Supple Sides -

I've noticed it never occurs to many people to let themselves bend to the sides. They've taken the term 'rib cage' to heart and learned to move as if their ribs are the steel bars of a cage. This makes it hard to breath, and harder to move with any ease. Let yourself bend to the sides, let your ribs open and close, it will keep you feeling supple, and breathing supple, like a willow in the breeze!

A side bend is just like what it sounds, a bend to the side. How you do it makes a big difference.

Sit comfortably. Feel your sit bones and the top of your head. Now slowly bend a little to the left, tilt your head to the left and let your ribs bow out to the right, making a long curve with your backbone. Then come back to sitting up vertical. Then try the other side.

Remember to do it with ease; don’t stretch, just go a comfortable distance. Let your head be an extension of the long curve in your spine. Spread the curve through the length of your spine. You’ll probably find it’s more comfortable and you can go farther on one side than the other; that’s fine, let it be that way - if you try to stretch the side that doesn’t want to go as far you’ll end up being even tighter.

Think of your ribs as a long squeezebox. When you sideband, the ribs move closer together on the inside of the bend, and further apart on the outside.

How do you breathe as you bend to the sides and return? First, just notice. Then try exhaling as you bend, inhale as you return - just a regular breath, no need for deep breathing. Notice that. Then try inhaling as you bend to the side, exhale as you return. Which do you prefer? Use your preferred way of breathing for now.

Let it all go. Just relax easy for a moment, sitting comfortably. Notice how your breathing is now. Maybe try reaching for something, letting your sides bend a bit. Get up and walk around; enjoy having supple sides.