By Dyana Wells, Open Ground School of Meditation There are many different kinds of movement and exercise classes offered in New Zealand. In Raglan, where I now live, I have come across Yoga, Pilates, Contemporary dance, Nia dance and gentle exercises for seniors. Somatic movement is a relatively new brand and has become extremely popular around the world. It grew out of Feldenkrais and developed alongside new research into neuromuscular reprogramming. ‘When activity is freed of … [Read more...]
How to use Feldenkrais Technique to Free up Your Yoga {video}
by Kara-Leah Grant I first came across Feldenkrais in a yoga teacher taught by a friend in Wellington - Oli Wiles. He was smitten with the technique and skilfully wove it through his yoga teaching to great benefit. Now that I've been practicing yoga for almost two decades, I've also become very interested in how the body opens up, or doesn't open up. From my own experience I can see that it's not a simple equation of doing x, y, or z posture enough times and achieving your optimum range of … [Read more...]
February 15 – 17: Albany, Power to the Pelvis, Lower back comfort
Workshops with Christine Cutbush, Feldenkrais, Bones for life, Yoga teacher & Reflexologist. The pelvis is designed to support and move your spine easily and efficiently. It enables your spine to tilt, bend and turn in all directions. When your pelvis is in a neutral position the lower back maintains its natural curve. For many people the pelvis is tilted too far forward over aching the lower back or, too rounded flattening the lower back which can put pressure on your muscles, … [Read more...]
December 7 – 9: Auckland, Dynamic Twisting Workshop with Christine Cutbush
A curious approach to sitting and back-bending
By guest author Oli Wiles, Free to Move Find sthira sukham at your desk and on the mat A friend recently posted a pic on Facebook of his 3-month-old boy sitting propped up on a sofa. The caption read: "Propped up at 3 months, eventually he toppled." It got me thinking about sitting and back-bending … Now, as you sit at your desk, it is likely that the muscles of your back are stopping you from toppling into the keyboard. In playing this important role, however, parts of your back … [Read more...]