GET CLOSE & LEAN BACK {RE-POST}. 19 Jan 2011

Here's an oldie but goodie from March 2010:

Hi Lauren,

I took 3 classes of the Immersion and now I'm taking regular classes and I'm loving it!  I must admit that I don't understand what you mean when you stress leaning back at the barre and I really want to make sure that I'm doing things correctly.  I feel like I'm going to fall!  Can you explain?  Thanks, MC

Sure, great question!  As you know, barre work is not leg work...It's TOTAL BODY work and form means everything when it comes to getting the results that you want with Lithe and preventing injuries due to poor alignment and technique.  Many beginners, or beginners who have not taken the Immersion or not enough Lithe 101's, tend to stand too far away from the wall, bend their elbows, lean forward and travel toward the barre when they Lithe- instead of leaning back with straight arms and maintaining a vertical alignment. 

Remember that you should be lifting from the heart, using your postural muscles and lats to open the chest and pull your shoulders back and down (which really works your core).  When you fire up from a sumo, squat or curtsy, you should not be traveling towards the barre, you should be traveling vertical and back.  When we tell you to lean back, try not to move your feet back...keep them right where they are and lean your body back.

When you stand too far away from the barre and lean/travel into the barre while you're working, your knees tend to go over your toes, your abs are blown out, you're training round shouldered and your alignment is out the door.  Check out Nicole in perfect barre form, above.

Image of Lithe Instructor, Nicole Sewall in Fabu-legs via Dominic Episcopo

Comments

[JWilson]

Great post. I took fabu-legs today with the image of Nicole's perfect form & your words of advise fresh in my mind!!