String of Pearls/Solid Support - 7 - Snaky Spine Slide - (Shimmy workshop revisited)

String of Pearls / Solid Support

More Pearl by Pearl - 7 - Snaky Spine Slide

Based on “Lifting and Pressing Ribs” (aka Shimmy Workshop) as taught by Alan Questel GCFT®

Keeping a good theme going, this lesson expands on pearl by pearl lesson in a new direction: side to side, snake like. It’s a familiar lesson - one I call the “shimmy workshop” - where we lift and press the ribs from a side-lying position. We constrain the head and pelvis to rest on the floor to force attention on the spine and ribs.

In this iteration, the focus is on how each ‘pearl’ glides laterally - side to side - and draws the adjacent ‘pearls’ with it. We check both sides for preferences, imbalances, alignments and correlation with preferences in the jaw, neck and eyes.

Thanks to Margo for imagining the snake in her spine in the previous lesson. After that, I couldn’t resist. Trust in me…

You might want a little support for your head: just enough to let your neck be long and your bottom ear parallel to the floor. Sitting sideways on a firm chair is a very good alternative.

The snake represents the journey of healing. In its association with ancient healing symbols, the snake becomes a messenger of inner transformation and well-being. The spiritual medicine of the snake encourages us to embark on a path of self-discovery, to confront our wounds, and to embrace the process of healing with courage and compassion. 

Science Nerd Candy Bowl:

• How to Draw the Spine - Human Anatomy Artists - Proko (9:15) An artist’s perspective on how the spine supports and moves the torso

• The Golfers Body - Lateral Flexion - Short animation of side bending - not exactly this lesson but useful

Set Up for a side-lying lesson

• Lying on a mat. Have support for your head - it will be more than you usually use for supine lessons. Make sure your chin and sternum are aligned. Cervical spine alignment is critical to this lesson, so pay close attention to whether you can easily swallow while lying on your side. If your saliva catches at all, bring some support for the back of your head or neck.

• Or sit sideways on a firm chair with no arms. A straight-backed chair will give you something to lean your side against, which will give you some of the sidelying feedback. Sit with sit bones perched at the edge of a flat chair with knees and hips level.

How you might feel after this lesson: All loosened up; Ribs flexible; Breath deep; Spine able to turn, twist, and double twist with ease; Legs comfortable in hip sockets; Shoulders open and relaxed; Neck long and fluid; Spine like a wave, which is very nice.

New Student Registration for the series. Continuing students use ongoing login. $40/month or $15/individual class. PayPal or Venmo: jackisue@aol.com. Or Jacki Katzman, PO Box 116, Bethlehem, NH 03574

Another hypnotic lesson - this time with a sound track