This is the fifth and final post (for the time being) on tight hip flexors and how to help strengthen, stretch and alleviate this issue. Please check out the other posts in this series. Tight Hip Flexors Tight Hip Flexors (Basic Stretching) Tight Hip Flexors (Myofascial Release) Tight Hip Flexors (Facilitated Stretching) The last piece of the hip flexor puzzle can be tied to the gluteus complex and a weak non-dominant hip flexor. It is easy to have both of these issues happen

Let's discuss Facilitated Stretching and how it can help open tight hip flexors. Here is a post on the basics of Facilitated Stretching. You really should read this to understand PNF. Posts in this Series on Hip Flexors Tight Hip Flexors Tight Hip Flexors (Basic Stretching) Tight Hip Flexors (Myofascial Release) Tight Hip Flexors (Facilitated Stretching) Tight Hip Flexors ( Weak Glutes and Hip Flexors) Here is a past post on other Auxillary Hip Flexor Stretches. Facilitated s

This little discussion on tight dominant hip flexors has ended up becoming five posts. It's a very complicated issue as the hip flexors are major players in the body and in aerial arts. Take at look at the two previous posts. Tight Hip Flexors Part 1 Tight Hip Flexors Part 2 (Stretching) Also Auxillary Stretches for Hip Flexors We have dicussed how the hip flexors work and why they work. Flexion, my friends! So you can lift up into a perfect straddle back inverison or chopper

Before you continue read part one of our series on Tight Hip Flexors. This post explains the anatomy of the hip flexors and how to check for tight hip flexors. Stretching The Tight Hip Flexor. First I recommend seeing a superstar physical therapist. I went to three PTs, a chiropractor, a physician, two massage therapists and an acupuncturist and they helped but we never got to the root of the problem. I think there are two reasons, first people still don't understand the musc

This series of posts was created to help the polers and aerialists who have had muscle overuse injuries centering in the hip flexors. I have worked with numerous students, instructors and myself on several muscle-based injuries. One of the the most widespread injuries is the tight dominant hip flexor and tight hip flexors. Tight Hip Flexors (Basic Stretching) Tight Hip Flexors (Myofascial Release) Tight Hip Flexors (Facilitated Stretching) Tight Hip Flexors ( Weak Glutes and

My Experience with Meditation The best way I can describe meditation is checking in with the very core of your being. On the surface, this involves moving inward and removing as much brain chatter as possible. This is easier said then done, of course, or the entire population would be full of shiny happy people. By getting back to our core we have heighten awareness of the world around us and feel more connected to life. Personally, the more consistent I am with meditation, t

We wanted to take a few posts and explore the Thrower’s Ten, a series of PT strengthening and stretching exercises that focus on the shoulder girdle. For aerialists, strength and balance in the shoulder is crucial not only for performing movement but for long-term health of the shoulder. The rotator cuff and shoulder musculature, in general, are an area that has a high risk of injury when performing aerial arts and pole. What is the Thrower’s Ten? The Thrower’s Ten in a 10-pa

The Idea of Meditation Think of the images we associate with meditation; sitting alone in lotus pose in a beautiful setting, maybe at a spa, the beach, the forest. Maybe we even think of monks sitting high atop a mountain in a trance, chanting OM. Go Google meditation and look at the images, no seriously go look at them. Western society has preconceived notions about mediation and the internet is full of what one expects meditation to be. There also seems to be myths around t

It’s the holiday season and unfortunately many of us have elevated stress levels this time of year. Studies have show that people who make time for self care experience reduced stress. Self care can be ten minutes of meditation, doing something that you enjoy or taking an fitness class. Fitness reduces stress, yoga reduces stress and yes, aerial yoga reduces stress. What is Restorative Aerial Yoga? The type of aerial yoga I teach comes from years of teaching yoga, restorative

Pull-ups and pull-ups all done with pointed toes and controlled movement, right? Here we are again talking about overdeveloped muscles that come from repetitive movement and how injuries occur because of this over-development. Pole and aerial arts activate the pectorals and latissimus dorsi big time. We also work trapezius, rhomboids and the muscles of the shoulders. Plus we use everything involved in the core. However let’s break this down and focus on the lats and pecs and