Forum / Let's Discuss! / Reformer videos session 1-6
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| Laura_682 On: October 14, 2014 09:42 AM |
Hi all, Jen my question is about Ref. apprentice sessions 1-6 and week 2. There is some great stuff here!! layers of cuing and helping clients find their movements through their core connections as well as the their interconnectedness. between your work and casey's work together the layering dynamic of the body on the reformer in is blowing my mind. its so tough to teach a body to find the eccentric contraction on the way in from pushing the reformer out. The details and connected balance that one can feel simply pressing in and out on the reformer is something so yummy for bodies to feel. In your teaching Jen, when the clients are pushing in and out what is going on anatomically in most bodies when it becomes difficult to bring the carriage in? I know it could be a whole host of things but there is a moment in the video when you specifically mention its harder to do the work on ball of the foot than heel. I was curious why? I love all the anatomical references that we have from thinking about the domes in our bodies as we cue the body up through the crown of the head..... my intuition in leaning toward this type of work being very fascial.... ? AM I right? I have definitely felt wrapping around of the rhythms of the body spiraling through the foot , leg, hip, shoulder and you press in and out, working with you and sydney too. I always notice just like you cued in the video that its tougher to do the work on the ball of the foot than it is on the heels, I would love to know whats going on with the body that your seeing anatomically ? Most people have tight ankles ect? Thanks for thinking about this ? If I just need to read more of certain folks text I totally get that and would love references. Laura :) |
| JenniferGianni On: October 15, 2014 18:18 PM |
Hi Laura, I love your questions! I have missed them. You are right on the mark with seeing that the eccentric or letting go part of the exercise/ movement is the toughest for most people to get right. This is the main reason that Pilates resonates with so many of us. It helps us to figure out how to organize and calibrate our natural decelerator mechanisms. And the Reformer ( in my humble opinion) is the best tool we have in the studio for people to hone their ability to let go in a connected and organized way. And when we do start to connect and dance with the reformer and its springs it is so YUMMY! With all of the support and feedback our reformer gives us it is easier for us to contact those deeper parts of ourselves. I think the reformer makes it easier for us to shed our daily armor and when we are in our reformer home we can be our soft, vulnerable kid . And we are safe to explore. When bringing the carriage out and in during footwork if we are truly thinking of a easy home body and a pure movement of the leg and using a manageable spring ( so that the energy of the body and machine can meet to support each other) then YES it can organize our fascial web in a very beneficial and impactful way. And it becomes Gait training and something very valuable that we can bring outside the studio. Part of the specifics about what part of the foot on the foot bar has to do with what intention the teacher has with whatever exercise they are doing. The why of the movement. What are they trying to affect and change? Using the center of the calcaneus is a classical foot position and one I rarely use. Unless the hook of the skin on the bar is cued in a very specific way then it usually creates a closing of the back of the pelvic floor and a dumping/ imprinting into the lower back. Placing the cup of the heel on the footbar ( In my humble opinion) is brilliant! This position to a lot of us feel right and most are able to relax their toes ( eventually) . This position talks directly to our back line and specifically to the balanced work of the hamstrings. The foot is also experiencing dorsiflexion which creates a swing out of the calcaneus , a sinking and rotating back of the talus which most of us need more of. The position on the ball of the foot is very beneficial but harder for people to find the right balance. It is especially hard for people to bring the carriage in and stay organized. Most of us are strong at the toes and or the outside or inside of our foot. Most of us need to build integrity at the metatarsal heads ( and between the metatarsal heads!) You may want to start clients in a shorter range of motion ( not going to a fully straight leg) and keeping the heels low ( not in high heels) when on the balls of the feet. This will help to build awareness. I hope this has helped. Keep the question coming. Love Jen |
| JenniferGianni On: October 16, 2014 05:02 AM |
Hi Laura, Had a dream about the cup of the heel last night. Forgot to mention that this position on the foot bar ( cup of the heel) is talking directly to where the heel bone begins and the tarsal sinus joint ( where pronation and supination are found in the foot/ankle ) To train this awareness in the client is huge. This can help to free up the foot in a major way and create efficiency in gait. I have proven once again that I am definitely a pilates dork! Love Jen |
| Laura_682 On: October 16, 2014 13:40 PM |
Jen! Love This!!! So thankful you are sharing this, cheers to Pilates dreams. Definitely affirms the desire to just being all about the work and let your mind absorb it all to the point where you are dreaming about it :) I've been reading Anatomy Trains with Tom Myers and Energy Medicine in Theraputics & Human Performance. In the Human performance book; Chapter 6 Sensation and movement at the edge & chapter 7 Another way of knowing and moving James is describing some things that definitely go over my head, but the glimpse I get from what he's saying is that sensing and moving is what its like the feel high performance movement that takes the body into a different mode of use. Even though what you and I are writing about is smaller movement the bio-mechanical rhythms of pressing in and out on a Reformer and not the exact comparisons he is using of high intensity athletics, I am thinking that they are similar types of body "usage" ( im calling its usage) that utilize our movement matrix , fascia. Its about the focus and eventual familiarity we can find in movement totally amazing. On your new anatomical note, I love the added training purpose. Knowing more and more of the "why" work is helping me trek along in the journey! Thank you Jen HUGS Laura |