How do you bend? How do you stand? The way you do these things plays a huge role in the short term and long term health of your back and your hips.
Hip Hinge vs. Cashew Back
Looking at the two women in the photo above I can tell you that the one on the right will have back pain because she is using her back to do the work. Whereas the woman on the left has hinged her hips and as you can see, has a long, straight back which is supported by her gluteal and leg muscles.
In partnership with South Suburban Rec Centers I offer 8 classes based on 3 different modalities, ALL OF WHICH TEACH YOU HOW TO PROPERLY HIP HINGE so that you can learn to protect your back!
This blog post is a follow up on a great article from NPR talking about back pain and why some people have it and others don't: Lost Art Of Bending Over: How Other Cultures Spare Their Spines.
I've been sharing a great quote from Katie Bowman for years: "When in doubt stick your butt out!"...just another way of teaching the hip hinging technique which is promoted by anyone who understands alignment and back pain.
I teach hip hinging in all of my classes with a major hip hinging focus in my Foundation Training class. Eric Goodman, the founder of Foundation Training teaches hip hinging as one of the major components of alleviating back pain, strengthening the muscles supporting the back, creating functional hip movement and decompressing the spine.
COME LEARN proper hip hinging in any of my classes:
Foundation Training
Functional Motion
MUTU Core & Pelvic Floor
New classes begin April 4th...Click on any of the links above for details on each class
Here the spine is flexing forward in order to pick something up. This motion is very hard on the back because the back is trying to do much of the work.
Ouch!
Here, my hips are hinged and pulled back creating a long + strong back position. This motion is healthy for the back as the gluteal muscles and hamstrings are supporting the bend.
HIP HINGING IS IMPORTANT!
Take Action
- Sign up for an alignment assessment
- Sign up for a group class or a one on one program
- Learn how to be able to get up and down from a chair or the floor for many years to come
- Learn how to pick things up
- Learn how to garden without so much pain
Forward this email to a friend who would benefit!
Contact Stasia today to set up a time for a postural assessment or to get more info on individual & group training.