Lifting the head in extension
I have been obsessed with extension lessons recently, as that's the section of the Feldenkrais Treasury I'm working on. Extension helps me sit upright without even thinking, “I must hold myself up.” My back becomes strong and tall.
This week I spent five hours one day and about three hours the next doing extension lessons. I can tell you these are amazing, incredible lessons. I felt a remarkable difference, more so than many lessons with smaller, subtler movements because these use the big, strong muscles of the back and also because they affect such a primitive, early function of babies to organize the back to lift the head.
Lifting the head fulfills the basic need to see and engage with the world.
Engaging with the big muscles along the back is inherently powerful. Standing up with the whole back implies readiness, openness, and looking outward. It's the exact opposite of contracting and folding in on ourselves!
It's also the opposite of fear. Extension is when you're ready to reveal yourself to the world.
Plus, if everyone did an extension lesson every morning, no one would have backaches or hunchie shoulders. We'd breathe easily, digest our food better (the belly would be long and free instead of tense and contracted) and walk around with lightness and joy.
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More lessons:
This lesson is from the Extension series in the Feldenkrais Treasury. I recommend doing them all!
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Quote of the week:
“Do one thing every day that scares you.”