MOVEMENT EXERCISES

Breathing

Breath is life! Take time to notice your breathing, especially while doing movement exercises or healing touch. Breathe fully and deeply, filling up your torso -- belly, ribcage and chest -- and exhale slowly. Let every cell of your body be bathed in rejuvenating oxygen. Feel the tension dissipate as you concentrate on inhaling and exhaling… ah.


Finding your plumb line (posture)

While standing: Feel a string gently pulling up the top of your head, open your chest, relax your arms, gently tuck your chin. Feel both feet solidly on the ground, gently tuck your pelvis, and breathe. Take a moment to pause and feel your alignment. If sitting in a chair: feel your head gently pulled up by a string, open your chest, relax your arms, gently tuck your chin. Make sure both feet are equally resting on the ground/floor. Breathe. Feel how much more relaxed and aware you now are. As you go through your day, especially if feeling tense, check your plumb line again.


Changing your gait

Each of us has our own signature walk. Try walking across the room and notice your standard way of moving through space. Now, change your gait, and walk in a different way. Slow down or speed up, move your hips and arms differently, notice your plumb line. Try several different walks (you may observe others and try to walk as they do) and realize you can shift the habitual into the intentional. Allow yourself to walk more consciously, as you move through your day.


Mirroring

Keep a full length mirror where you can visit it daily. Stand before it and take stock. Are your shoulders level, or one raised up? Are you favoring one leg over the other? “Correct” your posture/alignment (i.e. find your plumb line). Now, slowly begin moving (while observing), feeling/seeing where you are tense or constricted. These may be yoga-like or slow dance movements or stretches. Continue to find your balance as you study yourself in the mirror, keeping track of tension areas and moving to release them. Be conscious to keep your breathing full and even.


Mirroring with a partner

Face one another with room to move. One of you becomes the “mover,” the other becomes the mirror. Maintain eye contact. Try to mimic exactly the other’s movements, although they may feel unusual to you. After a moment or two, switch: the mover becomes the mirror, the mirror becomes the mover. This is a good way to explore moving in new ways and attuning to one another. This can be done with or without music. Experiment to see what works best for you


Boogie to music

Experiment with slow music and music with different beats: i.e. reggae, rock and roll, classical, “new age.” Let the music tell you how to move. If the music is very slow, slow your movements way down. If the music is fast, let your body respond accordingly. If you have room, try closing your eyes and letting the music guide your movements. Forget about anyone watching you, or caring how you look. Dance from the inside out, shake off your tension, and feel your energy rejuvenating. If you wish, you may close your boogie session with the “sponge” position in yoga, to appreciate how relaxed and revitalized you feel. (See Yoga menu for this and other postures.)


Posture Flow

When doing yoga or simply stretching/moving, let your body tell you what is needed next. Rather than following a strict regime of certain yoga postures, mix and match the postures with your body’s need to stretch. Flow from one posture to another, using any movement that feels appropriate to make the bridge. For example, you might start out with Tadhasan (the Mountain Pose) then slowly lower yourself to the ground for The Cobra, then sit up to do Yoga Mudra, then stand to do Salute to the Sun. Once you’ve learned the correct alignment of each posture, you will have a repertoire of poses, and it will feel natural to move from one to the other at your body’s urging. Again, finish your posture flow in the relaxation pose: The Sponge. (See diagram in Yoga section.) Always make sure to pay attention to your breathing -- slow, full and even.