Hurdle (scissor lessons)

(Mobile users press “+” at upper right to see the menu.)

Introduction

Bend the left knee out to the left as you roll the leg and pelvis. Then the right leg also bends to the left, snuggling behind. Moving the legs together and apart is the “scissor” movement. Eventually you lengthen the left leg to the left, like a hurdle.

Add variations with the arms to the scissor movement: The arms slide towards the feet and away and you tap the shoulders on the floor to soften the upper back and chest. In the end the legs, pelvis, and spine know something new about supporting the leg movement.

TIP: If for some reason you need to roll to the right, reverse the instructions.

As a wonderful complement to this lesson, try 31 Reaching and turning over the hip.

(Amherst, 1981 week 6 July 16)

This lesson is slow, bending the ankle and the toes many ways, then pulsing the toes and fingers, together and apart, and with the breath in and out. It’s a little coordination puzzle at first. Then you grow the movement into the torso, the shoulder, the low back, and the scissoring of the legs.

A lovely awakening of how the trunk supports the legs.

Think of this series as one long lesson broken up into three parts. Here, finally, you add the right leg, plus more variations of both legs with the ankles, toes, knees and hips. You learn to flatten the back and coordinate the trunk with the bending of the legs.

Notice how your legs swing and whether you feel longer and taller after this.