Today in Class....

One of the great things about the method is that it is about working with your unique shape to make it strong, shapely and supple.  It doesn't matter if you do not naturally have a dancer's physique. It does not matter if you are not very flexible.  All you need is the desire to work hard and your body will transform into one that is lifted, toned, energised and with strong muscles that will hold and support your bones, joint and organs...and beautiful.  In class there are women of all different shapes and sizes, all ages, all abilities (and there has even been the occasional man!), all of us giving a couple of hours a week to ourselves and our bodies, trying to be the best we can be. Class celebrates each of us for who we are.  As Esther said last week, "we don't want all our tomatoes to be regimented!"  Nor do we want our bodies to be.


Hear, hear.

Today's Exercise:

1. Sit with your hands on the floor between your legs, your knees bent, feet on the floor.
2. Slowly extend your legs out straight, keeping them off the floor, until fully extended, toes pointed. You will be balancing on your sitting bones.  Make sure your pelvis is tucked into the tilt position. Feel the effort you need to exert to keep the top half of your body from leaning back too far and to keep your bottom half off the floor.  Aim for your legs to be about 6 inches above the floor.
3. Slowly raise your right leg up and lower your left leg until it is just above the floor.  Hold.
4. Lower your right leg and raise your left leg until they are even.  Hold.
5. Now lower your right leg until it is just above the floor and raise your left leg. Hold.
6. Bring both legs back to being even again. Hold.
7. Repeat entire sequence.

This is one of what we call the escape/no escape exercises.  It works deep into the core muscles of the abdomen, especially the low ones that are sometimes hard to work, as well as using the entire system of muscles in the torso, legs and even the arms. Comprehensive, hey?!  Keep the motion slow and smooth for maximum benefit, maintaining the tilt to protect your back.