Thursday, January 16, 2014

Thoughts on the pelvis...

Since I have promised to write more, here are some notes from today's rehearsal.

So much focus is put onto the stabilizing ability of the pelvis, no matter what it is that we do - running, dancing (especially ballet!), normal walking gait - that I often forget that the pelvis is, like the rest of the body, a center of movement. 

As a ballet dancer trying new ways of moving and recovering from injuries in my 20s, this way of thinking was such a habit that I couldn't even begin to fathom the idea of movement in the pelvis. As a result it took more than 10 years and lots of happy accidents to heal my injuries.

How many years is this later? 20? Really? I am just waking up to the possibilities for healthy movement AND stabilization in the hips. For instance, the best no-contest workout for all the glutes, especially the meds is belly dancing. No joke. Not to mention the obliques...and it's great for both eccentric and concentric work of the pelvic floor. Ever watch an expert belly dancer's gait? (I say "expert" since it's perfectly possible to perform the movements incorrectly without organizing the gluteals.) Magnificent! 

The pelvis is not only a stabilizer - it's a major source of energy, like the heaviest ball on a chain, the pelvis can either drag the body around or be an interesting fulcrum from which to swing. Of course, when that same fulcrum is in motion, that's where the body then requires excellent neutral alignment and strength to hold together. 

I'd also be curious to see the results of a study of the total number of dancers from different styles of dance who have needed hip replacements by the age of 60, including belly dancing. 

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