Spinal thought 175. When people are taught about posture and how to improve it (be it in yoga classes, Pilates, at the gym, etc.) they are often told not to lock the knees. When I teach Alexander Technique lessons I often come across a tendency for people to stand with the knees a little bent and on investigation I discover that they have been told to ‘unlock the knees’. In the Alexander Technique we focus on what we call ‘going up’. That is to become aware of and undo postural habits that cause a shortening, slumping or compressing of the body and release unwanted tension so that we lengthen in stature. Therefore, it seems that loosing height be bending the knees cannot be a wanted outcome when ‘unlocking’ the knees. Instead I have come to see that the reason the knees are locked back is that the hips are locked forward. If, instead of bending the knees, the hips are unlocked and the pelvis is shifted back so that the hips joints are aligned with the ankles the knees will be straight, steady and supportive but not locked. The result is that the pelvis becomes aligned with the rest of the spine and we can stand taller with less effort.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 06:19:33 +0000