Cleopatra

Plane of Motion

Coronal & Transverse

Spring Setting

Medium / Light

1 Light Spring or

1 Medium Spring or

1 Medium & 1 Light Spring

Muscle Focus

Spinal Rotators

External Oblique (opposite side), Internal Oblique (same side), Erector Spinae (same side), Semispinalis (opposite side), Deep Posterior Spinal Group (opposite side)

Rotates the spine toward and away from the floor as the carriage is pressed out and in.

Spinal Lateral Flexors

External Oblique (same side), Internal Oblique (same side), Quadratus Lumborum (same side), Erector Spinae (same side), Semispinalis (same side), Deep Posterior Spinal Group (same side), Rectus Abdominis (same side), Iliopsoas (same side)

Assists the shoulder and scapular muscles to press the carriage away.
Side bends the trunk and resists the bottom side from collapsing toward the floor.
The underside will feel a stretch.

Shoulder Abductors

Supraspinatus, Middle Deltoid, Pectoralis Major

Presses the carriage away with assistance from the scapular upward rotators & scapular depressors.

Scapular Upward Rotators

Serratus Anterior, Trapezius

Swing the bottom tips of the scapulae away from each other to allow for overhead reach as the carriage is pressed out.

Scapular Depressors

Lower Trapezius, Serratus Anterior, Latissimus Dorsi, Pectoralis Minor

Keep the shoulders down away from the ears, especially as the carriage is pressed out.

Other Muscles at Play

Anterior & posterior spinal stabilizers provide lumbo-pelvic and spinal stabilization.
Elbow extensors straighten the arm and assist the shoulder and scapular muscles to push the carriage away.

Objectives

Stretch and strengthen the sides of the torso.
Enhance your connection to the breath by releasing all the air from the lungs while twisting to gain full engagement through the trunk and core.
Enhance the mobilization of the intercostals and ribs.
Enhance mobility of the cervical spine.
Focus on breathing to synchronize the movement.