Stretch-tastic

Yesterday I felt that my energy level was not quite sparking. When this happens I will sit quietly and "go inside" and check a few things out. Is the low energy level for a reason? Does it serve a purpose? A question I often use with clients is "does this behaviour, feeling, thought benefit you in any way?" Often the subject matter in question has a "negative" connotation so the idea that it is of benefit is counter-intuitive. Low energy level can often be a great way of distancing ourselves, retreating to silence and resting. Often the body (view it momentarily as a separate entity to "you") just does what it needs. So I felt after some checking in with "body" that there was energy there but it was stuck, there was too much tension and stiffness to allow flow.

So I broke with my planned work-out and embarked on a work-in. I stretched quite methodically through feet, ankles, hips, mid-back, upper back, neck, shoulders and hands for about an hour. Trying to involve the whole body in each stretch and rocking in each plane of movement really breathing into each posture and position. I noticed sensations and feelings of deep fatigue, relief, some sadness, some enlivening. Using a simple walk across my studio as a bench mark my walk gradually became smoother, lighter and I felt a great sense of connectedness. My mood, which had become somewhat dark was lighter and I felt a sense that I was held by and in the world with good intent and energy. I have a very high kinesthetic requirement when it comes to processing feeling and sensation, which means that I like to "embody" these energies and stretching really allows that space to inquire and re-set.

Today, when I awoke I moved out of bed SO much better, my walk to work felt alive and bouncy and my writing and early movement session with a client felt creative, relevant and informed by my physical set. I will be posting some video blogs of stretches soon.

Traditionally, coaching models ask us to examine each area of our lives, for example work, health, body or self-care, spiritual etc. This is undoubtedly awareness raising yet if we start to see how each sphere is interlinked we can work obliquely to influence each domain. By that I mean if yesterday I couldn't get my work going I could sit down and write some goals out specifically for my work. Or I could recognise that I need that creative relaxed feeling physically in order to work and do what I did, which in this case was stretch. Remember what the initial injunction or practice was, become still, silent, go inside and inquire "what do I need?" Let your intuition scan, be open to feelings, images, thoughts, sensations, meaning and energy which incidentally is an anacronym for FITS-ME, a model that I "invented!" to remind clients to engage as many facets as possible when trying to create excellent steps and practices towards their compelling vision, or simply to settle into expansive being energies. Each area "venns" with the others and the intersecting domains often carry invaluable information and insight for the other.

So, let's take some "vertical time" holidays today and settle into silence and ask, "what do I need." Allow the answers to flow and commit to acting on the most resonant appealing response.

Dan