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okay uh lemme describe 6 positions i'm using to stretch and release tension in my legs and pelvis. i have no idea if any of these will work for anyone else but here goes

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Loopy

@strangestloop

· Jan 19

Replying to @QiaochuYuan

congrats also post the exact movements you did

QC (in Berlin 7/29-???)

@QiaochuYuan

Jan 19

1. semi-supine. this is something i learned from a friend who gave me an alexander technique session. the books under the head are important. you want to balance your knees in a way that feels effortless which will take some messing around alexander-technique-online.com/defining-the-a

QC (in Berlin 7/29-???)

@QiaochuYuan

Jan 19

you also ideally want to maintain expanded awareness while in the position. this is a "home base" position i return to after doing other stretches (or emotional / energy stuff) to see if new stuff wants to relax here. if you only try one position on this list, try this one

QC (in Berlin 7/29-???)

@QiaochuYuan

Jan 19

2. slav squat / garland pose. relaxes my hips and lower back and i think it maybe helps my digestion a bit? i like it so much i do it in public. it does strain my legs a bit but welp

QC (in Berlin 7/29-???)

@QiaochuYuan

Jan 19

3 + 4. okay had to google to find names for these but i guess they're called butterfly and reclined butterfly pose. relaxes my hips and inner thighs. i imagine a lot of people will be too tight for these positions to be relaxing so maybe don't start here idk

QC (in Berlin 7/29-???)

@QiaochuYuan

5. okay this one is apparently called the half-split. idk the names of any muscles but i do this to stretch my inner thighs mostly (which are normally *very* tight). need to be careful to find a position that is mostly comfortable and only a bit of a stretch, and wait there

11:51 PM · Jan 19, 2022Twitter Web App

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QC (in Berlin 7/29-???)

@QiaochuYuan

Jan 19

Replying to

@QiaochuYuan

6. whatever this is called (seated hamstring stretch?) except my torso is upright and i don't use my hand for anything. needed to find a position where it was only a bit of a stretch. they completely fucked up teaching me this in gym class smdh i went way too far

QC (in Berlin 7/29-???)

@QiaochuYuan

Jan 19

bonus: also sometimes i will just "lie down like a normal person" which i gather is called supine position maybe. this is another "home base" position i return to after doing other stuff to see what wants to relax. i try to keep my spine and legs and arms lengthened

QC (in Berlin 7/29-???)

@QiaochuYuan

Jan 19

hmm am i just doing yoga?

@wholebodyprayer

@embryosophy

, any other suggestions you'd add for legs and pelvis stuff? also curious

@visakanv

to hear how this matches up with what you're doing

QC (in Berlin 7/29-???)

@QiaochuYuan

Jan 19

also fair warning if you are like me muscle tension can get connected to emotional / trauma content so relaxing it can suddenly bring that content up sooo uh. i personally would not have been able to do this without first building a solid foundation in trauma processing :/

QC (in Berlin 7/29-???)

@QiaochuYuan

Jan 20

thanks 2019 QC you were totally right about the embodiment practices although we had to do more than just bio-emotive to get here