts with label Experiential Anatomy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Experiential Anatomy. Show all posts
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Process
Years ago, I was overlooked for a role in dance because I did not have classically curved arms. This decision motivated my visit to a body worker to begin addressing the tension in my shoulder girdle. After a one hour session of gentle manipulation and re-patterning, I felt relaxed and seemingly unaffected. The next day my arm was very sore. As that subsided, my neck went into a spasm which lasted a week. When that passed, my left arm began to ache. I began to realise that the work was travelling through my body. For several months, my left leg would go numb whenever I was tense. Eventually, this too left and the process was complete; it had moved through the skeleton and reached the ground.
Shoulder Girdle
•The shoulder girdle helps us reach, hold and push away. It is a series of
bones wrapped around but separate from our rib cage.
•Proximal initiation is movement initiated by the bones or joints closest to the centre of the body. It will bring your movement to your centre
•Distal initiation is movement initiated by the bones furthest from centre and will take you into space.
•If you initiate a movement from your shoulder, your movement stays close to the body; if you initiate from your hand, the movement takes you into space.
bones wrapped around but separate from our rib cage.
•Proximal initiation is movement initiated by the bones or joints closest to the centre of the body. It will bring your movement to your centre
•Distal initiation is movement initiated by the bones furthest from centre and will take you into space.
•If you initiate a movement from your shoulder, your movement stays close to the body; if you initiate from your hand, the movement takes you into space.
Shoulders and Arms
•The forearms are composed of two bones, the radius and the ulna.
•Weight or pressure from the hand is levered through the wrist to the radius
•The radius is the primary bone at the wrist and the ulna the primary bone at the elbow
•This structure gives the forearm lightness and mobility, and provides attachment sites for the many muscles of the hands.
•Weight or pressure from the hand is levered through the wrist to the radius
•The radius is the primary bone at the wrist and the ulna the primary bone at the elbow
•This structure gives the forearm lightness and mobility, and provides attachment sites for the many muscles of the hands.
Feet
•The feet are our base of support and our connection to the ground. They contain many nerve endings for sensing and responding
•There are seven tarsal bones in the ankle. They allow circular movement with maximum stability and a minimum of musculature
•The foot has a role in communication and emotional stability as well as its functional support
•Proper care and attention to the feet can affect such far reaching problems as pain at the knee, hip, sacroiliac joint, or spine, organ stress, headaches and general malaise.
.Our feet constantly inform us of the stability of our base.
•There are seven tarsal bones in the ankle. They allow circular movement with maximum stability and a minimum of musculature
•The foot has a role in communication and emotional stability as well as its functional support
•Proper care and attention to the feet can affect such far reaching problems as pain at the knee, hip, sacroiliac joint, or spine, organ stress, headaches and general malaise.
.Our feet constantly inform us of the stability of our base.
Partner Work
In comparison to last year I noticed that I automatically gave my weight to my partner more easily and freely than I would have done before. I think this is partly due to knowing the group and my partner as an individual a lot more and as a result I had a greater sense of trust. I also feel more confident with the knowledge and information that I have on my hip injury. I knew that even though my partner had my weight and was moving the hip, I still had some control over the rotation.
On my right leg, it felt as though my partner was moving quite quickly and that my hip was taking a bit more time to make a full rotation. In contrast the left leg could rotate fully and at a quicker pace. My partner commented on how she was surprised at the range of movement I had in my hip, as she had expected it to be quite stiff. I think the hip was quite free as a result of doing some physio exercises the night before and as a result my hips had remained free and open.
When my partner helped me move in space I noticed how dependent I have become on my skull to lead me in space, when in reality my pelvis can do the same job too, just as effectively. I also noticed how important the pelvis is and how strong it has to be when helping to aid my transition from lying and rolling on the ground to sitting up.
On my right leg, it felt as though my partner was moving quite quickly and that my hip was taking a bit more time to make a full rotation. In contrast the left leg could rotate fully and at a quicker pace. My partner commented on how she was surprised at the range of movement I had in my hip, as she had expected it to be quite stiff. I think the hip was quite free as a result of doing some physio exercises the night before and as a result my hips had remained free and open.
When my partner helped me move in space I noticed how dependent I have become on my skull to lead me in space, when in reality my pelvis can do the same job too, just as effectively. I also noticed how important the pelvis is and how strong it has to be when helping to aid my transition from lying and rolling on the ground to sitting up.
Pelvis
The pelvis is a bowl composed of circles, holes and arches.
The pelvic bowl is free swinging around the two femur heads of the legs, and connects at the back to the sacrum and spine.
It is one of the three primary body weights, aligning with the skull and thorax around a vertical axis for efficient posture.
It is a highly mobile structure, constantly responding to activity below and above.
The pelvic floor is a horizontal diaphragm formed of ligaments and muscle tissue.
The pelvic bowl is free swinging around the two femur heads of the legs, and connects at the back to the sacrum and spine.
It is one of the three primary body weights, aligning with the skull and thorax around a vertical axis for efficient posture.
It is a highly mobile structure, constantly responding to activity below and above.
The pelvic floor is a horizontal diaphragm formed of ligaments and muscle tissue.
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Monday, 19 December 2011
Travelling Across The Floor
Spine felt independent to the rest of the body
Curling and uncurling of the spine
Head and tail leading
Space inbetween bones
Imagry of the spine moving as a snake
Rolling and curling on the floor
Head moving in different directions helped to take me in and out of the floor
Used breath to move into each moment
Could start a new journey each time I moved in and out of the floor
Finished each time with a rolling up of the body
Used the head to lead more than the tail
Brought more awareness to my spine than I would have on a normal basis
When the body uncurls, head hanging over the body it puts extra pressure on the knees and feels uncomfortable if the knees are not fully bent.
Curling and uncurling of the spine
Head and tail leading
Space inbetween bones
Imagry of the spine moving as a snake
Rolling and curling on the floor
Head moving in different directions helped to take me in and out of the floor
Used breath to move into each moment
Could start a new journey each time I moved in and out of the floor
Finished each time with a rolling up of the body
Used the head to lead more than the tail
Brought more awareness to my spine than I would have on a normal basis
When the body uncurls, head hanging over the body it puts extra pressure on the knees and feels uncomfortable if the knees are not fully bent.
On Alert
I have a close friend who is a Vietnam veteran. He described to me how he often chose to "walk point" when he was in the field. This lead position for a foot solider was a likely place to be killed or injured by a mine or a surprise attack. He worried that someone would get killed, so he preferred to be in the position himself. His spine never relaxed in nine months of active duty. Now he has severe spasms in his back. His work with vet groups and in therapy has begun to release the tensions from the experiences of war. Yet even a small disturbance can result in a feeling of being on guard and a rigid spine. The more his capacity for relaxation increases, the more extreme the spasms. He is feeling the pain.
Axial Skeleton:Skull to Spine
The axial skeleton includes the skull, the spine, the "rib-cage" and the free floating hyoid bone.
The weight transfer from the skull to the spine is key to postural alignment.
It travels down the bodies of the vertebrae, spreads around the bone of the pelvis through the sacrum, and is transferred to the ground through the legs and feet.
The spinal cord hangs like a tail from the brain, the skull sits on the atlas, transferring its weight anterior to the cord.
The atlas is the only vertebra which can be moved independently from the rest of the spine. The skull can rock forward and backward around its horizontal axis making a "yes" nod.
Like a snake, movement of the spine travles collectively and rhythmically through the whole structure.
Our spine is a progression of alternating curves.
In postural alignment, balance of the spine lives in the mobility of its opposing curves.
Our goal is to have a responsive spine, not a "straight" spine.
The structure of the spine allows 3D mobility so that we can move through the three planes of movement
The weight transfer from the skull to the spine is key to postural alignment.
It travels down the bodies of the vertebrae, spreads around the bone of the pelvis through the sacrum, and is transferred to the ground through the legs and feet.
The spinal cord hangs like a tail from the brain, the skull sits on the atlas, transferring its weight anterior to the cord.
The atlas is the only vertebra which can be moved independently from the rest of the spine. The skull can rock forward and backward around its horizontal axis making a "yes" nod.
Like a snake, movement of the spine travles collectively and rhythmically through the whole structure.
Our spine is a progression of alternating curves.
In postural alignment, balance of the spine lives in the mobility of its opposing curves.
Our goal is to have a responsive spine, not a "straight" spine.
The structure of the spine allows 3D mobility so that we can move through the three planes of movement
Thursday, 10 November 2011
What is Proccess?
To be in the middle or midst of something
Putting lessons and knowledge into practice
A never-ending development
Constant Learning
Continue to Witness/observe your own development
Feeling in a moment
Letting go of end-gaining, and enjoying being in the moment.
As a dancer I feel that I am always in a process of creating my skills both physically and creativly. I have found over the past year that learning to become patient with my development is also a process in itself.
Putting lessons and knowledge into practice
A never-ending development
Constant Learning
Continue to Witness/observe your own development
Feeling in a moment
Letting go of end-gaining, and enjoying being in the moment.
As a dancer I feel that I am always in a process of creating my skills both physically and creativly. I have found over the past year that learning to become patient with my development is also a process in itself.
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