Prepare your Body to return to Class/Studio with the...
Practice of Pandiculation.
Pandiculation is defined simply as the act of stretching oneself.
There is a natural inclination toward this instinct to yawn and stretch upon waking.
If you have ever woken in the morning, yawned and stretched out your arms, you have experienced pandiculation.
This is a universal phenomenon, animals are prone to pandiculation too.
Our automatic pandicular response has far more significance though than simply prompting us to stretch and yawn.
By following your own bodies instincts to stretch in authentic ways (rather than instructed ways of stretching), you are responding to the wisdom of your own body knowing what it needs and where it needs to release.
Very often a vocal response arises and should we allow this, we are allowing our bodies another level of healthy expression for release.
Pandiculating at night relaxes the body and mind, making it easier to fall asleep.
First thing in the morning Pandiculation safely brings tone back to the muscles,
gently stimulates the fluid body, releases endorphins and activates the vagus nerve.
This sensing, feeling approach to stretching also offers a path back to the original,
innate resting state and position of our muscles.
When we are able soon to gather again for Pilates we will be well rested, released and
ready in body, mind and breath.