The Early Reflexes, Righting Reactions, and Equilibrium Responses (RRR)
The Reflexes, Righting Reactions, and Equilibrium Responses (RRR) are the building blocks of human movement. Together they create effortless clarity and balance, and have a powerful influence on our lives. The reflexes are early patterns that establish our postural tone, relationship with gravity and space, and integrate the limbs with the spine. The righting reactions are important in establishing a vertical or upright posture with gravity, and a continuous head-torso axis. The equilibrium responses are patterns which maintain balance of the whole body in the dynamic relationship between the shifting of our center of weight through space, while establishing and maintaining our base of support.
The RRR lead to a fuller three-dimensional sense of self. You will find them valuable for creating integrated patterns of movement in asana practice, and expanding your knowledge of building asanas and sequences from a developmental perspective. The RRR are important in injury prevention, and ways to alleviate them when they occur. Body-Mind Centering® principles applied to yoga expand our understanding and ability to embody, through which we can create a more unified life and practice for ourselves and others.
THE EARLY REFLEXES establish our postural tone, relationship with gravity and space, integrate the spine, and the relationships between the limbs and spine. Some of the aspects of the early reflexes we will explore are: Whole body tone, physiological flexion and extension; head neck integration; tail head integration; thoracic mobility; lumbar and tail mobility; relationships between the head and the body; relationships between the pelvis and chest.
THE RIGHTING REACTIONS are more advanced patterns of movement that bring the head into vertical orientation in space, bring the head and torso into alignment with each other, and create a head to tail axis. Some of the aspects of the righting reactions we will explore are: Vertical uprightness, integrated head to tail axis, and rotation.
THE EQUILIBRIUM RESPONSES are patterns which maintain balance of the whole body in the dynamic relationship between the shifting of our center of weight through space, while establishing and maintaining our base of support. Some of the aspects of the equilibrium responses we will explore are: Gravity, equilibrium and balance; creating a supportive base under the center of the body; spatial orientation, and spatial support.
Exploring the RRR patterns of movement will bring clarity, effortlessness, balance, and equilibrium to your yoga practice. Classes will explore:
- Symmetry and asymmetry
- Spinal movement and extremity movement
- Sequencing from center to periphery and periphery to center
- Support proceeds movement
- Mobility underlying stability, and stability underlying mobility
- Initiation, sequence, and resolution
- The spatial aspects of movementAttention, intention, and action