I recently received a thoughtful comment regarding Neutral Pelvis and primary hip flexor disparity/disruption.  My response is listed below. 

Question:  One pitfall I found with "neutral pelvis": I used to try to find the perfect position. I now pay more attention to moving around the range of neutral pelvis -- especially when I'm looking when sitting. One recent thing I've found: when I'm not in neutral pelvis when sitting, I often have my hip flexor muscles being grabby. Playing around with neutral pelvis will relax those muscles and allow the deeper ones to support my position/posture.

My Response:  I agree with you completely!  Neutral pelvis is a challenge to achieve due to the primary hip flexors (iliacus and psoas major) wreaking havoc on the pelvis placement.  Learning how to allow the body to release the hip flexors when lying on your back (supine) with knees bent, or fully extended can be a challenge.  Often the hip flexors take over giat function due to postural dysfunctions, and have a very hard time releasing to truly allow for neutral pelvis and neutral spine to occur.

The best tool I have found to address this is with the Egoscue Method.  The exercise which addresses "grabby" hip flexors is called Supine Groin Progressive.  It is best performed in a piece of equipment called the tower, but can also be performed using blocks/benches or your stairs.

 

Here's a video link to lean more:

 

http://www.therapyzone.com/video/EgoscueTowervid.wmv

 

Once the primary hip flexor disparity has been addressed with this method, neutral pelvis as described in the Pilates method is easily achievable.  To me, posture alignment therapy is like the base or foundational layer of postural awareness training that pilates is based and builds off of.

The Supine Grone Progressive in Tower exercise can take time, but it is well worth investing in.  For best results, contact a certified Posture Alignment Specialist in the Egoscue Method affiliate.  To locate the certified affiliate or clinic nearest you please visit: 

www.egoscue.com

 

I hope you've found the information helpful.  Please contact me with questions/further discussion.  I'd love to hear from you!
 

Peace and health,

 

Deb Preachuk

www.pilatesintegration.com

www.painfreeposturemn.com