Hip Opening Stretches for Meditation, Part 4

I just finished a one day meditation retreat and noticed, in my peripheral vision, a woman clearly suffering from hip or back pain. She tried everything to get comfortable, including hip opening stretches, but I don’t think it worked. She bowed her head down to release her back. She sat hugging her knees for awhile, … Read more

How to meditate like a baby: hip mobility stretches, part 3

Diving deeper into hip mobility for easier meditation There’s so much instruction out there on how to meditate. Unfortunately, not much of it helps you if you can’t physically do what they say! Because so many folks have tight hips from living life in a chair, you probably know what I’m talking about. You may … Read more

Hip Opening Stretches for Meditation

Mobility first, flexibility second Did you end up deepening your meditation practice during the COVID pandemic? Hello! Me too. Sitting for at least 30 minutes every day posed some surprising challenges for me, and I’m a person with lots of body knowledge and a long history of consistent practice with my body. I’m a body … Read more

Why is my neck tight and what can I do about it?

This weeks blog post is for everyone who has ever wondered: Why is my neck so tight and what can I do about it? Many of us spend more than half of our day focused on a small screen for one reason or another. That narrow focus shrinks our visual field, stiffens our backs and necks, and make us feel like we are in a straight jacket.

Balance exercises to support postural health

Exploring the 8th cranial nerve Students have sometimes asked me: when should I start worrying about balance? My answer is Never! Worrying doesn’t improve balance. Learning about balance is a better strategy. Finding fun and safe ways to stimulate your vestibular system is a great way to prevent falls. You can practice small tilts and … Read more

DEAR BODY, PLEASE FORGIVE ME, LOVE, YOUR CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

I’m feeling humbled today. I was going to write an article about my dermatome mapping process for publication in the American Society for the Alexander Technique Journal. I’m going to miss my deadline. It’s too important to rush. Though I know the practice really works, that people gain ease and more coordination, I don’t know … Read more