As we Functional Movement Education Therapists like to say, “Movement Education is about options. … It's about having options. It's about exploring for yourself different choices … having fun while doing so.”
In this mindset, …
As you find yourself sitting in your car or plane seat dreading the long ride ahead of you, grab, either, your coat, a sweat shirt, towel, or some type of clothing item or material that has a substance to it in order to roll it into a soft “log”. Place this new rolled-up towel or coat behind your back. The positioning of this rolled-up towel behind your lower back, some refer to this as a “lumbar roll”. This may feel very comfortable for you at first. However, after 5, 10, 15 minutes or so (possibly longer), you’ll probably wish to vary the positioning of the rolled-up towel.
In this mindset, …
As you find yourself sitting in your car or plane seat dreading the long ride ahead of you, grab, either, your coat, a sweat shirt, towel, or some type of clothing item or material that has a substance to it in order to roll it into a soft “log”. Place this new rolled-up towel or coat behind your back. The positioning of this rolled-up towel behind your lower back, some refer to this as a “lumbar roll”. This may feel very comfortable for you at first. However, after 5, 10, 15 minutes or so (possibly longer), you’ll probably wish to vary the positioning of the rolled-up towel.
“Vary the position. Be creative. Explore different options.”
For example, after having the rolled-up towel placed behind the lower back for several minutes, move the towel to be, instead, behind the middle of your back. This change may feel comfortable or at least interesting to you. However, after some time, you will probably want to vary the positioning of the towel again. Rather, you may wish to move the rolled-up towel to a new location.
Some new possible choices or places for re-positioning the rolled-up towel can be (as well as, think of others):
* Along various parts of your back, up or down, left or right. Rather, left of the spine or right of the spine, or more toward your upper back, or more toward your sacrum.
* Underneath your left buttock or underneath your right buttock.
* Behind your left or right shoulder blade.
* Even placing something underneath your feet, such as a thick book(s). Thus, repositioning or raising the level or height of your feet in relation to the floor.
Although it’s not mandatory, you may wish to be proactive … or maybe not. J That is, you may wish to reposition the rolled-up towel to a new location a few minutes before you expect that the current positioning of the towel will no longer feel comfortable to you.
Whatever new arbitrary position you choose, remember that if, in the very beginning, it does not feel comfortable, or at least interesting, then avoid that particular positioning or placement of the rolled-up towel. Let pain be your guide. Rather, let pleasure be what you are drawn or attracted toward.
Please remember that there is really no such thing as the “perfect sitting position”. No matter how, supposedly, ideal a particular position feels, most likely, sooner or later, you’ll have to readjust it. Some folks espouse that the supposed “best way to sit” is to be sure that your upper body or torso is aligned perpendicularly or at a right angle to your thighs, and that your thighs are at a right angle to your lower legs, and that your ankle is at a right angle to your foot. Sure, this may feel comfortable for a little while. But, again, after some time, you’ll probably have to find another way to re-position your body. There is no such thing as the ideal sitting position, but, rather, think of sitting as a dynamic (rather than static) art where one continually explores and plays with various positions and movements. Speaking of movement, …
Sometimes making small movements while sitting is helpful. These do not necessarily have to be obviously large or visible movements as if you were doing the hip hop “heel toe” or “popping glide”. Some of you, who are familiar with creating a “Body Clock”, may find it helpful while in sitting to delineate a “Pelvic Clock” or a “clock” around your mid-back area. Rather than immediately creating a large, 360 degree clock, you may first wish to explore going back and forth directly between the hours of 12 and 6 O’Clock or between 3 and 9 O’Clock, before doing just the first quarter of the clock (the hours of 12, 1, 2, and 3), before ultimately tracing the full circle (the complete clock).
Be creative during your long journey. Think of creating clocks along your Self (your body) wherever you wish, as well as any other strategies or options that will make your journey more pleasurable.
“Getting there (can be) is half the fun!”
For example, after having the rolled-up towel placed behind the lower back for several minutes, move the towel to be, instead, behind the middle of your back. This change may feel comfortable or at least interesting to you. However, after some time, you will probably want to vary the positioning of the towel again. Rather, you may wish to move the rolled-up towel to a new location.
Some new possible choices or places for re-positioning the rolled-up towel can be (as well as, think of others):
* Along various parts of your back, up or down, left or right. Rather, left of the spine or right of the spine, or more toward your upper back, or more toward your sacrum.
* Underneath your left buttock or underneath your right buttock.
* Behind your left or right shoulder blade.
* Even placing something underneath your feet, such as a thick book(s). Thus, repositioning or raising the level or height of your feet in relation to the floor.
Although it’s not mandatory, you may wish to be proactive … or maybe not. J That is, you may wish to reposition the rolled-up towel to a new location a few minutes before you expect that the current positioning of the towel will no longer feel comfortable to you.
Whatever new arbitrary position you choose, remember that if, in the very beginning, it does not feel comfortable, or at least interesting, then avoid that particular positioning or placement of the rolled-up towel. Let pain be your guide. Rather, let pleasure be what you are drawn or attracted toward.
Please remember that there is really no such thing as the “perfect sitting position”. No matter how, supposedly, ideal a particular position feels, most likely, sooner or later, you’ll have to readjust it. Some folks espouse that the supposed “best way to sit” is to be sure that your upper body or torso is aligned perpendicularly or at a right angle to your thighs, and that your thighs are at a right angle to your lower legs, and that your ankle is at a right angle to your foot. Sure, this may feel comfortable for a little while. But, again, after some time, you’ll probably have to find another way to re-position your body. There is no such thing as the ideal sitting position, but, rather, think of sitting as a dynamic (rather than static) art where one continually explores and plays with various positions and movements. Speaking of movement, …
Sometimes making small movements while sitting is helpful. These do not necessarily have to be obviously large or visible movements as if you were doing the hip hop “heel toe” or “popping glide”. Some of you, who are familiar with creating a “Body Clock”, may find it helpful while in sitting to delineate a “Pelvic Clock” or a “clock” around your mid-back area. Rather than immediately creating a large, 360 degree clock, you may first wish to explore going back and forth directly between the hours of 12 and 6 O’Clock or between 3 and 9 O’Clock, before doing just the first quarter of the clock (the hours of 12, 1, 2, and 3), before ultimately tracing the full circle (the complete clock).
Be creative during your long journey. Think of creating clocks along your Self (your body) wherever you wish, as well as any other strategies or options that will make your journey more pleasurable.
“Getting there (can be) is half the fun!”
Guan Yin Acupuncture & Movement-Education CenterDr. Lin Cheng Speer, LAc, OMD, PhD
James Speer, Injury Rehab Therapist
Functional Movement-Education Therapist
Practitioner of the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais
1003 Wilshire Blvd. Suites #203, #208
Santa Monica, CA 90401
tel. 310-395-1952www.drlinspeer.com
"Health Is All that Matters!"
"If you’re in pain, or your body aches, I give you the sensory motor experience to be able to move freely, effortlessly, pleasantly, without strain or discomfort. Say 'Hello' to relaxing, and 'Goodbye' to stiffness and pain!"
To see my popular YouTube video of me demonstrating the wonderful "'2-Minute Movement-Education Miracle' to Free Up Your Stiff Neck", Click Here
James Speer, Injury Rehab Therapist
Functional Movement-Education Therapist
Practitioner of the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais
1003 Wilshire Blvd. Suites #203, #208
Santa Monica, CA 90401
tel. 310-395-1952www.drlinspeer.com
"Health Is All that Matters!"
"If you’re in pain, or your body aches, I give you the sensory motor experience to be able to move freely, effortlessly, pleasantly, without strain or discomfort. Say 'Hello' to relaxing, and 'Goodbye' to stiffness and pain!"
To see my popular YouTube video of me demonstrating the wonderful "'2-Minute Movement-Education Miracle' to Free Up Your Stiff Neck", Click Here
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