…With Franklin Balls
Ball rolling is not a new phenomena however it is not widely known. It was initially practised by Elsa Grinder (1885-1961) whose work has been continued over the years by some really forward thinking people. More recently it has been developed further and integrated into the Franklin Method by Eric Franklin for the last 20+ years.
By learning about the structure of your body and how it is meant to move you can aid your recovery through the use of ball rolling with Franklin balls. Just to work on strength and endurance of an area will not create your recovery it will potentially only entrench the imbalances.
There are 11 main principles of Franklin ball rolling and how it could help you:
1. Franklin ball rolling will allow you to sense the areas of tension in your body and can reach areas that are out of reach to you. By sensing the tension that may be causing you to use more effort than needing and identifying it you can then ease them away using Franklin balls.
2. Ball exercises help you to discover your movement patterns. From there you can work towards creating balance.
3. By using Franklin balls when you are lying, standing or sitting on the floor you can create more movement by using the ball as a ball bearing/pivot.
4. Our bodies are full of proprioceptors which send back messages to our brain regarding where we are/what we are in contact with. It is through proprioceptors that you can close your eyes and still touch your nose with your fingers. By using a Franklin ball and the pressure of it on your body your proprioceptors are awakened and you can guide your body in a much clearer way.
5. This is a good one. Franklin ball rolling is a form of massage. Franklin balls come with different textures, sizes and densities. In addition by adding more or less of your body weight you can dictate how strong or gentle a massage you receive.
6. Perform exercises slowly so that you become aware of your areas of tension.
7. Ball rolling should always be comfortable you may feel some pain as you roll over an area of tension however it should be a ‘good pain’ which is one that results in the release of tension and becomes more comfortable.
8. Breath calmly and slowly at all times to help release tension. It can be tempting to hold your breath when an area is uncomfortable resist this urge even if you need to make a noise whether that be ‘owwww’ or ‘ooh’ this will help the tension to melt away.
9. Never use a Franklin ball on a recent/acute injury. If you are unsure if ball rolling is right for your injury check with a specialist first. You should never feel sharp pains, allow your injury to heal first. It is OK to use the balls near to but never on the area of your injury.
10. You can use Franklin balls on most areas of your body. Keep them moving and cover a lot of areas or you can just focus on one even a few minutes can reap great results with a little focus.
11.When you have finished just take a moment to notice how your body is feeling. It will help improvements to integrate. Notice any areas that feel more relaxed and flexible, does your posture feel better? Even sit down, stand up have a short walk and observe the insights you have noticed with the changes in your body.
The Franklin ball method is extremely beneficial indeed. If this has whetted your appetite to finding out more there are a range of books available to help you use Franklin balls in the right way for:
Releasing tension in your feet. – Perfect if you suffer with Plantar Fascitis
Releasing tension in your shoulders, neck and upper back.
Releasing the Psoas (a lower back muscle) and integrating your core.
Fascial Release and Balance – Franklin Method Ball and Imagery Exercises
Happy reading and rolling 🙂
