--- Mario <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I would like to ask if there is any exercise that > > a lead can perform alone that would help develop > > balance and axis to avoid the above problem?
Hello Mario, I find that balance and axis are largely influenced by grounding. Grounding can be looked at as sending all of your weight to the floor and connecting with the floor. It's one of the more difficult concepts to feel kinesthetically (for me, anyway). You can use basic torso stretching exercises to get a feel for it. Stand with legs comfortably apart. 1.) Stretch your left arm up and over your head, reaching for the wall to your right. (Don't collapse your right side). 2.)Do the same for the right arm reaching over your head toward the left wall. 3.) Now, open your arms out from your sides (as if reaching for the left and right walls) and twist your torso from one side and to the other while keeping your hips and legs still. Do these exercises for about 10-15 minutes. Then sense the difference in how your torso and how your legs feel. Your torso should feel stretched out and loose. Your legs, however, should feel heavier. That's grounding, which is going to help your balance. As your upper torso moved around, your legs and feet began using muscles to keep you from toppling over. Guess what? That's the same feeling you want in tango (lightness in torso, heaviness in the standing leg). So pay attention to what your legs and feet naturally did to stay balanced and grounded and do the same when you walk. Similar stretching exercises will also work as long as your lower body tries to stay still. Hope this helps. Trini de Pittsburgh PATangoS - Pittsburgh Argentine Tango Society Our Mission: To make Argentine Tango Pittsburghs most popular social dance! http://patangos.home.comcast.net/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping _______________________________________________ Tango-L mailing list Tango-L@mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l