HEAD SPINE JOINT

HEAD SPINE JOINT

The master or primary joint in our anatomy is the Head Spine Joint. Its anatomical name is the Atlanto Occipital Joint. (AOJ). It is right up high between your ears and behind your nose and The WHOLE head ( skull ) moves up above that joint. ( this does not include the jaw - a moving part on the skull )

The joint is a place of balance and dynamic movement.

The basis of all vertebral coordination is the head leads / moves and the spine and whole body follows.. With a leopard, dog or horse this coordination pattern is obvious. Although we too are vertebrates this pattern is largely lost in humans. We can recover this fluidity of movement by 're' learning to release the head spine joint as we go into activity.

The centre of gravity of the head is slightly forward of the balancing point - the AOJ so if we were to relax or fall asleep the head would roll forward. Strong muscles in the back of the neck counterbalance the weight of the head - problem is they can be overactive - Pulling the head back and down.

We are designed to move optimally by releasing tension rather than increasing tension.. In other words releasing the head forward and up rather than pulling it back and down as we go into movement.

Avoid trying to find a position for the head at / on the spine. Its more about movability.

The head spine joint can be sparkly and alive - a place of breath and ease.

Think... My head is balancing and 'moving' up and over the spine so that I can ........

( Do whatever you want to do )