Symmetry, symmetry…how is YOUR body symmetry? What am I talking about? Okay, draw an imaginary line from your head all the way down your torso, effectively making your body into two equal halves.
Is each side the same as the other? Look in a mirror to help with this! I’m always checking my clients to see if one shoulder is higher than the other, or one side of the pelvis is slightly more forward than the other side, or one knee turns in more. Lack of symmetry can throw your entire posture off, as well instigate pain anywhere in the body! It often happens that the pain is not where the obvious asymmetry lies, but instead in an opposition joint that is taking the “load” of the problem area.
How do we correct this? Today we’re going to use GRAVITY to find symmetry through static extension position. This movement is done on the hands and knees which creates a balance of symmetry between the hips and the shoulders.
Here’s how to do it:
- Start on your hands and knees, knees hip width apart, the tops of your feet flat on the floor.
- Move your hands forward just about one hand length.
- Lean forward so your shoulders are over your wrists. Your hips will no longer be directly over your knees. Drop your head to release any tension in the neck.
- Squeeze your shoulder blades together. Drop your chest and relax your stomach. Shoulders stay over the wrists.
- Hold this position for 1-3 minutes, depending on how long you can sustain it with good form.
- (optional) If you have someone who can check your form, have them stand behind you and make sure you are pulling those shoulder blades in EVENLY.
Repeat this exercise every day to retrain your body into this symmetrical balance. Need someone to check your form? I’d love to be your 1:1 posture coach. I customize your menu of exercise to include moves like this and we meet virtually so I can coach you to do them correctly. Learn more here!
