What You'll Learn
- How to use breath (inhalation and exhalation) to deepen hamstring flexibility.
- Proper alignment in parallel and second position for standing meditation.
- Techniques for a controlled dive over the legs to release the spine and hamstrings.
- Integrating allongée arm movements with fluid, mindful transitions.
About This Video
In this 7-minute session with Broche Ballet, we explore the intersection of mindfulness and movement. This "Moving Meditation" is designed to ground your practice by focusing on the fundamental relationship between breath and the body's largest muscle groups. We begin in a parallel first position, ensuring the feet are approximately two fists apart for optimal alignment.
Through intentional inhalation and exhalation, you will find a sense of calm and presence before transitioning into the physical work. The core of the class involves a series of forward folds where you dive over the legs. This action allows the weight of the head and torso to gently lengthen the hamstrings, creating space in the posterior chain.
As you hang over your legs, the focus remains on the breath, using each exhalation to release deeper into the stretch. For those working on a slippery floor, we recommend practicing in bare feet to maintain stability, especially as we transition into a wider second position. Throughout the flow, we incorporate the concept of allongée, lengthening the arms and lines to create a sense of expansion.
You will practice shifting between turning out the legs and finding parallel alignment, allowing for a comprehensive release of the hips and hamstrings. The sequence includes a dynamic release where the body drops through the center, shedding physical and mental tension. Whether used as a warm-up to prepare for a full barre or a cool-down to conclude your day, this moving meditation fosters the grace and flexibility essential for every dancer.
By the time you slowly roll up to return to second position, you will feel centered, lengthened, and revitalized.
