These are like jumping jacks, but “wacky.” Nancy Houfek taught me this exercise. Start with some regular jumping jacks, and then explore different angles. Allow your exploration to be playful and fun. Try not to control your breath experience. This is designed to affect your breath, so let it! When you’re finished, take a few […]
Stand upright, sensing moment by moment for a dynamic, active alignment in your bones. Begin to swing the arms together, right and left, building momentum until you can easily swing them all the way around in a circle. Make sure that you’re connecting breath with movement. After you swing the arms one direction, go the […]
Stand upright, sensing moment by moment for a dynamic, active alignment in your bones. Release the jaw, allowing it to hang loose as the lips part and the throat softens. Begin to bounce through the heels. Bounce some breath in, and bounce some breath out. Let it be messy. If you sense that you’re controlling […]
Stand upright, sensing moment by moment for a dynamic, active alignment in your bones. Allowing for a grounded inhalation between sounds, explore extending the duration of a /s/ or /ʃ/ without compressing the ribs, spine, or throat. Maintain awareness and curiosity about your surroundings as you expand into the sound. Add some voice if you […]
Stand upright, sensing moment by moment for a dynamic, active alignment in your bones. Begin to swing the arms in opposition, one forward and one back. Build up some momentum, and allow them to swing overhead, beginning the cycle again on the second side. Make sure that you’re connecting breath to movement here, exhaling on […]
Begin in a low squatting position. Take a few breaths to feel for release in the pelvic floor and expansion in the lower back, and release a few sighs if it feels good. Begin to explore an extended /ʃ/ sound as press the legs toward straight. Each low inhalation takes you back into the squat, […]
Stand upright, sensing moment by moment for a dynamic, active alignment in your bones. Starting with a hand near the middle of your torso, bend the knees slightly and drop the palm toward the floor as you allow a breath to drop deep into your belly. On the rebound of the exhalation, count “one” as […]
Begin in a lunge position, with the right knee forward. Move the left arm overhead in large circles, feeling for movement through the whole side body. Make sure you’re connecting breath to the movement here. Stay playful and imaginative: perhaps your arm is painting the walls and ceiling, or maybe you’re moving through an underwater […]
Stand upright, sensing moment by moment for a dynamic, active alignment in your bones. Begin to spin an imaginary hula hoop around your middle. Allow your whole spine to respond, and notice that if you release your head, it will move in opposition to the hips. You might imagine that you have multiple hula hoops […]
Stand upright, sensing moment by moment for a dynamic, active alignment in your bones. Stretch the arms overhead on an inhalation, feeling for a pleasurable stretch through the torso. On the exhale, simply release your effort and return to neutral. Try several different angles for your stretch. After a few repetitions, add a generous bend […]