Sharon Friedman – Vigilance and Tranquility

A very good way to relax and align the upper torso is to use a simple door frame. Stand at an arm’s length from it and place your fists at shoulder level. Now slowly lean into it keeping your head from bending and relaxing your shoulder blades and torso. Rise and raise your fists a bit and repeat till you cannot anymore. Change the angle of your fists (thumbs pointing down, inward, up, to the sides) and repeat the drill.

Remember to keep your breath continuous so the tension moves naturally out of you and to keep your eyes relaxed so the head remains where it should be, between your shoulders and as a natural line with the spine.

Let the exhale lead most of the forward opening movement so the relaxation will be greater and your rib cage will open as well.

Keep your feet relaxed and flat on the ground and use the knees and hips to navigate this way.

At the end do a few reverse movements where you lean from within the door frame back to feel if you moved more than you wanted to and to let the density built in the extra shoulders move in the body and return to where it should be.