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From:  "Cynthia Donnell" <csdonnell@m...>
Date:  Sat Sep 2, 2000  3:37 am
Subject:  Re: [vocalist-temporary] Rib Cage Expansion

Leslie,
My experience and that of my students is that if the ribcage is held too high or hyper-extended it will be impossible to sustain the position.  The sense of poise of the ribcage created by work with an Alexander teacher is about right for me.  I can easily find it and sustain it by putting about 60% of my weight into my heels, softening the knees, and lengthening upward through the spine.  I use Meribeth Bunch's "landmarks" to define the correct alignment: If one could drop a plumb line from the top of the skull through the body, from the side we would see the line pass through the external auditory meatus,  the acromion,  the highest point of the iliac crest, the knee, and the ankle and arch of the foot.  This works only with the 60% weight shift into the heels.  As more weight is shifted into the forefoot the the back begins to sway, chest lifts, abs tighten, etc. and the poised lift and openness of the ribcage is lost.
 
Cheers,
Cindy Donnell

I am having trouble keeping my rib cage expanded.  My inhalation is good-I
get good lateral expansion of the ribs.  However, they tend to go down a
little (not really too much) at the onset of tone.  I try not to  "stuff" my
lungs.  Any suggestions/exercises that would be helpful here? 

snip Any comments?

Leslie

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