Gardening can be very enjoyable, but we can often find ourselves contorting our body and ending up very uncomfortable. Here are some tips on making bending in the garden easier and more enjoyable.
As always in this series, I want to give you an idea of what I’m thinking about in each picture, because the way I think shows up in the way I use my whole self and makes life harder or easier. The Alexander Technique gives me the skills to choose easier!
I’m including some more pictures and a video to give you some more ideas, too. Here’s the link to the video: https://youtu.be/lOIWuQpTo00.
Option 1
In Option 1, I’m entirely focused and oriented downward. All my attention is on the planter down in front of me, and as a result, I’m bending in my lower back and compressing my neck. Since I’m forgetting about my hip joints, I end up bracing my legs back, too. My back, neck and legs aren’t designed to be used that way, so I’m probably going to be pretty uncomfortable pretty soon.
Option 2
In Option 2, I’m thinking up instead of down. I’m thinking of releasing my hips back and my knees forward so my back and my legs don’t have to work as hard. I’m enjoying the freedom of movement that gives me in my joints. My neck is freer to it would be really easy to turn my head and look around at all the greenery. And I’m having a lot better time!
More options
Bending from the hip joint and keeping length in the spine and ease in the neck!
Squatting (in a primary curve), allowing my tail to drop and my back to gently round as it lengthens.
On all fours with back lengthening.
Happy gardening!
Mari
DiscoverEase in Movement
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