Quick Back Warm Up Exercises: Align Back & Tone Lesson for a Stiff Back for Hiking & Walking

[@andreiclinciudev]

L O V E L Y! You have so much amazing content.

[@SensingVitality]

Thank you Amurg-- glad you found my site. :)

[@peachdarvall2090]

Thank you Annie! I often wake stiff and sore and find doing this lesson loosens me up. I'd love some help with stiff achilles tendons if one of your videos can help with that?? Also...I've had a feldenkrais practioner speak strongly against the benefits of yoga and pilates, saying stretching increases problems. Would you be willing to give your views on this? Thank you again so much. I am very grateful for your videos and beingness. :) Peach

[@SensingVitality]

Hi Peach, For your achilles -- check out any of the blanket roll lessons-- as well as the very first video lesson in my channel for hips/low back. Often if you can get your thigh bone "seated" in your hip socket with relaxed but clear connection, this can help toward clearing up ankle, knee and foot tension. The Feldenkrais approach is much more global and neurologically oriented versus directly stretching a tight area or strengthening a "weak" muscle. That being said, there will be some yoga or pilates instructors who may be thinking in more global/neurological perspectives versus addressing just the tight or weak area. Stretching a tight area tends to be a short lived relief-- this can be beneficial, but over time stretching a tight area can give one's body a sense of constant correction versus learning to move more harmoniously so that you feel more relaxed and balanced. I think this is what your practitioner may have been warning against. Again, it depends on the yoga or pilates instructor in how their perspective is with the body for learning to move differently in the whole system versus focusing on a "problem" area. Hope that makes sense.

[@peachdarvall2090]

@@SensingVitality Thank you Annie for your help with both of these things... I'm very grateful. Your explanation about how Feldenkrais works compared to Yoga/Pilates has increased my understanding and I'm very attracted to an approach that is global and nuerologically oriented. For years I have thought I 'had' to do Yoga on waking to ease pain in my body before I could continue with the day. Last week I began to only do Feldenkrais ( mostly the video above these comments) to challenge my belief. I found, straight away, that I was wrong....Feldenkrais lessons are relieving the pain I've been experiencing. I'm grateful and eager to be learning techniques that will allow me to move 'more harmoniously' and feel 'more relaxed and balanced' in my body. Thanks again, Peach :)

[@SensingVitality]

Hi Peach, You are welcome. I find it's important that whatever one practices whether Yoga, Pilates, Qigong, Tai Chi- that this practice is gentle and harmonious with the body. It's possible to do yoga first thing in the morning in my mind-- as long as one is having this kind of awareness/attitude. Good luck to you and glad you are putting these videos to good use! :)@@peachdarvall2090

[@merilundahl5941]

Thank you so much for all your videos, Annie! I find I've achieved a lot of improvement through your videos as well as transitioning to minimalist footwear and barefooting when possible. I wonder what's your approach to footwear when trekking with a heavy backpack. Is minimalist still best even with the extra weight? I recently had pain on the outside of my knee when trekking in barefoot shoes, especially during descents. It made me wonder if the added weight would require more supported footwear. On the other hand, the pain was similar to what I used to have while running before I discovered Feldenkrais. That made me think that maybe carrying the backpack changed my movement. If that's the case, do you have any suggestions on how to learn better movement habits even when backpacking?

[@SensingVitality]

Hi Meri, Sorry to get back to you so late with a reply... Glad you like my videos. When carrying a heavy pack, I personally wear a trail running type shoe with a flexible sole (I recently found the La Sportiva to be a great shoe for myself-- but each person needs to find the right shoe/fit) versus the minimalist shoe- they are a bit warmer and more rugged for rocks, but some folks are fine with the barefoot shoe. The big change for me with body alignment/movement is relaxing more with my pelvis, spine and legs - this reduces heavy pounding on feet and knees. Hope that helps. Cheers! Annie

[@SensingVitality]

Hi Meri, apologies for the long wait in responding...glad to hear you like my videos. I wear a light hiking shoe (la Sportiva, to be exact..) for backpacking- depends on the terrain I'm backpacking in and the length of the trip. I've found the barefoot shoes a bit too cold on my feet in the Northwest, since they tend to get really wet. I've loved the LaSportiva shoes I wore last season, very breathable, light-- they are like a running shoe but with great traction, even in snow. Hope that helps.

[@cinmac3]

Right now I can't get up to well. I strain ed my back, so 😑 I might try later , but... Annie would allow a strain to rest and how even that hurts most of the time can't sit, get up without pain. . I try with your movements invite the past , not this one.