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Abdominal Release Breath Breath & Movement Practice & Play

Cat/Cow

Begin on hands and knees, with the knees under the hips and the hands under the shoulders. On an exhalation, arch the center of the back up toward the sky, allowing the tailbone and the head to release downward. On the inhale, reverse this spinal movement, allowing the belly to drape downward as the head […]

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Breath Breath & Movement Practice & Play Rib Swing

Shoulder Circles

Begin on the floor in a comfortable semi-supine position. Allow yourself to be supported by the surface underneath you for a breath or two, releasing into gravity. Draw both knees up toward the torso, then drop them over to one side. Extend your top arm in the opposite direction from your knees, coming into a […]

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Breath Breath & Movement Practice & Play

Unraveling the Spine 2

Begin on your back. Bring one knee and the opposite elbow toward one another across the midline of your body on an exhale, allowing the head and shoulder to come off the ground. Release this contraction. As you begin to inhale, place your foot on the ground and reach your knee in the direction of […]

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Breath Breath & Movement Practice & Play

Unraveling the Spine 1

This movement is adapted from Thomas Hanna’s Somatics.  Begin in a comfortable semi-supine position on the floor. Allow yourself to be supported by the surface underneath you for a breath or two, releasing into gravity. For this exercise, the feet might be a bit farther apart and the arms spread a bit wider than usual. […]

Categories
Abdominal Release Breath Breath & Movement Practice & Play

Waking Up the Spine

Begin in a comfortable semi-supine position on the floor. Allow yourself to be supported by the surface underneath you for a breath or two, releasing into gravity. On your next inhale, rock the tailbone toward the floor, lengthening the belly and allowing it to balloon upward with the incoming breath movement. On the exhalation, allow […]