Hi Joey,

When I wake up in the morning, I can feel my body rotated and twisted from the positions it gets into when sleeping. I use the following five minute exercise to balance my body at the start of the day. I want for you to have this most simple and effective tool too.

Static Back Abdominal Breathing (picture above, courtesy of Buser Institute) is an exercise that is both simple to do and highly effective in aligning your body. All you need to do is lay on the floor and put your feet up on a bed or chair (create a ninety degree angle hips, knees, feet). Allow your knees to relax out, with your arms just below shoulder height and palms up. If you're back is too rounded or head far forward, you may place a small pillow under your head. Now just breathe for 5-10 minutes in this position: Inhale, stomach rises; exhale, it goes down - this is how toddlers breath and most adults reverse this due to stress or incorrect patterning.

When you first get into the position note if your hips feel evenly on the floor is there more pressure on one side; do the same with your shoulder blades and back of the shoulders. After 5-10 minutes, retest these three points to see if they've evened out and if your back has relaxed.

You can also test how you're feeling overall, the depth and ease or your breathe, and the fluidity of movement before and after the exercise.

The hard surface will not allow your body to default into its normal incorrect patterns, and the weight of gravity will help your body to regain its alignment from side. I often do this first thing in the morning to counteract the effects of the positions my body gets into while sleeping. I find it amazing how the rotation in my hips and shoulders is eliminated and I feel so much better and more ready to start the day.

In order to reap the true benefits of this exercise, you may try it everyday for one week. You can take pictures of yourself (front, back, left. and right - sitting height) at both the beginning and end of the week to see if there's a visual change from this five minute/day commitment. The effects are often profound in a very positive and life changing manner.

In 2022, I had the privilege of collaborating with the Scarsdale Adult School in hosting six consecutive Postural Therapy programs. We had eighteen amazing individuals in our November/December class. It's a truly wonderful continuing education community of highly educated people, whose participation and feedback each week made it so much fun!

Last week, we began a new, eight week series (Wednesdays, 10-11 am). As I'd love for you to benefit, there's still a chance to participate in the remaining seven classes. I can catch you up on the first class. Please find the link below if you'd like to join. You're welcome to reach out to me with any questions.

Best.

Joey Zimet, EdM, MS

Postural Therapist

(917) 589-5446

joey.zimet@gmail.com