This is a great exercise to really get the spine moving, creating space and freedom of movement. A lovely exercise to use as a warm up or cool down.
Starting Position: Have the students kneel at the back of the mat with the ball in front, placing the hands on it.
Steps:
- They will ripple through the spine in a wave-like motion, curving down and extending to return.
- Repeat 3 times.
- Have the students extend one leg behind, tucking the toes.
- Repeat the ripple, bending the knee as the spine rolls down and extending it as the spine returns.
- Repeat 3 times.
- They will bing the knee in and switch legs to repeat.
- The students will return to the starting position and repeat the full sequence, reversing the spinal motion: begin with the extension and return with the curve.
- They will extend one leg to the side.
- Have the students roll forward, lengthening through the spine. Return.
- Repeat on the other side.
- They will sit on the mat with the legs open in second.
- The students will roll the ball forward, lengthening the spine. Return.
- They will then roll the ball to one side, return and repeat to the other side.
- The student will roll the ball forward to the centre to finish.