Hello Esther.
I am very happy with your book. Thank you!
There are some issues that are not clear enough to me.
When I try to tallstand, although I anchor my rib cage, I still feel a sway in my low back.
My yoga teacher say that it is essential to rotate the tailbone downwards to prevent the sway (like in the Tadasana position). It seem to me that when I do that, the sway is flatten, but it feels like my pelvis is not as tipped forward as described in your book.
another issue that is not clear to me is how to relax the muscles in my low back.I cant locate these muscles and I dont feel like I have any control over them (dont feel I Can intentionally contract or relax them).
I have a five month old baby and I carry her a lot in my arms. In these situations I find my back in pain. Carring her on my back is a little relief, but I still feel a deep sway in my low back that I can't manage to lengthen and my neck is also very tense. Is there a special way to tollstand in those circumstances?
I would appreciate any assistance in resolving these issues,
Thank's,
Yael.
3 years 2 months ago
12/15/2010 - 7:51am
Hi Yael,
While it is true that tucking the pelvis and dropping the tailbone does in fact eliminate a sway, it will compress your L5-S1 disk which can be detrimental to your J-Spine. I encourage you to continue to anchor the ribs to flatten out your sway.
If you find you sway more when standing than with sitting, you may have a tight Psoas muscle. This can pull your back into an overly-arched position. Keeping your back heel down when Glidewalking while anchoring the ribs can help you to stretch out your psoas. Also a nice lunge can help, like on page 210 of the book. I've had students find relief with massage and acupuncture as well for relaxing a tight psoas muscle.
The Erector Spinae muscles (back muscles) may be unable to relax a the moment if you have a fairly pronounced sway. Continue to practice your Stretchlying, Stretchsitting, and the Inner Corset to stretch these muscles longer.
I hope this is helpful to you!
-Charlene Hannibal
Gokhale Method Teacher, San Francisco/Palo Alto