Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki Master Leah Smith Usui Shiki Ryoho
The Movement of Bone Medicine
The Skeleton Dance
The Skeleton Dance
Leah is also a freelance artist, musician and writer.
To view Leah's artwork go to:
http://www.paintingsilove.com/artist/leahbrendasmith
To view Leah's artwork go to:
http://www.paintingsilove.com/artist/leahbrendasmith
Movement is essential to good health and well being. It can renew the vital life energy in the body and stimulate the neurotransmitters in the brain that send messages to the various systems responsible for respiration, digestion, circulation, immunity and motor control. Movement stimulates brain chemistry, facilitates healthy functioning, and encourages the body to perform as a whole unit rather than individual parts.
In our most natural state we are relaxed, and in harmony with our true nature. When there is an accumulation of stress our body is held in an unnatural way. This lack of fluid relationship within our body can result in numerous imbalances which if not addressed can lead to serious health concerns.
This light-hearted approach to movement uses principles of perpetual motion and relaxation to free up the skeleton. Particular attention is given to lubricating the joints, shaking out the limbs, and laying down the bones. All of these techniques help release tension, increase flexibility, encourage free self-expression and renew the vital life energy in the body.
The Skeleton Dance initially focuses on paying attention to the following areas in the body: the four limbs, the three pivot points throughout the spine, and the joints. First we establish the four quadrants in the body which consist of the left arm and left upper torso, the right arm and right upper torso, the left leg and left lower torso, and the right leg and right lower torso.
Consideration is also given to the three pivot points throughout the spine located in the neck, behind the heart, and behind the belly button. The cervical spine in the neck is just below the first and second vertebrae connected to the brainstem and covers the area from the base of the skull to the upper back. The cervical spine allows the neck to move in multiple directions. The thoracic spine is behind the heart between the shoulder blades and allows the upper body to twist, turn and tilt in multiple directions. The lumbar spine, which is behind the belly button, allows the lower body to twist, turn and bend in multiple directions. These three pivot points in the spine also allow for independent and interdependent movement between the upper, mid and lower body.
Figure 1: The Spine (University, Duke, 2004)
The four quadrants in conjunction with the three pivot points throughout the spine hold the keys to movement and flexibility in the body. When the four quadrants and three points are lubricated, we experience an increase of freedom in the skeleton which allows the limbs to move and swing with ease. When we practice the Skeleton Dance, there is a natural lightness of being that comes over the body.
The Skeleton Dance is a free-flowing, non-directive, light-hearted approach to movement and fitness. We can do it standing up, sitting, or lying down. We can totally mobilize our joints or totally immobilize our joints depending on what we feel our body needs in the moment. The purpose of The Skeleton Dance is to limber up the skeleton and our vital life energy through moment.
Put your favourite music on and simply let your body move playfully. There are no specific patterns, sequences or movements to follow. Let your skeleton dance. Let your limbs hang like a rag doll, bend forward and allow your upper torso to hang and sway back and forth and from side to side. Explore the full range of motion in the pivot points, allow your torso to twist, turn, bend, and flop. Shake your joints; allow them to swing, move, slide and flow in as many directions and angles as possible. Each time you do the Skeleton Dance allow yourself to explore the full range of motion in your joints. Allow yourself to experiment with the speed and the force behind the movement switching from fast to slow, from gentle to robust. Allow yourself to explore cycles of perpetual movement balanced with letting your body become totally relaxed and still. (Smith, 1993)
It is important that physical activity be enjoyable and tailored to each individual’s needs and abilities. The Skeleton Dance is self-adjusting and therefore can match the fitness and flexibility levels of everyone, thereby fostering success and increasing self-esteem.
The Skeleton Dance can be practiced within a few minutes to losen up your bones or, when time permits as a total fitness and relaxation session lasting thirty minutes to an hour. A regular practice of The Skelton Dance will increase your awareness of the free flowing nature of the skeleton and encourgre you to move from your skeleton during ordinary daily activities like walking, standing up, sitting down, bending over, or reaching for something. With this increased awareness in the way that you move, watching the skeleton can become another way to practice mindfulness.
• A few minutes of The Skeleton Dance can help you let go of tension in the body.
• Taking a movement break can revitalize your energy and your ideas.
Staying active is great preventative care; it leads to increased heart health and keeps the immune system in top shape. Through regular movement the body becomes agile, and the vital life energy is constantly renewed. Other benefits include an increase in endorphins which boost the metabolism and allow for a decrease in stress and an increase in health.
Smith, L. (1993, December). Bone Medicine Workshop. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
University, Duke. (2004). Ergonomics Division. Retrieved from Duke University School of Medicine: www.safety.duke.edu
In our most natural state we are relaxed, and in harmony with our true nature. When there is an accumulation of stress our body is held in an unnatural way. This lack of fluid relationship within our body can result in numerous imbalances which if not addressed can lead to serious health concerns.
This light-hearted approach to movement uses principles of perpetual motion and relaxation to free up the skeleton. Particular attention is given to lubricating the joints, shaking out the limbs, and laying down the bones. All of these techniques help release tension, increase flexibility, encourage free self-expression and renew the vital life energy in the body.
The Skeleton Dance initially focuses on paying attention to the following areas in the body: the four limbs, the three pivot points throughout the spine, and the joints. First we establish the four quadrants in the body which consist of the left arm and left upper torso, the right arm and right upper torso, the left leg and left lower torso, and the right leg and right lower torso.
Consideration is also given to the three pivot points throughout the spine located in the neck, behind the heart, and behind the belly button. The cervical spine in the neck is just below the first and second vertebrae connected to the brainstem and covers the area from the base of the skull to the upper back. The cervical spine allows the neck to move in multiple directions. The thoracic spine is behind the heart between the shoulder blades and allows the upper body to twist, turn and tilt in multiple directions. The lumbar spine, which is behind the belly button, allows the lower body to twist, turn and bend in multiple directions. These three pivot points in the spine also allow for independent and interdependent movement between the upper, mid and lower body.
Figure 1: The Spine (University, Duke, 2004)
The four quadrants in conjunction with the three pivot points throughout the spine hold the keys to movement and flexibility in the body. When the four quadrants and three points are lubricated, we experience an increase of freedom in the skeleton which allows the limbs to move and swing with ease. When we practice the Skeleton Dance, there is a natural lightness of being that comes over the body.
The Skeleton Dance is a free-flowing, non-directive, light-hearted approach to movement and fitness. We can do it standing up, sitting, or lying down. We can totally mobilize our joints or totally immobilize our joints depending on what we feel our body needs in the moment. The purpose of The Skeleton Dance is to limber up the skeleton and our vital life energy through moment.
Put your favourite music on and simply let your body move playfully. There are no specific patterns, sequences or movements to follow. Let your skeleton dance. Let your limbs hang like a rag doll, bend forward and allow your upper torso to hang and sway back and forth and from side to side. Explore the full range of motion in the pivot points, allow your torso to twist, turn, bend, and flop. Shake your joints; allow them to swing, move, slide and flow in as many directions and angles as possible. Each time you do the Skeleton Dance allow yourself to explore the full range of motion in your joints. Allow yourself to experiment with the speed and the force behind the movement switching from fast to slow, from gentle to robust. Allow yourself to explore cycles of perpetual movement balanced with letting your body become totally relaxed and still. (Smith, 1993)
It is important that physical activity be enjoyable and tailored to each individual’s needs and abilities. The Skeleton Dance is self-adjusting and therefore can match the fitness and flexibility levels of everyone, thereby fostering success and increasing self-esteem.
The Skeleton Dance can be practiced within a few minutes to losen up your bones or, when time permits as a total fitness and relaxation session lasting thirty minutes to an hour. A regular practice of The Skelton Dance will increase your awareness of the free flowing nature of the skeleton and encourgre you to move from your skeleton during ordinary daily activities like walking, standing up, sitting down, bending over, or reaching for something. With this increased awareness in the way that you move, watching the skeleton can become another way to practice mindfulness.
• A few minutes of The Skeleton Dance can help you let go of tension in the body.
• Taking a movement break can revitalize your energy and your ideas.
Staying active is great preventative care; it leads to increased heart health and keeps the immune system in top shape. Through regular movement the body becomes agile, and the vital life energy is constantly renewed. Other benefits include an increase in endorphins which boost the metabolism and allow for a decrease in stress and an increase in health.
Smith, L. (1993, December). Bone Medicine Workshop. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
University, Duke. (2004). Ergonomics Division. Retrieved from Duke University School of Medicine: www.safety.duke.edu
The 3 pivot points are located at the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar curves in the spine. These curves in the spine allow the torso to move, bend and twist with ease in various directions.
When establishing the four quadrants in the body, the midpoint between the thoracic curve and the lumbar curve separates the upper body from the lower body; the center of the spine separates the left side of the body from the right side of the body.
When establishing the four quadrants in the body, the midpoint between the thoracic curve and the lumbar curve separates the upper body from the lower body; the center of the spine separates the left side of the body from the right side of the body.