Kathleen Porter is the director of the Center for Natural Alignment in Portland, Oregon. She offers programs for people with posture-related pain and for children and teachers in classrooms. She has taught principles of natural alignment at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon, and the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

Foreword by Peggy O’Mara, former publisher of Mothering magazine

Acknowledgments

Introduction. Finding and Teaching Natural Alignment

How to Use This Book

Part 1

Understanding the Principles of Natural Alignment
Recognizing an Overlooked Epidemic

1 Facing an Ever-Growing Epidemic

2 Physics and the Body

3 The Body in Action

4 Humans as Creatures of the Earth

5 The Physical Disempowerment of Babies

6 Healthy Babies, Healthy Feet

7 Our Lifetime Home

8 Building Healthy Habits at Home

9 Outdoor Play, Physical Education, and Sports

10 Natural Alignment in the Classroom

11 A Few Thoughts Going Forward

Part 2
Healthy Posture
Guidelines for Children and Their Adults Our Bodies Are Connected to the Earth Your Skeleton Is Your Framework A System of Pulleys and Levers Are You a Happy Dog or a Sad Dog? Happy Dogs and Healthy Children Wag Their Tails The Trunk of the Tree--and So Much More Find Your Sit Bones How to Park Your Pelvis Put Your Chest Down Being a Mindful Dog Sitting Mindfully Being Mindful and Aligned Together Options for Sitting The Pelvis Sets the Stage for the Spine Unhappy Puppets: Tense Dogs and Sad Dogs How to Be a Happy Dog Puppet Getting to Know Your Shoulders The Head on Top Connect with Your Core Lean Back with a Straight Spine Fixing Your Feet Standing Is Like Sitting, with Legs What Gives Your Body Its Shape Ground Reaction Force Walking with the EarthPart 3
Building New Habits of Movement
A Daily Routine of Exercises for Everyone Basic Steps to Easy Sitting Turn On Your Core--Anywhere, Anytime Butt the Wall (Bend Like a Baby) Giving Shape to Healthier Feet Sitting Down in a Chair Getting Up from a Chair With a Little Help from a Friend Lengthen Your Spine, Release Your Back Retrain Your Shoulders Ice Skating Downhill Skiing Open Your Shoulders Plank: More Core and More Shoulders Lying-Down Shoulder Opener Be a Baby Again, On-the-Spot Guide for Parents and Teachers Resources

Notes

Index