| Hips: Horizontal hip figure 8 (forward) |
Begin in basic
stance:
Your feet
are positioned directly under your hip bones, parallel to each other, and your
weight is centered and distributed evenly over both soles. Your knees are slightly bent (soft),
and your pelvis is tucked slightly under (pubic bone toward the navel) in the neutral
position. Your ribcage is pulled up out of your waist; your shoulder
blades are pulled together and slightly down the spine. Your neck is long, in
extension of your spine.
Keeping your upper body lined up above your ankles and your chest
facing forwards, twist
your right hip back (if you are facing 12 o'clock, your right hip is pointing
at 4 o'clock). Slide
your right hip diagonally back towards 4 o'clock, then twist
the right hip forward to 2 o'clock. Slide
your left hip diagonally back towards 8 o'clock, then twist
the left hip forward to 10 o'clock. Repeat, drawing a figure 8 parallel to the
ground. Your
upper body should remain as still and separated as possible, and your hips should stay in the horizontal plane throughout the movement.
You can also do horizontal figure 8s to the
back.
Hip
figure 8 (forward) walk:
As your right hip twists
and slides
back to 4 o'clock, your weight shifts to your right foot. As your right hip twists
forward to 2 o'clock, your left foot takes a small step forwards (or backwards).
Then your left hip slides
diagonally back to 8 o'clock and your weight shifts to the left foot. Your left hip
swings forward, the right foot moves forward, and your weight shifts to the right
again as the right hip slides
diagonally
back
to 4 o'clock. Hold your
upper body still and keep the figure 8s horizontal (parallel to the floor).