PROBLEM POSTURE: OSTRICH STANDING
- Knee joints are pushed back into a locked or even backward bent position, forcing increasing weight through the heels.
- This knee position tends to cause the same pelvic and low back position described in problem posture. Tipped forward with an increased low back arch.
- The chest is depressed, “sitting” on the pelvis.
- The head and neck will tend to drop forward and down, following the chest position.
ADJUSTMENT EXERCISE: unlock the knees, level the pelvis, head/chest float.
- Unlock the knees: relieve the backward strain and let your knees shift forward slightly, over the front of your ankles. This will be easier if you are slight heels as opposed to flats.
- Level the pelvis as described under problem posture number
- Allow your chest to expand and lift with air as you breathe in; allow it to stay floating up all over your level as your exhale.
- Allow your head to float up tall and level, centred over your upright chest- as if it were filled with helium or being pulled upward by a string, with no effort on your part.
PROBLEM ALIGNMENT: SLUMPING WITH YOUR ABDOMEN LEADING OUT OVER YOUR “SKIS”
- Your pelvis and abdomen are leaning out in front, forcing increased weight through the balls of the feet.
- The upper body may compensate by slumping: chest “sitting” on the abdomen and head dropped down and forward.
ADJUSTMENT EXERCISE: centring the pelvis, head/chest float
- Bring your pelvis back, centring it over your base of support so that you feel increased weight through your heels.
- Allow the chest and head to lift when you inhale and to stay floating up when you exhale. Imagine a string lifting you up tall and vertical, back over your heels.
- Lift your lower abdomen up and in to help pull you back over your heels and lift you up tall.