In a Halfway Lift, where should the hands be placed?

• A. On hips.
• B. Behind your back.
• C. On shins or thighs.
• D. On blocks.

Answer: (C)

In a Halfway Lift the goal is to lengthen the spine as you hinge forward from the hips. Placing the hands on the shins or thighs gives you tactile feedback to keep the back long and the chest lifting, rather than collapsing into a rounded position. This contact helps you maintain a neutral pelvis, soften the shoulders away from the ears, and keep the neck in line with the spine as you hinge forward. Placing the hands on the hips tends to cue a different alignment and can encourage less length in the spine, while placing them behind the back is awkward and can strain the shoulders. Using blocks is a possible modification if you can’t reach the shins or thighs, but it doesn’t promote the same long-spine cue as hands on the legs. So, hands on the shins or thighs is the best position for a safe, lengthened Halfway Lift.