“The spine is the tree of life. Respect it.”
-Martha Graham
I know, kind of an odd Word of the Month. Generally we encourage you to set an intention around the word and focus on what you can learn from it. This WOM, we are able to take it literally and focus on its actual structure. Our spine is the very center of us. It is our axis and thus deserves our attention. To concentrate on your spine is the basis of The Dailey Method. It’s our first alignment principle and the root of every exercise we teach. Align.
There are three components involved in taking the best care of your spine:
- Space: with ease, breathe as much space as possible from head to toe, head to tailbone – based on your position. This creates an ease in your structure. Creating space also helps encourage disc health. It helps the bones to be able to settle into the joints most optimally.
- Find your neutral: We work in neutral spine in 75% of class. This is the healthiest position in our bodies. We should move through life primarily in this position. It’s still important to work the body in other positions because we need mobility and the ability to move multi-dimensionally. But if we focus on strengthening our bodies in their most functional position, it will translate to many facets of our lives.
- Support: This is the act of keeping the space, keeping the alignment and hugging in and engaging muscular support for that optimal structure. It’s an inside out, supportive and easeful balance. Ease and effort.
Give yourself the gift in April of listening to the positions of your spine. Pay attention to whether you are capable of creating a little more space, a little better alignment and then, and only then, layer on the muscular energy that we all love so much at The Dailey Method. Your spine will thank you.
“You are only as old as your spine.”
-Joseph Pilates (my first inspiration to truly delve into training bodies.)
Love,
Jill