Snow Angels

Christmas is right around the corner. Open your heart and spread your wings. It is that time of year for snow, fun and good cheer.

Spread the love around by making some snow angels. 😇

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The Basic Practice - snow angels

posture set-up:

• find snow and your 1980s ski suit

make snow angels:

• have loads of fun, you know how to do it 😉

Explore the Movement - floor angels

This bolstering method comes from Katy Bowman.¹ The benefits are to open the front chest and relax the ribs down. Sometimes the shoulder blades become stuck to the back ribs making it more difficult to move the arms.

bolstering set-up:

• find lots of blankets, old sleeping bags and/or pillows

• stack them up

my bolstering set-up

position yourself:

• come down to the floor

• knees are bent as you lower down

• place shoulder blades and head ONLY onto the bolsters

  • aim for slightly on or above bra strap area

positioning shoulder blades onto bolster set-up

arms:

• relax arms out to the sides

• elbows are slightly bent

• palms facing up

relax arms out to sides, palms facing up

ribs:

• notice if ribs pop up with your inhale

• allow ribs to naturally relax down

  • purpose of bolstering is to help shoulder blades get unstuck from the ribs

floor angels:

• gently and slowly begin making floor angels

• keep slightly bent elbows

• palms up and thumbs pointing towards floor

  • elbow pits face upwards

• TIP: press upper arms (above elbows) towards floor to ensure you are using your back muscles to do the movement²

• try about 5 to 10 or more floor angels

CAUTION: if you had breast or chest surgery, be very very gentle, listen to your body. Start with a small conservative range and gradually increase with each pass.

Everyday Living

When exploring these floor angels standing up, it reminded me of when you are waving to your friends at a distance like, “yoohoo, I am over here”.

Yoga Practice

1. Coordinate movement with breath:

   • inhale as arms move up and exhale arms down

   • breathe in and out through the nose

2. Use yoga blocks (instead of pillows) as shown in the pictures below.

Discover Amazing

Our bodies are beautifully created to have separate parts work independently as well as together. Sometimes for various reasons, some parts glue together like in the case of shoulder blades to back ribs which results in reduced shoulder movement.

Discover with the above bolstering technique how one can gently open the chest and release shoulder blades from back ribs. Feel the amazing freedom, improved breathing and increased shoulder mobility (separate parts working together).

Namaste

(the Light in me honors the Light in you)

    
              Wising you and yours 
a wonderful Christmas Celebration 🎄

       May many Happy Snow Angels 
                 come your way.

             peace, love, harmony

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Thanks to Norm Ritter for taking the outdoor photos. Indoor photos were taken with a remote and tripod by me.

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Disclaimer: Be safe, know your limits and move wisely without causing harm to yourself. Information provided in this newsletter is for you to explore and discover how your body works. It is not to diagnose any medical condition. Please consult with a physician or physiotherapist if you have concerns.

1. Katy Bowman Blog, Nutritious Movement, article “Keeping You All Abreast”

2. Margaret Martin, “Exercise for Better Bones”, Chapter 9 Beginner Level Strength Exercises, Angels in the Snow