​I’m experiencing this second lockdown quite differently to how I was during the first one last year… It seems I’m good with firsts! There are a number of different factors as to why that is the case, (which has been helpful to identify), but the point of this mini blog is - what do we do to look after ourselves according to whatever state we’re in?

First, we have to be perceptive enough to recognize the state that we’re in.

What are we up for right at this moment; what are we not up for? What, in this very moment, might make us a little less sad….?

Following that feeling. Respecting it. Not struggling against the tide; waiting until a change in your inner state shifts before attempting to tackle the task that requires a particular kind of headspace / clarity of effective focus.

Input until you’re able to muster output. And sometimes success is simply turning up…..(congratulating yourself for doing just that as your best effort)….

So my strategy is switching gears according to state.
Having an overall intention of particular outcomes you’d like to happen in time, but being flexible about when / how that comes to pass. It’s been serving me well. Perhaps it was already my modus operandi but I believe this self-directed decision making, of what-is-right-for-me at any given moment, gets continually embedded through the practice of Feldenkrais; its philosophy of continually monitoring your state to give yourself what your system is asking for.

Is it rest/stillness or large/vigorous/energetic action that will be beneficial in bringing me to towards poised equilibrium? Insert reading, running, cooking, watching, writing, sorting out BAS etc. Moment to moment.
 
And bit by bit your state does change. Without pushing; without forcing. Going with the pattern first (so very Feldenkraisian….) Remembering that states CHANGE!

There has been a shift in me. Return of my regular functional intentionality is welcome; inhabiting the rhythm of home life more deliberately.

Principles from Feldenkrais I’m applying to life:

• Acknowledging how you feel with acceptance and compassion, deciding what is right for where you’re at, moment to moment. Being guided by your internal experience and looking to expand inner equilibrium.
• Having a particular purpose / project that's meaningful to you but taking it on one morsel at a time. Making headway towards the desired direction in incremental increments. Giving yourself all the time that you need; without rush.

 
I don’t know where you own personal state is right now but I do know that respecting it is paramount.
If an online Feldenkrais class appeals, that is on offer.
If it’s not at all where you’re at, I’m so glad you recognize that.

Take care dear humans. States change.

​When you think of posture, chances are you associate it with some idea of a straight back….? My previous blog post explored the idea that posture was about having your weight being transferred down through your bones / skeleton for support, leaving your muscles free to move. So what is good posture in relation to movement?

Here is the posture test - whatever position you are in, maybe right now you are sitting, can you move in all directions – forward, backward, up, down, left, right?

If yes, then you have the advantage of being positioned in the middle of multiple options, a place which allows you to shift and adjust according to do what you want to do. If there is a direction that you can’t move in, then you are stuck; shifting and adapting is harder and requires more effort. It becomes even harder if your muscles have been maintaining that position for a while and are getting habituated to holding you there.

When you think of posture, do you associate it with ease or effort?

‘Good posture’ is actually about reducing the work load of your muscles by stacking the weight of your head so it is supported from underneath by the bones of your spine sitting directly on top of each other, so that the surrounding musculature isn’t engaged in holding you upright; allowing your bones to do what they do best and leaving your muscles free to move.

Why then do so many people feel like going from a slump to a more upright position such hard work?

Our body adapts to what is required of it and the muscles learn to hold and support you in whatever configuration is most often required - they get good at holding you there. So when you do decide to shift to a more ergonomically supported way of sitting or standing, initially it might feel like ‘work’ to be there. Massage can give you a head start at releasing that habitual tension to help it feel far more possible and natural to have your head balanced over your pelvis supported by your spine. When your muscles are no longer constantly engaged in holding you upright, the energy to sustain that contraction is now freely available to be used elsewhere in your body and life, and you won’t feel so tired by the end of the day.

Tip to Try - a great way of resetting your muscle tonus at the end of the day, to help them switch off and return to their neutral resting length, is to simply lie down on your back for 5mins and close your eyes, allowing your muscles to surrender to gravity and sink into the floor. This gives your body a chance to relax and unwind, and your mind a chance to connect and touch base with yourself. If you do that when you first come home, you are likely to be far more re-charged to enjoy the rest of your evening. Notice which parts of your body has more tension to let go of – very valuable clues for what areas may be under strain throughout your day.