Healing and relaxation massage therapist.

Embodied Learning/Anatomy: The Digestive Tract As soon as we are born, and in fact even before, the digestive tract begins to imprint our first sense of an axis... that establishes what will later become our uprightness. One question this presents us with, especially as adults in the world - is how we can stay in touch with what our soft inner body is telling us, as we meet and act in the world outside? Cobra is key to this understanding. If we find support for our soft vulnerability, it can become our strength. No matter what the current popularity of Poker may tells us about developing a ‘sophisticated’ mask. Cobra is the mother of all postures; it’s where our core begins as a baby. As infants our reaching mouth is primary in our venturing into the world; to get our needs met and as our main organ of experiencing - the meeting of outside and inside. Slowly as we grow, we continue this exchange and its key in informing our spine - that will become a backing to support our insides meeting the outside world - what will be a later expression of the core. This is crucial in our ability to reality check. Sometimes, of course, if the timing of this process is not well managed or there are issues with feeding and before our support is established we meet too much the world outside, this can lead to compensations that are at the base of our consumer society, it’s expensive in many ways. Allowing the rib basket and pelvis to rest into gravity, while the soft roof of the mouth ascends, will permit the shoulder and hips to remain stable but mobile. These, together with more subtle tension around the jaw and back pelvic floor, are key areas where we get ‘caught’ - the body is not stupid, it reminds us if we are not supported to act. What is touched by the ground, particularly the hands, will need to stay receiving impressions moment by moment; of what is touching where we are, where we are going and who we are? are all questions Cobra will ask us in each moment, not a bad experience to become familiar with! As we rise into Cobra with support, the gaze remains soft, rather than the eyes reaching to draw the head forward or up. When the eyes grasp we are easily led. Cobra internally supports the integrity of many connections; not only through the muscles and bones, but there is a journey here that can clarify every body system. This process is where many body systems come together and are integrated, or on the contrary where this integrity is compromised. We spin on a delicate axis, so although we may sometimes seem resilient, without a deep sense of the core to come back to, staying in touch with what it means to be a human being can become a rather tentative connection at best theoretical. There are many things that unfold as we enter into the process that is Cobra, many have to do with how we get caught in the 'story' and how we release its grasp on our life, it’s also a key that unlocks the meaning of all the other postures. Cobra can help us reality check, is this really who I am, and is this really the way the world is in this moment? It can affirm what you think you know about yourself and the world, or question it, it’s up to you! If you would like to experience the meaning of Cobra for yourself, join Leo at his next workshop in Athens this coming February 27-28: https://www.facebook.com/events/159399251083116

I actually did this before working on legs yesterday in the gym. I absolutely love this post from @michael.tal.risher using @RepostRegramApp - Tight hips and a...nkles? Here are 3 warm up movements I love for anything lower body related! . 1 Sit in the bottom of a squat and pull yourself close to the pole while keeping your upper body upright. This gives you the added benefit of mobilizing your thoracic spine as well. 2 Hold onto the pole with one hand as you push one knee out with the other hand. Awesome warm up for tight hips. 3 rolling in circles to get all different ranges of the hips, knees, and ankles. This one is a great movement to end with because it’s the most active! . Notice how none of these are a static stretch. I’m not a huge proponent of static stretching pre workout. So keep these active but under control!! See more

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