The Advent of Spring : Spring Loading the Sacrum

 



Whether you are like this woman who has a stash of spring sling-backs hidden
under her bed...........





 








Or if the weather has simply inspired you to want to get out and move more,
experiencing Universal Principles of Movement through the spring support
(not resistance) of the Pilates reformer, can engage the sense of suspension, and the shock-absorber-like resilience of your own body's spring-like mechanisms.






The Achilles tendons can be
imagined as little spring-loaded  mechanisms
     
to take the spring feeling that you can connect to through


the footwork on the
                         Pilates reformer

and transfer that sensation
of spring to the sacrum.


If you like, review the video of the previous Pilates Iconoclast weblog post entitled
"The Spring in Your Step Could Be The Achilles." The video at the end of this post will build on that utilization of the springs on the Pilates reformer to create that feeling of buoyancy and spring through the sacrum and beyond.





Just like the little        springs inside
battery-powered
things like this
remote control,



 
the battery must load on to the spring in order for the other end to connect to its receptacle in order to receive the charge.








For anyone needing to know exactly what a sacrum is,
here is one for you to peruse...... actually,
this is a plaster cast
of a sacrum, aligned
with my actual
sacroiliac joints.

Most people are well aware of the
dimpled areas that reflect the sacroiliac joints,
but have little knowledge or functional awareness
of the massive stability that the sacrum
in between those joints encompasses.

Also note the tiny tail bone at the end of the sacrum here.
If you like, review the "Footing" Pilates Iconoclast weblog post
for the connection between the tailbone and the heels.


It is more apparent
on a physical level
that if the Achilles
are crunched, and not
uncoiling in a way as
to assist the lengthening
of the sacrum,
  the sacrum will be
crunched as well.

       

                                       Many people, when arching                                        the spine, don't ground down
                                       through the feet, and thus
                                       crunch both the Achilles and
                                       smash the sacrum up into
                                       the lower spine.
 
In my Pilates studio,

we use sandbags on

the feet to give a

feeling of groundedness

And hands or fists laid on the feet can also assist in uncoiling the Achilles






Extension (what most people know as arching) of the spine is crucial to postural support, and general health of the spine. Proper, functionally supportive extension of the spine must involve the feet.

Although the following video accompanying this Pilates Iconoclast post involves the Pilates reformer, I am including it here to give an inkling of how the springiness of the Achilles enabled partly through the springs connected to the Pilates apparatus moves from the feet to the sacrum to the lumbar spine and on into the ribs.

Spring is here! 

 

 

The foot work on the Pilates reformer isn't merely for the feet - or even just for the feet and legs. When Backbone and Wingspan Universal Principles of Movement are applied to the Pilates exercises, and the client is given instruction with keen imagery and guided with sensitive hands-on, the springs (which are usually thought of and utilized as resistance) on the Pilates reformer become resilience tools to convey to the muscular and skeletal and joint system the body's own capacity for resilience.

 

(more)

 

Thanks so much for reading ! Comments and questions always welcome ! 

 - Herald

Backbone and Wingspan®
Founder and owner and author of Pilates Iconoclast

can be reached at  212-647-8878 or :

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: [email protected]

Backbone and Wingspan LLC 

 

 

Read Some Great Press and

get more great information

at the Integrated Back Strength Website :

Also see feetforfitness.com

             highheelhealing.com 

Heel & Sole for Foot Pain Page on Facebook 

 

Comments

[Karen Donelson]

Hi Tim,

So many wonderful points but I think the most important for me is the one of connection. Because rarely do we move in mid-air...(sorry resident aerial-artists), we perform most powerfully and easily when we connect from the base of support. In standing that is the feet. While sitting, it is primarily the base of the pelvis or SITS bones. Without that connection we are asking our muscles to perform two jobs. One being the action and the other being the support for the action. Imagine a baseball pitcher throwing without being connected to the ground. Or trying to jump without having the floor to push. Or, standing up from a chair. WHAT? aren't all of our feet on the ground when we stand up. Yes, they may be some times in use but notice when you stand if they stay on the ground for the entire time it takes you to stand or to sit from standing. Connecting from the feet is primary to being able to move well in any of our upright activities. Blog on Tim. Karen