When I am doing downward miahs...am I suppose to be using my feet to lift up my hips...or my stomach mucsles??
And I sometimes get a slight pain on the top of my left side leg. Not sure of the mucsle I am talking about. Any suggestions to stop the pain??
And I sometimes get a slight pain on the top of my left side leg. Not sure of the mucsle I am talking about. Any suggestions to stop the pain??
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Alaska
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Re: Downward Miahs (SP) ??
Thu, March 6, 2008 - 7:42 PMideally you should use your obliques (side stomach muscles) to drive the up-to-down vertical figure 8s ("downward mayas"). try not doing them so big?
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Re: Downward Miahs (SP) ??
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 6:26 AMDepends on whether you're doing cabaret style or ATS style. (from my understanding) Cabaret style lifts the heel, ATS does not.
Both should be driven by the oblique muscles, but cabaret style gets some "assistance" from lifting the heel. -
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Re: Downward Miahs (SP) ??
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 7:13 AMHmmm...I do 'cabaret' style, and I would say you *don't* lift the heel - unless you are consciously trying to enlarge the movement / give it some extra emphasis. I would focus on getting move done on flat feet first, and then see how you can modify it's 'feel' by lifting the heels.
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Re: Downward Miahs (SP) ??
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 7:55 AMI agree with Deelybopper. As a cabaret-trained dancer, I learned to do vertical 8's flat-footed and entirely oblique-based. Lifting the hell is a stylistic extra to add more oomph to the move if the dancer wants it.
For the record, I actually had a hard time when I tried out a FatChance class at Carolena's studio because she wanted more (flat-footed) knee involvement in the 8 and I wasn't used to using anything but my obliques. -
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Re: Downward Miahs (SP) ??
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 9:35 AMThank you! I do mainly cabaret style...Maby I was doing them to big becuase all night at work my side was hurting. Any good stretch for that one mucsle? Top left side leg?
Another ??? it's probably just practice practice pracitce but...I have a hard time doing upward maya's that is why I normally just stick with the downward. Any suggestions from anyone. And that you about the flat feel, I will try to just work on my obliques more.
~Liana -
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Re: Downward Miahs (SP) ??
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 10:01 AMA couple of stretch suggestions:
"Cleopatra stretch" – stand on the left leg, step your right foot behind and to the left of your left foot (where it's comfortable and balanced), and bend your top half to the left. Should stretch the entire right side from your armpit to your hip. Definitely hits the obliques. (I've seen it flatfooted and with the right foot on its side) The important thing is for your left leg to be holding most of your weight and your right there for balance.
"Pretzel" – sit with left leg bent in front of you, knee to the floor. Keeping sit bones on the floor, "step" your right foot over your left leg, keeping the knee up off the floor. (Try to put the foot flat, but don't hurt yourself.) Twist your upper body toward the right hip. You can use your hands on the floor to accentuate the twist, re-position your knees until you feel a stretch.
These may not hit the exact point you need to stretch. You can also try the Yoga Triangle to see if that hits it. I had a spot a couple years ago that I could not stretch no matter what. Lots of things got close but nothing actually hit the right spot. For that, you just have to massage it. Knuckles work well.
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Re: Downward Miahs (SP) ??
Sat, March 8, 2008 - 2:11 PMI have also been told by my teachers not to lift the heel to get the motion. I have been taught to use my knees and my obliques.
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Re: Downward Miahs (SP) ??
Tue, March 18, 2008 - 11:02 AMHi- what really has helped me with this move is the use of a good bend in both knees to start off with - that gives you good stability and balance to begin with. Unless your traveling with the move, keep your feet firmly planted- they give you a good firm plant to the floor. At that point you can use your lat abs to draw give you the strength for the movement. Try going ultra slow- like agonizingly slow and practice drawing the hip up and in then -out and down (try to visualize it in your head as you go) - sort of a lateral scooping motion. Then go faster. Soon your muscle memory will kick in. I practiced daily in front of a mirror. And you will feel some soreness due to the muscles you use. This was one of the hardest moves for me at first- now its one of my favorites!
Keep trying you will get it! -
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Re: Downward Miahs (SP) ??
Tue, March 18, 2008 - 2:21 PMi just re-read this, hmm maybe the motion is more of a drawing the moving hip into and up with abdominal muscles (towards the body) and then out and away from your body as your hip goes down towards the floor - more of rounded movement or stretch if you will- if that makes any sense? the plie (bend) will help you get more range of movement but that will also increase with your confidence as well....
boy- this is hard to explain! =)
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Re: Downward Miahs (SP) ??
Wed, June 4, 2008 - 8:29 AMThe teachers I have danced with always taught to keep the heels down. It takes a lot of practice to be able to do figure eights without lifting the heels, but it looks much better, IMO, and takes more skill. You can learn to use your oblique muscles to do it. I think it just depends on the style of the dance, and on the teacher. But in my experience, it seems that most teachers (or at least the ones I have danced with) tell you to keep the feet flat.
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Re: Downward Miahs (SP) ??
Wed, June 4, 2008 - 8:36 AMI was also going to mention that any pain you get that doesn't go away with stretching and practice should be evaluated by a doctor, IMO. There could be exercises that a PT could give you to stretch and strengthen the area. Also, have a teacher check to make sure that you are doing the movement correctly, and not in a way that could be harmful. A now well-known dancer once told me that she herniated a disc in her back once because her position wasn't correct (I think she must have been arching her back, rather than keeping her tail tucked). So, I don't think it ever hurts to have a doc check you out if you're having constant pain from something. I have done that myself when I was unsure.
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Re: Downward Miahs (SP) ??
Wed, June 4, 2008 - 12:58 PMwhen i was taking cab. class this semester we were taught to learn it flat footed, and then, after you have it down pat, you can lift your heels for a variation if you're moved to, but when you lift you're muscle memory will still be driving it from your core, and your legs will be coming along for the ride as you make it bigger or level up.
