Awareness Through Movement #489

Legs and lifting back

we take a brief pause away from the standing lessons and lie on our backs for most of this lesson… (I’m thinking it’s still part of the series done in a different plane - horizontal to give the back some support).

When I asked Grok what was so special about this lesson it came back with quite a few answers:

It improves Hip Joint Mobility and Flexibility through the lifting, rotating, and bending movements of the legs.. These movements help increase the range of motion in the hips by gently engaging the surrounding muscles and connective tissues, reducing stiffness, and promoting smoother joint function.

Lifting and manipulating the legs in various ways strengthens the muscles of the legs, including the quadriceps, hamstrings, hip flexors, and glutes. The controlled, mindful nature of the movements also improves coordination between the legs and the rest of the body.

The movements that involve lifting the back, head, and shoulders while holding the legs engage the abdominals, obliques, and lower back muscles. This strengthens the torso, improves spinal mobility, and promotes better posture and stability during movement.

This lesson also emphasizes sensing differences between the right and left sides of the body and bringing awareness to how people feel while standing and walking after the lesson. This invites a greater level of proprioceptive awareness, which helps you align your posture and move more efficiently.

The emphasis on slow, deliberate movements and frequent rests (e.g., "Leave it and rest a moment" throughout) allows the nervous system to integrate the movements, reducing unnecessary muscle tension and promoting a sense of calm and ease in the body.

I’ve come to the conclusion that these daily lessons are way more beneficial than going to the gym 2-3 times a week!