[Tango-L] How to NOT have to use her body... ?

[Trini y Sean (PATangoS)]

--- Mario <sopelote at yahoo.com> wrote:

>  I would like to ask if there is any exercise that 
> 
>  a lead can perform alone that would help develop
> 
>  balance and axis to avoid the above problem?

Hello Mario,

I find that balance and axis are largely influenced by
grounding.  Grounding can be looked at as sending all of
your weight to the floor and connecting with the floor. 
It's one of the more difficult concepts to feel
kinesthetically (for me, anyway).

You can use basic torso stretching exercises to get a feel
for it.  Stand with legs comfortably apart.  

1.) Stretch your left arm up and over your head, reaching
for the wall to your right. (Don't collapse your right
side).  

2.)Do the same for the right arm reaching over your head
toward the left wall.  

3.) Now, open your arms out from your sides (as if reaching
for the left and right walls) and twist your torso from one
side and to the other while keeping your hips and legs
still.

Do these exercises for about 10-15 minutes.  Then sense the
difference in how your torso and how your legs feel.  Your
torso should feel stretched out and loose.  Your legs,
however, should feel heavier.  That's grounding, which is
going to help your balance.  As your upper torso moved
around, your legs and feet began using muscles to keep you
from toppling over.  

Guess what?  That's the same feeling you want in tango
(lightness in torso, heaviness in the standing leg).  So
pay attention to what your legs and feet naturally did to
stay balanced and grounded and do the same when you walk. 
Similar stretching exercises will also work as long as your
lower body tries to stay still.

Hope this helps.

Trini de Pittsburgh




PATangoS - Pittsburgh Argentine Tango Society
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