The middle four sessions are the "Core Sessions", and involve the "Deep Front Line" (DFL) of the body. The goal is to open the core
structures and relate them to the sleeve.
Psychological traumas that have become physically locked in our bodies over time are often mobilized and released during this phase of the series. These body-held emotional patterns can include physical and emotional abuse, feelings of inadequacy, attitudes of fear and anger, as well as tightening against pain, holding our breath to block emotions, and slumping in order not to feel to big.
Session 5 includes the DFL from the feet to the pelvis
"Open the Deep Front Line from Below." The focus is no longer on the superficial fascial planes but is now concentrated upon what’s called the body’s “active core”.
Session five is the first of the "Core Sessions", and it is focused on opening the pelvis from below. The “Core” structures are those that lie close to the spine and your body’s midline.
The "Deep Front Line" of the legs - from the ankles to the pelvic floor - is released, followed by new work on the hamstrings and some more attention to the neck. The goal of this session is to improve support for the structures that make up the pelvic floor. Although most of the work is on the legs, you might likely feel a “lift” throughout the whole torso. We delve deeper into your gait here as well.
Session 6 includes the DFL from pelvis to neck.
"Open the Deep Front Line from the front." Find a deeper breath. Encourage freedom of core movement.
Session six is focused on opening the pelvis from above. This session is very much a continuation of the previous one and I recommend that not more than one week pass between these two sessions. Here we improve the relationship of the the rectus abdominis to the intermediate level transversis abdominis and the deep-seated hip flexor the iliopsoas. Many people wrongly use the rectus abdominis to do the work of the intermediate and deeper-lying muscles.
The iliopsoas complex have certain properties that make them a unique structure in the body. They are the only muscles that extend from the legs to the trunk. All other muscles of the leg or trunk attach directly to some part of the pelvic girdle. As a result, the proper training and toning of these muscles is critical to posture and movement.
A satisfying feeling of the leg-trunk connection of these muscles often emerges as you learn to move your legs from the lumbar spine rather than from the hip joint. Now our previous work with gait begins to really make sense and become natural.
Session 7 re-addresses the "Superficial Back Line"
"Open the Deep Front Line from the back." Find a deeper breath. Encourage freedom of core movement. Balance the spine.
Here we focus on opening the pelvis from the back and refining pelvic and spinal balance. The sacrum, and the muscles which hold the back of the pelvis are key here, as are the fascia that manage the spine. Psoas + piriformis balance is evoked on a deeper level, and we address pelvic and spinal balance as mediated by the structurally significant but fascially discontinuous “Deep Back Line”.
We will work with the deep rotator muscles under the buttocks. If your legs are still unable to function smoothly while doing the gait work, balancing the “deep rotators” in the buttocks will usually even out the function.
I also want you at this point to be able to "breathe through the whole spine". The work we have been doing with your breath should be coming into fruition now as the whole spine is able to undulate during respiration in a wavelike motion. Progress here will undoubtedly lead to success in eliminating chronic back pain. If you have been suffering from anxiety, you may also find an easing of emotional distress after this session.
Session 8 includes the DFL from the shoulders up.
"Put their head on" Open the neck and head, and relate them to the arm lines.
Session eight is a pivotal session. The final "Core Session", the goal of session eight is to open the head and put it on top where it belongs. During the eighth session I will work with the deep neromyofascia of your neck, open the connective tissues around your skull and face, and improve your breathing further by opening constricted nasal passages. We'll do intra-oral work as well to free the mandible and the muscles of your face - your organ of expression. I recommend not planning any heavy commitments after this session. If possible, plan give yourself a few hours afterwards for reflection.
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