Yoga instructor details a flexibility-enhancing technique alleviating stiffness and boosting mobility
In the realm of yoga and body therapy, intuitive stretching emerges as a unique approach that fosters connection, balance, and vitality. This method, often referred to as a self-practice by yogis, invites individuals to respond to their body's needs in terms of tightness, asymmetry, or nervous system regulation.
Katie Armstrong, a women's health and longevity coach, defines intuitive stretching as the art of listening to the body's needs and moving accordingly. Melody Morton-Buckleair, a master Pilates instructor, recommends starting with twisting as a helpful way to begin this practice.
Intuitive stretching is not about following a class or a specific type of flow. Instead, it encourages one to move their body in a way that feels good to them. This approach deepens one's connection with themselves, allowing for a more personal and intuitive practice.
In this method, adding twisting, stretching, and breath together can offer numerous benefits. Twisting, for instance, engages the transverse abdominis, which massages the enteric nervous system in the gut and stimulates the vagus nerve. This stimulation shifts the body into parasympathetic mode, the rest, digest, and safety mode.
Moreover, the transverse abdominis contraction in twisting helps to empty the lungs fully, making it a calming practice while moving.
Many people's first action upon waking up is to stretch, and stretching in the morning is a natural process to check the body's condition and alleviate any tension. This practice can be found in various yoga poses, with some stretches performed instinctively.
Janet McClure, an expert yoga instructor, notes that intuitive stretching may be known by a different name. Ashley Vasas, a yoga teacher and founder of Nourish & Grow Yoga, emphasizes the importance of listening to one's body and understanding its unique needs and limitations.
For those interested in exploring this method further, they may wish to visit The Pilates Cowgirl, the studio founded by Melody Morton-Buckleair. By embracing intuitive stretching, individuals can cultivate a deeper understanding of their bodies and reap the benefits of a more personal and mindful practice.
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