For dancers, we know that passive flexibility is critical to getting into extraordinary shapes. But we want the gap between passive flexibility and active mobility to be as small as possible. That's what great about PAILs and RAILs: we can work both passive range of motion AND active mobility/strength.
Read MoreCat/cow is a classic yoga movement wherein a person moves through spinal flexion (think of an angry or scared cat) and spinal extension (belly hangs low, like a cow). Hypermobile people who are attracted to things like yoga and ballet can easily get into impressive-looking cat/cow postures. But the problem is, they almost certainly shouldn’t be trying to exploit all of that range of motion on a yoga mat. Understand the distinction I’m making here: onstage, dancers need to do what they need to do. But in a yoga studio or strength training facility or on a Pilates reformer, their coach or teacher needs to make sure that they are staying within a safe range of motion.
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