THORACIC EXTENSION IS SOMETHING I AM PARTICULARLY PASSIONATE ABOUT.
The alignment and flexibility of your thoracic spine— which is your upper back, from the base of your neck to your abdomen—plays a significant role in keeping your shoulders and lumbar spine (lower back) performing optimally and free of discomfort. People who lack mobility through this area tend to have more shoulder injuries and a higher prevalence of lower-back pain.
In this day and age, we’re more likely than ever to develop poor upper-spinal mechanics simply through habitual movement patterns. We spend so much time in our cars, on our computers and rounded over our smartphones, that our bodies start to mimic this forward posture. Needless to say, this can create uneconomical movement patterns and muscular imbalances.
The movements that follow have been curated with the goal of introducing simple yet effective ways of adding more thoracic extension to your clients’ workouts, as well as your own. In my teaching practice, I have found that the midback muscles tend to be particularly difficult for my students to develop awareness around. In fact, the most common feedback I hear when giving these types of movements is something along the lines of, “I didn’t even know those muscles existed.”
I also find that, for my students, a simple movement is always easier to digest than choosing a more choreographically complex one, which is why I’m keeping things uncomplicated here. As teachers, we can creatively use modifications from well-known movement patterns to help generate awareness and much-needed focus in this area of the body.
My hope is that this series will help provide teachers and Pilates practitioners alike with the inspiration to be more proactive when it comes to increasing awareness in the thoracic spine. Your body will thank you!
This story is from the March - April 2020 edition of Pilates Style.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March - April 2020 edition of Pilates Style.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Finding New Momentum
Overcoming obstacles caused by the pandemic, the virtual version of this popular festival still achieved its goals.
Carola Trier's Extraordinary Journey
In his authoritative biography of the first woman to open a studio, Reiner Grootenhuis delved into her personal papers to tell the harrowing story of her time in a prison camp during World War II.
Racism in the Pilates Industry
Incidents of police brutality and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests have shed a bright light on systemic racism in the U.S., including in the Pilates industry. Here, Black instructors share their experiences.
For Self-defense
Moves of the Month
Comfort Food Made Healthy
This fall, cozy up to tantalizing comfort food that’s also healthy. A new cookbook from Kristin Cavallari shows you how.
Pilates Postcard
A Pilates teacher shares how the method is making waves abroad.
The Ultimate Gift
One year ago, Kahley Schiller’s life was completely upended by an extreme health crisis. But thanks to her 20-year Pilates practice, the 40-year-old was able to recover quickly.
Revelations
For Sarita Allen, a star of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and a protégée of Kathleen Stanford Grant, Pilates was key to her decades-long career.
Meaning WITHIN THE Movement
The Five Elements of Chinese Medicine help you go deeper into your practice, promising plenty of play along the way.
PILATES IN THE HOOD
Though she’s trained many top stars, Kim Carruthers says she’s most proud of her work as the founder and director of a nonprofit bringing the method to underserved communities.
