BODY MECHANICS
Proper body mechanics for Sarga Bodywork practitioners is essential for career longevity and avoiding injury. Every modality has its weak points because of repetitive strain and/or inappropriate alignment during moments of increased tension and administered pressure. While practicing Sarga, you will experience ideal alignment as a "sweet spot" (tensegrity), whereas the relationship between the pull on the Sarga Strap, the push of your working foot on the recipient, and these forces being transferred through your body are balanced. This is a strong yet easeful feeling. Sarga Bodywork is a dynamic practice and you will need to constantly adjust your body mechanics to find the tensegrity in your techniques. Here are some pointers:
1. When applying tension through the Sarga Strap, keep your shoulders down (engaged through the rhomboids and lower trapezius to protect neck and shoulder girdle).
2. Adjust your grip and the position of your hands on the fabric to that perfect place where you don’t need to “shrug” or elevate your shoulders. Until you can do this seamlessly, disengage with the recipient while adjusting the Sarga Strap, as your micro-movements can be disconcerting underfoot.
3. Do not engage with tension and pressure while the Sarga Strap is resting inappropriately on your cervical spine (C7). Open up the fabric and let it drape over your shoulders or cross body. Lengthen through your spine and open through your heart center and chest.
4. Adjust the bend at your elbows or knees, or the rotation of your pelvis/curve of your low back to achieve the right amount of tensional support. If you still need more support, play with the wrap of the Sarga Strap around your arms rather than shrugging your shoulders up. Placement of the Sarga proximal to your elbow rather than distally increases tensegrity. If this still doesn’t feel right, you will need to adjust the length of your Sarga Strap.
5. If a specific technique within the Sarga Bodywork protocol is causing you discomfort, reassess your posture and alignment and feel free to contact us (via Sarga Graduate Facebook Group for tips and pointers).
1. When applying tension through the Sarga Strap, keep your shoulders down (engaged through the rhomboids and lower trapezius to protect neck and shoulder girdle).
2. Adjust your grip and the position of your hands on the fabric to that perfect place where you don’t need to “shrug” or elevate your shoulders. Until you can do this seamlessly, disengage with the recipient while adjusting the Sarga Strap, as your micro-movements can be disconcerting underfoot.
3. Do not engage with tension and pressure while the Sarga Strap is resting inappropriately on your cervical spine (C7). Open up the fabric and let it drape over your shoulders or cross body. Lengthen through your spine and open through your heart center and chest.
4. Adjust the bend at your elbows or knees, or the rotation of your pelvis/curve of your low back to achieve the right amount of tensional support. If you still need more support, play with the wrap of the Sarga Strap around your arms rather than shrugging your shoulders up. Placement of the Sarga proximal to your elbow rather than distally increases tensegrity. If this still doesn’t feel right, you will need to adjust the length of your Sarga Strap.
5. If a specific technique within the Sarga Bodywork protocol is causing you discomfort, reassess your posture and alignment and feel free to contact us (via Sarga Graduate Facebook Group for tips and pointers).