Why you shouldn’t always tuck your tailbone.
Have you ever been told to “tuck your tailbone” during exercise or yoga practice to protect your back or engage your core? While this cue might be well-meaning, it’s often misunderstood and overused. Our latest video dives into why this isn’t always the best advice and what you should be doing instead to support your body’s natural movement.
Meet Your Guide: Understanding the Tailbone Cue As someone who practiced ballet for years, I, like many others, grew up with the "tuck your tailbone" cue drilled into me. Now, as a physiotherapist, I see many people with dysfunctions that stem from overdoing this unnatural body position. In this video, we’ll break down where this cue originated, why it’s not always appropriate, and how to develop a more nuanced approach to core and back health.
What You’ll Learn in This Video:
- The Origins of the Tailbone Cue: We’ll explore why this cue was introduced in fitness and movement practices, particularly when trying to increase glute activation under load.
- Why Tucking Isn't Always Helpful: Tucking your tailbone can actually reduce your natural lumbar curvature, which might lead to issues like incontinence, constipation, and reduced breathing capacity. Instead, maintaining a natural lumbar lordosis can benefit your pelvic floor, diaphragm, and core.
- The Importance of Reflexive Engagement: Learn why teaching your body to engage muscles naturally, rather than consciously tucking your tailbone, is a more sustainable and functional approach. We’ll discuss how reflexive engagement allows your body to activate the right amount of muscle support depending on the task.
If you’ve ever struggled with back pain or been told to tuck your tailbone as a solution, this video is for you. We’ll show you why it’s better to encourage your body to move naturally and develop reflexive engagement, which will help you feel more at ease and supported throughout your day. Understanding this can make a world of difference for your lower back health and overall well-being.
Functional Movement for a Healthy Back The key takeaway from this video is that your body knows best. Instead of rigidly following blanket cues, learn how to trust your body’s ability to move and engage muscles naturally. We also touch on how tucking and releasing your tailbone in various functional movements can help you build a better relationship with your body.
Watch the Full Video Now! Ready to learn more? Watch the full video on why you shouldn’t always tuck your tailbone and how to support your body’s natural movements. It’s packed with valuable insights to help you move more freely and reduce back pain.
Click here to watch the video on the Alba Yoga Academy website now!
Stay Connected for More If you found this video helpful, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel! We’re planning to release a class specifically designed to help with lower back pain, so be sure to stay tuned. And as always, we’d love to hear from you—leave a comment sharing your experiences and let us know what other topics you’d like us to cover.
Thank you for watching, and we hope this helps you move and live better!