Recently had the pleasure once again, of spending some time with Bruce Hildebrand in Franklin Method mode. This time rotations and ultimate abdominals. I wanted to share one of the things he worked through with us.
When it comes to working the abs, he talks about the lower TA and the upper TA in separate actions, based on the movements of the ribs and pelvis during trunk flexion, lotsa that in Pilates.
Scenario is client moves into cervical nod and trunk flexion – shortening of upper TA fibres, as ribs knit in, aided by the exhalation. Due to the natural bony rhythms of the breath, as the ribs knit and the upper TA concentrically works, the pelvic bones are sliding apart . Therefore, the lower TA fibres are eccentrically working. Plus, sitz bones sliding together in synch with ribs, feel this for yourself. I personally find these cues and ideas really helpful when the going gets tough, with the advanced type repertoire.
Cues for your client -
During exhalation, your ribs fall together and knit whilst your hip bones are coming apart, hands on the ASIS and feel it. Practice this for a while to connect with the bony rhythms of the body.
