So I stopped . . . Now What?

Stopping is the hard part. The rest is easy, though it takes concentration.

The next part is direction, as in giving directions.

What we're actually after is coordination: the way the body wants to work, unhindered by our habits and compensations. That means antagonistic action in the muscles—opposition. Muscles work in groups, and those groups need balance. Contract and release.

Simply put: for every down there's an up.

To begin, think your feet into the floor. Let the heel rest and let the toes rest. That's a nice foundation from which to go up. Next think your sit bones down (whether you're standing or sitting, they head down). If you're sitting let them rest. If you're standing let the back sort itself out: the low back can come back, the rib cage can hang freely, the shoulders can widen, and the head can balance on the top of the spine.

To do all that, the direction is up. Send the head away from the feet and away from the sit bones. Giving directions to your muscles sounds hokey, but the nervous system does all sorts of amazing things without our conscious knowledge. It maintains the structure of the body so you won't fall over and keeps the internal parts working smoothly. It also stays prepared for whatever situation is coming next. It's not a problem to give it special instructions in a quiet moment. It's perfectly capable of following conscious directions, though it will generally take its own time.

It always surprises both how subtle these thought directions are and how powerful they are. When I'm working with a student, I can always tell if they are directing. When I suggest they go up, I can see the result of their thought, and they can feel it. When I give the direction to myself, I can feel the length and width in the body.

So, that's the simple version: Stop . . . Think up . . . Feel more at ease!

For lessons in person or online contact me.

RePattern2Learn@gmail.com

712-292-2882