I recently threw out my lower back. I've been doing Somatics since 2013 to get rid of a long standing lower back issue. This is the first time I've felt this in quite a while. The injury occurred about 3 weeks ago and while I have made improvements, it's not as quick as usual. Also, I'm having days where I wake up and it's very inflamed...the pain and stiffness is also moving around to different areas. I'm wondering if it is OK to do the entire Cat Stretch Routine...or should I focus only on a select few movements as like a first aid kind of thing? Any advice is appreciated...
I'm not a doctor so I can't advise you on what to do. Somatics should not cause pain. If moves don't feel good, you are likely working harder than you need to. I strongly suggest you work with a Somatic Educator so you can help identify your Sensory Motor Amnesia.
out of curiosity are you intentionally having someone breathe the opposite of the recommended way to breathe? An example of proper breathing is to breathe in through the nose while expanding belly and exhaling while retracting belly?
I'm not sure what you are referring to. If you are new to Somatics you may be bringing in other modalities (yoga, PT, pilates, etc) that confuse you. I do guide an inhale as the belly expands, as the back arches. There is no need to contract the belly as the back relaxes out of the arch. The diaphragm is contracting on the inhale and then since you are at rest (lying on your back in this lesson) there is no need to contract to exhale. Just allow the diaphragm and back to release to rest. The intentional exhale on the flatten helps you to tighten and sense the front of your body (chest, belly, pelvic floor, inner thighs), then a slowing release. Pandiculations are intentional contractions of areas of the body that are then slowly and mindfully released, NOT by contracting the opposing side of the body. As an example: avoid arching the back, then contracting the abs on the release the back. That is not a pandiculation.
@@trainerkristinPDX I love your easy explanation of pandiculations being intentional contractions of areas of the body that are then slowly and mindfully released. It's the best and easiest to understand explanation I've seen so far of pandiculation. Thank you for that. I like the way you teach.
Excellent and best explanation Kristin !!! Great job ! You did a more deep description of arch & flatten than your teacher Martha :))
Wonderful thank you
Great teaching
Thanks, Dane! Appreciate your input.
Note to self: 0:50
I recently threw out my lower back. I've been doing Somatics since 2013 to get rid of a long standing lower back issue. This is the first time I've felt this in quite a while. The injury occurred about 3 weeks ago and while I have made improvements, it's not as quick as usual. Also, I'm having days where I wake up and it's very inflamed...the pain and stiffness is also moving around to different areas. I'm wondering if it is OK to do the entire Cat Stretch Routine...or should I focus only on a select few movements as like a first aid kind of thing? Any advice is appreciated...
I'm not a doctor so I can't advise you on what to do. Somatics should not cause pain. If moves don't feel good, you are likely working harder than you need to. I strongly suggest you work with a Somatic Educator so you can help identify your Sensory Motor Amnesia.
out of curiosity are you intentionally having someone breathe the opposite of the recommended way to breathe? An example of proper breathing is to breathe in through the nose while expanding belly and exhaling while retracting belly?
I'm not sure what you are referring to. If you are new to Somatics you may be bringing in other modalities (yoga, PT, pilates, etc) that confuse you.
I do guide an inhale as the belly expands, as the back arches. There is no need to contract the belly as the back relaxes out of the arch. The diaphragm is contracting on the inhale and then since you are at rest (lying on your back in this lesson) there is no need to contract to exhale. Just allow the diaphragm and back to release to rest. The intentional exhale on the flatten helps you to tighten and sense the front of your body (chest, belly, pelvic floor, inner thighs), then a slowing release.
Pandiculations are intentional contractions of areas of the body that are then slowly and mindfully released, NOT by contracting the opposing side of the body. As an example: avoid arching the back, then contracting the abs on the release the back. That is not a pandiculation.
@@trainerkristinPDX I love your easy explanation of pandiculations being intentional contractions of areas of the body that are then slowly and mindfully released. It's the best and easiest to understand explanation I've seen so far of pandiculation. Thank you for that. I like the way you teach.