Скачать или смотреть The exhalation and going inwards

Our most common practice of Cat/Cow translates into (but not only) in the extension and flexion of the spine. Hands and feet are involved, like one of my mentors (Julie Martin) affirms. If you consciously involve hands and feet in this action, the movement will be more complete, per say, since we will involve the entire body in this action, workin with integration and not isolation.

By shifting weight like I am doing in the beginning of the video, between hands and feet, you will be not only awakening that support mechanism to your entire body, not collapsing all the weight on the wrists or shoulders for instance, but also you will find the "right position" for your body to then proceed to other postures such as downward facing dog.

Also like John Stirk mentions, related to the breath "The entire spine functions as a respiratory organ and stiffness between vertebrae restricts deep expansive breathing potential. (...)Even restriction in the feet and hands can have a implication for the chest cage and respiratory muscles."

Many students ask: what is the "correct" way of breathing? I would reply, let you body tell you. Let the intelligence of your body inform you. As the clear description on the book "Original Body" by John Stirk explains:

"The spine flexes on exhalation and extends for inhalation. In the all-fours position the tail and head move towards and away from each other. This literally looks like as if we are coming up for air as the head lifts for the in breath". John Stirk, The original body

"The exhalation and goin inwards"
Below there is also a short explanation, why when we exhale, there a sense of drawing in, we feel more at ease, but also we cultivate a sense of introspection, almost like journaling, everything becomes clearer.

"The out breath is experienced as a centripetal movement as the expulsion of air draws all tissues towards the spine".