POSTURE

First in a series of achieving a better lifestyle

My positive life experience is through an exercise and dance programme that is a fusion of movement and breathing at a level of discipline that feels comfortable for ongoing mental and physical fitness.

This discipline is over 100 years old.

It is called MMM (Margaret Morris Method).

I’m starting with posture. Posture is achieved by correct alignment. Keeping the body parts in alignment begins with correct walking and progresses to more advanced movements. The parts that give the body core strength are the big muscles and joints that are aligned from the top of the head to the tip of the toes.

A youtube video from the past shows MMM leading the way in correct posture and movement.

Margaret Morris 1938

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZPFifDkQFI

I came to MMM after a few years of learning hatha yoga in the early 1970s. This yoga focuses on breathing, stretching, strengthening and balancing. I took these skills from yoga to the first MMM class I attended

and I experienced a positive feedback loop, especially when  learning elementary balances in MMM. I found I could participate at a level of personal satisfaction that motivated me to continue so I returned to MMM classes year after year. When I was working full time I attended an evening class in the middle of the week that renewed my energy level making it easier for me to finish the work week. When I was not working full time I attended classes in the morning or afternoon, whatever fit my personal schedule. These were halcyon days. Many classes were offered and supported either through municipal government departments or subsidized by cheap rents through local churches. Those days are gone but I continue to pursue MMM whenever I can because my body remembers the positive effects of this healthy lifestyle.