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From the Barn - exploring the Equestrian Arts

n.b. this is a verbal rendition of the pictorial essay from a few weeks ago.  this was written back in 2002.
Body Awareness: The Neck

Alexander technique is all about the neck - free the neck and move forward.  And I find that in riding, it makes a world of difference.  It's kind of the start and finish of it all, an instant barometer of what's possible. Once you're really practiced with the process of "head, heart, hara, pulse" a short hand for it could easily be "free the neck."

That important?

At first blush, it's kind of like, 'What in the world?  How does that have anything to do with anything else?'  And, Sag that I am, I blurted this out while at a chiropractor's office one time.  The reply is this: The rib cage is fairly sturdy and doesn't move so much, so everything that happens in the body transmits up through the ribcage into the neck.  The neck is an exact reflection of the body.  (and it's pretty cool to use this while evaluating a horse, too.  You can discern where and how their back is out of alignment by looking at their neck!) ( It's just harder with our necks 'cause they're shorter!)  So, how the body goes is how the neck goes, and how the neck goes is how the body goes.

So what to do with it?  (Your Turn)

Stack those vertebrae!  

  • To prepare:
    • find your observer (send your citric off on vacation and ignore that gremlin!) 
    • ask your 'right brain' to supply with some information about your neck, specifically C7, the bottom neck vertebra, when the bump is.
  • Begin observing and directing:
    • Once you've found C7, ask for information about C6, the vertebra on top of it.
    • When you've got these two, ask for the information about how they relate to each other:
    • Is C6 directly on top of C7 - not to the left/right/front/back in relation to C7?
    • Is C6 sitting evenly on top of C7 - not scrunched anywhere, or tilted?
      • If the answer is yes, C6 is floating evenly and directly over C7, yay!  you're done with these two.  
      • If it's no, then you'll want to provide a directive of what's desired and then ask and allow your 'right brain' to deliver this.
    • When the relationship between C6 & C7 is what you want, move up to C5 and observe the relationship between C5 & C6.
    • Continue working up the neck until you get to C1 and the skull.
    • The skull has two rockers that sit in two groves on top of C1.  Rather than a disc shaped space, you want even space between the two rockers and the two grooves.  Ask your 'right brain' to supply this for you and then allow it to do so.
  • Now, walk around with this awareness!
With a partner

When you get on your horse, start out at the walk on straight lines, then add in some sweeping curves.  When that's feeling good, advance to trot and then maybe canter.  After that, have a go at the lateral movements and see what happens!  You'll want a free neck in all your movements -- 'cause you'll want that freedom!

How would you like some hands-on guidance?

For staking the vertebra in your neck, you may find a Specialty Lesson beneficial, and you can contact me at (512)869-7903 to set one up.  While this is entirely a self awareness process, in the beginning it can be of great benefit to have a separate set of eyes providing you feedback and the bodywork can really assist you aligning the vertebra.  (What I do is strictly informational and energetic!  no manipulations!  and yet, yes, you will have a different, free-er spine!)

Through the Centered Riding® I have learned teaching techniques of visualization, awareness, and direction which can assist you with guiding your horse with harmony and precision. Come experience this all first hand!

Have you had a chance to play with this in your riding?  What is your experience with this?

 

Copyright © 2002 Lynn S. Larson
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