Romance your nervous system and realign your pelvis.
This is the quadricep release you didn't know you needed.
Today I’m thinking of the power of “romancing the nervous system” and how essential it is to releasing tension. Last night in our weekly Release Technique class (it’s in person AND virtual and anyone can join, FYI) we experienced how the breath actually hacks the brain into normalizing and accepting whatever you’re feeling.
Here’s an example: you’re on your foam roller and you come across a spot that feels painful to you. In Release Technique language we try to save the term pain for areas that are actually red flags, injured, should NOT be pressed on. So knowing that difference, you switch the narrative to have found a spot that feels challenging and deeply sensational. If you can’t relax into the spot, your roller is too firm and your tissues won’t be able to accept the pressure. But if you can relax into the spot, you’ll use your breath to accept the pressure and convince your tissues to soften.
Every inhale is a preparation to relax, and with every exhale, you convince your system to accept the pressure. When you accept the pressure, your nervous system begins to change. It begins to build neural pathways to move toward softer tissues as a new normal, and communicates this change between your brain and your body. NEAT, RIGHT?? It’s not that you are rolling, it’s how you are rolling that makes all the difference.
So with that in mind, here is the QUADRICEP RELEASE. I put this in all caps because it is SENSATIONAL. Deeply effective and transformative.
You think you know how to roll the quads, but if we haven’t done it together, then you don’t. Rolling the quadriceps hits a sort-of posture reset button in an unexpected way. When your quads are tight (usually in this context from a lot of sitting) their tension will pull the pelvis into an anterior tilt (pictured above). When the pelvis is positioned in an anterior tilt, your torso shifts forward but to prevent you from looking at the ground, your back needs to come into an extension in order to keep you upright. This is a sitch where the back was never the problem, but it sure does become the symptom.
More techniques and full, 30-60 minute classes on my Patreon. The more of a habit you have of romancing your nervous system, the more romanced your nervous system is on the regular. I recommend rolling with me once a week!
Until next time!
Maggie you are so generous.
There is so much work to do with so little. What an incredible infrastructure we inhabit, thanks for sharing your knowledge and care.