What Argentine Tango Taught Me About My Hips
One of many wise things my tango teacher Sergio Segura @strictlytangonyc says is “Tango is simple things done perfectly.
My goal in tango is to bring ease to my dancing. Once I’m able to master those simple things, I know that will happen.
Illuminate me…
I love this because it applies to the building blocks of all movement. For instance if your hips aren’t moving with ease. How are they going to support other, more complex movement in the body?
For ease you need strength as well as mobility. If you don’t have the strength to support the movement your body knows it.
Gaining strength and the confidence of support brings ease and greater mobility to your movement. For hip health this is essential to help manage things like going up and down stairs or when you’re walking and encounter an unexpected obstacle.
Try it.
Stand on a block with your left foot.
Swing your right leg forward and back from the hip. Try to keep the pelvis stable and not tipping forward or backwards or shifting to one side.
Now circle it around. Again, try not to move the pelvis.
Notice how much range of motion you have and how challenging it is to keep the pelvis still.
Now, come to the ground, lying on your back.
Take a couple of breaths to acclimate your body to the floor.
Place your hands on your hip points.
Lift your right leg into tabletop and bring it back down. Go slowly. Keep your pelvis still – no rocking from side to side or moving up or down.
Do this 20 times on the right side, then 20 times on the left side.
Focus on the stability of the pelvis.
Now, do the first exercise again.
Is there a little more range of motion?
Is there a little more ease in trying to keep your pelvis from moving?
Does that ease and stability let you move a little more freely?
Try it and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you.