TENDONS & Ligaments
The tendons join your muscles to your bones, and the ligaments join one bone to another. Together they create a connective body system of muscle and bone that facilitates movement. Keeping the tendons and ligaments in good condition will support easeful movement.
Focus: Increasing flexibility, strength, and range of motion.
Experience 1: Reaching and Extending:
Extending an arm, hand and fingers up and into space, like the point of a star. Regardless of how far you reach feel the ligaments between the bones extending to enable the movement.
Repeat with each limb, slowly opening out and finding the spaciousness between the bones.
As the muscles work to support the extension be aware of the tendons stretching.
Where do the tendons that support this stretch begin?
How far can you comfortably reach Can you feel the subtle pull within your arm, as if creating more space between your joints?
Experience 2: Whole-Body Star
Single Limb Extension:
Start by extending one arm, feeling the pull of the tendons as you reach.
Then, extend the leg on the same side, feeling the stretch in the leg.
Repeat with the other arm and leg.
Diagonal Extension:
Extend one arm and the opposite leg, feeling the connection between the two sides of the body.
Repeat with the other arm and leg.
Full Body Star:
Extend all four limbs, creating a star shape.
Hold this position, focusing on the feeling of extension and connection.
Flowing Movement:
Slowly move between extended and relaxed positions.
Experiment with different rhythms and speeds.
Exploring Variations:
Try combining opposite limbs (e.g., right arm and left leg).
Explore different angles and positions.
Slowly extend and retract several times, flowing between a stretched position and a relaxed one.
Can you feel your body expanding out like a star, with tendons and ligaments creating a web of connection and strength?