Mr Gold,
My name is Mark Serlin, and I purchased your cat stretch and supercat stretch audio DVD’s a while ago.
I have always been somewhat athletically inclined, but have also suffered from bad posture and other biomechanical issues such as minor scoliosis, an acquired limb length difference, excessive pronation, a head forward position, and rounded shoulders. There are probably more issues I am not even aware of, but those are the ones I know.
While none of the above alone would be classified as “meaningful” by traditional medicine, it seemed likely to me that the combination was having more of an impact on me the older I got. I am 46 years old.
A friend of mine who is an athletic trainer noted all these biomechanical issues, and suggested that Somatics training might help.
These issues were made particularly evident in the exercises for the “back of the body” and “sides of the trunk”. The exercise that has you lift your foot while keeping your thighs together was particularly interesting, as my oblique-like muscles on one side could not seem to contract.
I don’t usually do the longest versions of the exercises, but make a serious effort to do the daily cat stretch every day. I do the long version of some of the exercises when I have the time or feel the need.
The results have been impressive, as I no longer find myself looking at my feet, and no longer need a lift in one of my shoes.
The results were also seen in a striking way the other day while I was waiting in line at the post office. Before the Somatics training, I found it difficult to stand in one place for an extended period of time without fidgeting and constantly re-adjusting my position.
The other day at the post office, I noticed that I was standing up straight, evenly balanced on both feet, for about 20 minutes without feeling the need to fidget and readjust my position.
I have to admit that I sometimes experiment with the positions, but always finish doing them the official right way.
For example, I have tried being on my stomach and not my back for some of the exercises, and I sometimes modify the pelvic tilts by lifting both feet (or 1 foot) off the ground and pushing against my thighs with my hands to really arch my lower back.
Lastly, I would like to thank you for being so nice about answering all my technique questions.
I know it may sound strange, but the results that I have gotten by doing these exercises have changed my life. In my case, the improvements the exercises have had on my posture really have reversed one of the most common signs of aging.
Thanks again, and if you are ever in the New York City/Connecticut area I would be honored to meet you in person.
Mark Serlin
Norwalk Ct.
