FINDING NEUTRAL SPINE
Finding neutral spine is extremely important for maintaining good posture and a healthy lumbar spine (lower back).
We can find neutral spine in a standing position, sitting in a chair, or sitting on a mat on the floor. Start by making circles with your hips in both directions. Then, rocking the hips back and fourth, bringing awareness to this area. As you are doing this, feel the top of your sitz bones (hip bone) tilt forward, and then tilt backward.
In Yoga, we talk about finding neutral spine by bringing internal awareness to this area of the body.
Let's try this:
Place your feet hip distance apart and distribute the weight evenly between both legs and feet.
Think of your pelvis being balanced and supported by your legs effortlessly. Feel your torso being balanced over your pelvis. Relax into this posture.
Now feel your head floating above your spine, aligned directly above the shoulders and hips. All the muscles are supportive and soft, allowing this to happen.
In Yoga, we use the term sitz bones, which refers to the ischial tuberosities. Our bodies were designed to sit on these bones. They are rounded so we can roll forward or back on them.
Here's one way to connect to your sitz bones:
Sit in a firm chair with your feet placed on the ground. Sit on your hands and roll around to feel your sitz bones.
Then remove your hands and make the connection of the sitz bones with the chair you are sitting on. Place your hands on your knees and make circles with your body. Circle a few times in each direction. This will help make the connection with your sitz bones.
If you are able to get down on a mat, try to find your sitz bones while sitting in crossed legged seat. See how it goes. Bringing awareness to your sitz bones is the first step to freeing up space and creating deeper mobility in the hips. HAPPY HIPS = HAPPY HEART!
