| Hips: Vertical hip figure 8 (up) |
| Also called: Cobra, Hip sway, Under 8, Hip arcs, Butterfly |
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 pelvis carefully tucked under in the neutral
position
throughout the move, lift
your right hip by slightly straightening your right leg. Then slide
your hips horizontally to the left. Lift
your left hip by slightly straightening your left leg, and slide
your hips horizontally to the right. There is no forward twist - your hip bones
draw a figure 8 parallel to the wall in front of you. Your
upper body should remain as still and separated as possible (there are
variations which have the upper body moving side-to-side as well). Your feet
remain flat on the floor throughout - or, in a variation, you can lift your
heels to maximize the movement of the hip lifts.
You can also do vertical figure 8s down.
Hip
figure 8 (up) walk:
As
you lift your right hip,
your weight is on your right foot, and your left foot can take a tiny step
forwards (or backwards). As you slide
your hips to the left and lift
your left hip, your weight shifts to your left foot. Your hip bones draw a
figure 8 parallel to the wall in front of you. Your pelvis should be kept in neutral
position throughout the movement.