Tell two stories:
1. Tell of a time, either recently of historically, of how you made a major shift in movement. (i.e. When i learned how to ollie, when I learned to stand on my feet while rock climbing, when I found that I could relax my tailbone and still stand straight)
2. The same as above, but tell this story about someone else and tell how you noticed this effect their life. (i.e. there is an arm movement that I know that looks very hard, yet is very simple. My niece had always wanted to do the movement and couldn't for along time, then she got it and was amazed at how easy it was. Afterward I noticed more confidence in her.
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A major shift in movement for me was a relaxation breath when I was about to have surgery- I had been studying hypnobirthing in hopes of having my second son naturally (following an emergency c section with my first son) and I ended up having to have another surgery) well, I was able to be ppart of the conciouss work in my own body and mind/ invlove myself in the surgery by focusing on my breath and meditation (knowing they were putting needles into my spine at the moment). I was also able to use my words to tell the anasthesiologist that I was very scared and asked him to speak to me, he put his hand on my head and told me about his family- I calmed down. It took alot of effort and movement from a scared place to an active in my own fear place- I was proud of myself for making the leap.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to singing, there exists a break/bridge in the voice between a person's chest voice and head voice. In between these two voices lies what is called the passagio, or bridge between one's low/middle range and their high range. For the longest time, I was unable to access my head voice due to tension issues along with inadequate breath support. When I discovered the balance of air and space (in the throat) it takes to access one's head voice, my singing improved very rapidly. I have seen similar instances occur in other voice students. Each student has "the day" when they figure out the coordination for accessing the head voice. While the coordination is easy, it is extremely difficult to discover.
ReplyDeleteA major shift occured from me while laying on a massage table. For whatever reason, on this particular day, I felt and realized how much effort I was putting into holding myself "up" eventhough I was laying down, and not trusting that the table itself and gravity will hold me. After this realization, I was able to actually stop putting effort into laying down and could feel relaxation. This has helped me feel more grounded and relaxed as I move and walk as there is more of an ease and fluidity in my hips, knees and shoulders.
ReplyDeleteI remember, during yoga, when I Finally felt what it was like to stand without putting all my weight on my knees, but to instead actively engage them--creating a more "lifted" feeling. This simple shift creates worlds of difference in my balance and posture and is very connected to being able to stand with my spine aligned. It's funny, I can spend 10 minutes just trying to align my body in a standing position because there's so much to think about. But doing so--simply standing still and engaged--is incredibly relaxing and comforting for me when I'm stressed or just need to breathe.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I used to tumble in gymnastics and cheer, and I can remember working for hours and days and weeks with friends on learning back-handsprings/ flips, etc. And after spending weeks on something, and then watching someone finally do the movement they were working on, right at that moment when a movement suddenly falls into coordination, it's incredibly exciting as a team and on an individual level for that person. Because someone can tell you something a million times, but until your body connects with it's own movement and Feels the movement, the words mean nothing.
I can not pinpoint the exact time when I learned to not hunch my shoulders forward but one day I realized that I could stand up straight without effort. I do attribute some of the shift to heart-centered meditation which I successfully did daily for one year. Listening to my heartbeat opened me up. Also doing body and breathwork with my clients has giving me confidence and as I watch people relax and see how grateful they are to have someone help them hold a space for them to relax and be at peace, I open up with the realization that if I come love, love will be returned to me.
ReplyDeleteMy friend Katrina always used to walk around like a poofed up pigeon in her chest. She would posture herself the opposite of me, hear jutted out as well as her chin and her defenses. She walked like she had something to prove, or perhaps was easily emotionally bruised so her body became a shield. I only saw her once or twice over a few years for awhile, and I definitely noticed this posture soften and yield. She attributes alot of the change to doing Hellerwork-a type of integration of myofascial release, movement reeducation, and psychotherapy. Now she is standing up straight, but there is a softness, an acceptance to her body.
when i was in jr. high i got a trampoline. i loved spinning on it and doing some front flips now and then. my friends started coming over everyday after school and we pushed each other to go higher, bigger, and badder. well, at least as bad as you can be at 14 jumping on a trampoline eating fritos and drikin surge, ya'll know what im talking about; the good ol days in the burbs. so, back flips, they were inevitable. i watched my friends do them as though it was nothing. they said it was as easy as leaning back with just a little extra umph. yeah right. i was scared. like zoolander who couldn't turn left on the runway. i felt like a freak. i could go backwards. i could go upside down. i just i couldn't wrap my mind around doing both at the same time. with the knowledge i have since gained in class and in our book it makes sense. it wasn't part of my bodymap. i hadn't developed a 360 radious of my body's movement.
ReplyDeletemy best friend to this day, god-bless him, literally held/supported me by my center as i rotated around. he did this twice. then it was easy. my body understood the mechanics, the map was drawn and i have since been able to replicate the movement every time i am blessed to find myself back on a trampoline/ cliff/ dock/ diving board. even at my old age.
A more negative shirt in movement that I experienced I think goes to show an interesting lesson. When I was in middle school I was the leading high jumper for my grade. The coaches were very impressed with everything except my form and they attempted to teach me the "correct way" to execute a jump. After that I could never jump as high again. Their method did not work for me and I could not retain my own.
ReplyDeleteI have witnessed so many of my friends' postures improve as they gain confidence in different areas of my life. I have seen them greet the world rather than hide from it, evidenced by their bodies.