I had the pleasure of working with two Racey Women at MovementU New Jersey. With permission, I'm forwarding an article that appeared in their latest newsletter, written by Mary Sue Henifin about what she's experienced since attending MovementU. Go Mary Sue!!!
How I Learned to Stand Up For Myself and Stop Slumping
As a life long slumper, I skulked around, with terrible posture, belly sticking out, shoulders forward, stiff neck, feeling cramped and out of sorts -- a weak way to face athletic endeavors let alone the trials and tribulations of daily life. I was terrified when I signed up for Jessi Stensland's Movement U workshop -- afraid that I would not be able to keep up with highly trained participants, but I had a great time, and was inspired to commit myself to changing my posture to a position of core strength whether I am training, at work, or any place else. Jessi taught us what she calls the pillar -- pull belly button in, pull down ribs in front, lift up through the head, engage the lats and initiate movement from the glutes. It feels totally different. Try running by locking in your pillar, and taking each stride by activating the glutes. The upper body stays quiet. I feel faster and stronger, with more endurance.
Stensland starts her Movement U workshop by explaining that developing core strength is essential to all athletic endeavors -- including proper positions for the swim, bike, and run during triathlons. She teaches exercises to strengthen the body's "pillar" for "prehab" to prevent injury, and to allow peak performance. During the workshop we learned to "lock in" our pillar strength before swimming, biking or running. To properly do so, many of us need to work on upper spine flexibility, that gets in the way of utilizing proper posture during swim/bike. We practiced running barefoot on turf at the workshop, which leads naturally to proper foot placement. This was really fun -- I haven't run barefoot since I was a child.
Participants in the Movement U workshop were at every level -- beginner to serious triathlete. As a 55 year old woman I am just beginning to take myself seriously as an athlete in training, and I felt totally welcomed as I talked to everyone in the group. My journey has been slow, starting with lifting weights, then two years ago training to walk a half marathon, and then this year training to climb Mt. St. Helens, and participate in two sprint triathlons. As part of the process I have lost 70 pounds, and found a great group of women to train with through Racey Women. Now I want to train to run a 1/2 marathon and improve my performance in a sprint triathlon next year. Key to this is strengthening my core -- my pillar. All of this has changed my outlook on life. I see myself as a woman athlete -- I may not be that fast, but I am strong, and I can improve as I train. I am inspired by those around me, and I try to help those who are newer to training than I am.
At Jessi's workshop I learned that I always need to start with my posture -- no more excuses. Since the workshop, I have been practicing applying pillar strength -- while running 4 miles on Sunday, while at my spin class, swimming, during yoga, when I lay in bed at night before going to sleep. After the weekend, I e-mailed Jessi, "Everything really great! Very inspiring class. Really changed my attitude -- just do it (stop slumping) but be patient, because the changes could take me a longtime." She responded -- "be patient but not too patient."
Stensland starts her Movement U workshop by explaining that developing core strength is essential to all athletic endeavors -- including proper positions for the swim, bike, and run during triathlons. She teaches exercises to strengthen the body's "pillar" for "prehab" to prevent injury, and to allow peak performance. During the workshop we learned to "lock in" our pillar strength before swimming, biking or running. To properly do so, many of us need to work on upper spine flexibility, that gets in the way of utilizing proper posture during swim/bike. We practiced running barefoot on turf at the workshop, which leads naturally to proper foot placement. This was really fun -- I haven't run barefoot since I was a child.
Participants in the Movement U workshop were at every level -- beginner to serious triathlete. As a 55 year old woman I am just beginning to take myself seriously as an athlete in training, and I felt totally welcomed as I talked to everyone in the group. My journey has been slow, starting with lifting weights, then two years ago training to walk a half marathon, and then this year training to climb Mt. St. Helens, and participate in two sprint triathlons. As part of the process I have lost 70 pounds, and found a great group of women to train with through Racey Women. Now I want to train to run a 1/2 marathon and improve my performance in a sprint triathlon next year. Key to this is strengthening my core -- my pillar. All of this has changed my outlook on life. I see myself as a woman athlete -- I may not be that fast, but I am strong, and I can improve as I train. I am inspired by those around me, and I try to help those who are newer to training than I am.
At Jessi's workshop I learned that I always need to start with my posture -- no more excuses. Since the workshop, I have been practicing applying pillar strength -- while running 4 miles on Sunday, while at my spin class, swimming, during yoga, when I lay in bed at night before going to sleep. After the weekend, I e-mailed Jessi, "Everything really great! Very inspiring class. Really changed my attitude -- just do it (stop slumping) but be patient, because the changes could take me a longtime." She responded -- "be patient but not too patient."
