A simple approach to finding a neutral pelvis is to experiment with the anterior and posterior tilting of the pelvis in relationship to the bony landmarks to find the place in the centre.

These landmarks are incredibly useful in bringing awareness to a vital and yet vulnerable part of the body that we often ignore. Even though we spend so much time sitting on our bum, what we do with our pelvis and pelvic floor are often only brought to our attention when we are experiencing pain or discomfort.

From the bony landmarks, we can begin to explore the intrinsic movement of breath within the inner body, in particular the relationship between the ribcage and the pelvis.

Our respiratory diaphragm sits just beneath the ribs. The heart and lungs rest above the respiratory diaphragm, and our internal organs are below this diaphragm. On the other hand (end), the pelvic floor (also a diaphragm) supports the weight of our internal organs, in addition to sexual and elimination functions.

The respiratory diaphragm and the pelvic diaphragm is actually one continuous integrated “being” that modulates our life force! Their ability to move in resonance with each other is important in the healthy and intricate functioning of all our biological processes, such as oxygenation, circulation, motility of organs, digestive and reproductive processes etc.

Creating an embodied awareness on the symbiotic relationship of the intrinsic rhythm of our breath pulsating through the different diaphragms will not only create optimal alignment and ease in the way we move, sit, stand, walk, but also help regulate our nervous system, return us back to health, and cultivate a sense of grounding and safety.

The post The neutral pelvis as an embodiment PROCESS, rather than just a shape or a form appeared first on Somatic Therapy Asia.

From the moment of conception, a mother begins to navigate through relational changes in the body and the nervous system. The mother and the baby are now working together to adapt to these changes physiologically, psychologically, and spiritually, through the 40-week sojourn from conception to birth.

As the shape of the pelvis accommodates to the development of the baby, the spine is taking on more load.

The intra-abdominal space changes relative to the diaphragm and the pelvic floor.

Pregnant mothers often experience discomfort in the lower back, groin and pelvic girdle strain, as well as reflux, heart burn and even difficulty in breathing, especially as the pregnancy draws closer to the third trimester.

Somatic therapy uses gentle touch as well as breath, movement, therapeutic conditioning for pelvic health.

Somatic practices not only alleviates discomfort, but also helps mothers to connect more deeply with their baby.

Through sensing, feeling, and honing our sensory awareness, somatic work informs and empowers mothers to create a dynamic relationship with the changing body and the development of the baby. It also reduces physical and mental stress through down regulation of the nervous system to promote healthy gestation.

The post Somatic Movement & Bodywork for Pre-Natal Care  appeared first on Somatic Therapy Asia.

Props required:

• 1 yoga mat
• 1 blanket (optional)
• 1 soft squishy ball / roller (optional)

The post Nervous System Workshop 2/2 appeared first on Somatic Therapy Asia.

Could the tightness that you’re feeling in your back be caused by your organs sitting in the front of the body?⁣⁣
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When our body isn’t able to provide a conducive environment for the organs and gut tube to function and move optimally in relationship with one another, they are not able to yield into the support of gravity. ⁣This can also happen when our nervous system can’t get into the rest and digest mode. ⁣Our organs become sticky, frozen, inanimate, braced. ⁣And they sit at the front of the abdominal cavity and pull into our lower back.⁣⁣
This might cause our whole body to come into a holding pattern of bracing against gravity.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Creating more thoracic mobility and releasing the pelvic floor helps to bring the respiratory and pelvic diaphragms back into resonance.⁣⁣
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⁣Want to know more? Join me at my next Somatic Movement & Therapy Training on Polyvagal Theory in Somatic Applications. Happening 31 May to 9 June. ⁣

This post was previously posted on Yogawithdaphne.com on April 23rd 2021.
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The post Bloating and Back Pain appeared first on Somatic Therapy Asia.

The concept of a neutral pelvis is a topic every movement educator across different modalities would passionately debate over.

This week on #SomawithDaphneandLucy, we’d like to share our take on the neutral pelvis as an embodiment PROCESS, rather than just a shape or a form.

One of the most logical rationales to this principle is that – When the pelvis is in its neutral position, it allows for the most amount of space between each vertebra, as they are then aligned in their natural curves (i.e primary and secondary curves or kyphosis and lordosis). A neutral pelvis means that our spine can act as a “spring” in our bipedal form, to provide a buffer for the compressive forces moving through the body as we navigate through space and gravity.

A simple approach to finding a neutral pelvis is to experiment with the anterior and posterior tilting of the pelvis in relationship to the bony landmarks – the ASIS (hip points), and the diamond-shaped compass of the Sacrum, Coccyx, Ischium, Pubic Symphysis – to find the place in the centre.
These landmarks are incredibly useful in bringing awareness to a vital and yet vulnerable part of the body that we often ignore. Even though we spend so much time sitting on our bum, what we do with our pelvis and pelvic floor are often only brought to our attention when we are experiencing pain or discomfort.

From the bony landmarks, we can begin to explore the intrinsic movement of breath within the inner body, in particular the relationship between the ribcage and the pelvis.

Our respiratory diaphragm sits just beneath the ribs. As our primary breathing muscle, the diaphragm contracts and descends during inhalation, and releases to ascend during exhalation. The heart and lungs rest above the respiratory diaphragm, and our internal organs are below this diaphragm. On the other hand (end), the pelvic floor (also a diaphragm) supports the weight of our internal organs, in addition to sexual and elimination functions.

The respiratory diaphragm and the pelvic diaphragm (not just a floor!) is actually one continuous integrated “being” that modulates our life force! Their ability to move in resonance with each other is important in the healthy and intricate functioning of all our biological processes, such as oxygenation, circulation, motility of organs, digestive and reproductive processes etc.

Creating an embodied awareness on this symbiotic relationship of the intrinsic rhythm of our breath pulsating through the different diaphragms will not only create optimal alignment and ease in the way we move, sit, stand, walk, but also help regulate our nervous system, return us back to health, and cultivate a sense of grounding and safety.
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In the next video, we would like to invite you to explore a short practice to sense the resonance between the 2 diaphragms to come into the “state” of a neutral pelvis.

This post was previously posted on Yogawithdaphne.com on June 19th 2020

The post Ribcage & Pelvis Resonance appeared first on Somatic Therapy Asia.

The relative distance of our feet from our brain often causes us to disregard the health and care of our feet. We tend to ignore the messages coming from this very distal part of the body. We wear shoes that are too tight, too loose, too flat, too high… For some culture, there’s even a certain element of shame attached to the feet. Some people might go through years of suffering from sore feet before paying any attention to this part of the body.

The health of our feet is instrumental in our overall health.

Our two feet are made up of 52 bones, accounting for about a quarter of all the bones in our body. They contain 60 joints and 200 muscles, tendons and ligaments that hold them together for mobility and stability. Most of the myofascial matrix crosses through the feet as they are fundamental to our evolution into bipeds. Our feet establish the foundation of our vertical relationship to navigate through gravity and 3 dimensional space and create movement continuity through all our body’s systems.
Embryologically, our feet and toes grow out of the limb buds before the legs are fully formed, essentially making our feet an extension of the pelvis, and hence its close association to our pelvic health.

Keeping our feet strong and nimble means stronger grounding and stability, more movement choices and increased neural pathways and plasticity! Training our feet to be able to articulate through different loads and tracking its relationship to different parts of the body will not only alleviate conditions like plantar fasciitis, heel pain, achilles tendinitis, it can also prevent knee injury, relieves lower back pain, soothe neck and shoulder tension and even migraine. Its close relationship with our pelvic diaphragm also means that strong and flexible feet will bring awareness to our core being as we find support through gravity and levity. When we establish better proprioception and interoception we can also help to regulate our nervous system so we are less anxious and stressed!

This post was originally posted on Yogawithdaphne.com on May 28th 2020

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As part of a training course work in which students will apply movement principles into their practice. Lana worked with the single principle Navel Radiation through the different relationships with gravity. Using her navel centre as the anchor from stillness in supine, morphing into dynamic balancing poses into creating the balance of both stability and mobility.

This post was previously posted on Yogawithdaphne.com on October 10th 2019

The post Navel Radiation by Lana Yang appeared first on Somatic Therapy Asia.

A little psoas play inspired by Liz Koch of Core Awareness. Begin by sensing the structural support of the psoas from the initiation of the breath in the diaphragm. Tune into the undulating waves. Move into the fluidity into a continuous flow through the whole body. Explore the different planes of perspectives. Lean into PLAY. 

This post was previously posted on Yogawithdaphne.com on March 16th 2019

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