| Hips: Pelvic roll |
| Also called: Cradle step |
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.
Push
your pelvis slightly forward (over your toes), being careful to keep your hips in the neutral position.
Gently contract your abdominal and gluteus muscles to increase the
slight tuck of the neutral
position to a stronger pelvic
tuck, then pull
your pelvis back (over your heels), contracting your abdominal muscles to help keep the
hips strongly tucked.
Release the pelvic
tuck and allow your pelvis to drop only as far as the neutral
position. Smooth these four points into a
vertical circle (or roll) that runs parallel to the walls at your sides. Your upper body should
remain as still and separated as possible.
Cradle
step:
From the basic
stance, shift your weight to your left leg
and take a small non-weighted step forward with your right foot. Your
pelvis pushes
forward in the neutral
position and shifts your weight over
your right foot. As you begin the stronger pelvic
tuck and the pull
back, your hips pull your left leg forward,
and as your hips release
and drop to neutral
position,
your left foot sets down to a non-weighted
step. Your pelvis pushes
forward in the neutral
position and shifts your weight over
your left foot, then your pelvis tucks
and pulls
your hips back, pulling your right leg forward. As your hips release,
your right foot sets down to a non-weighted
step.