freedom Archives - YogaTalk

PLANET WONDER

October 29, 2018

I don’t mind sounding corny – some things just can’t be said enough:

Our home planet is unique…

Close enough to our sun to be warmed, but far enough away not to be scorched…

Half-days basked in light and half-days cooled in shade…

So much potential for life – this earth could be heaven. How lucky we are.

Here are some personal thoughts on how experiences of everyday wonder can help lift us from the swamping rigmaroles of personal life. I think of it as giving things a yogaturn. Because…

Because, it’s just so easy to get wrapped up in our own little world.

I got bogged down this summer. A health crisis was consuming too much energy; I could manage to teach well enough but had no creative urge to write. Small things got to me. I could get anxious about the least thing and, in the continuing rainless weeks of baking heat, I did not thrive.

One day, we couldn’t bear the screeches of our neighbours’ grandchildren on their trampoline, swings and slide. With no quiet indoors we went out to escape the noise.

On the market, two blokes stood smoking as they faced into the hatch of the little snack bar. They seemed oblivious of our efforts to get served, as we manoeuvred forwards and back to avoid their clouds of smoke.

We headed for the clean air of the hills, escaping with the curlews on the hot scorched moors.

Soothed but hot and thirsty, we then took refuge in the coolness of a favourite pub in trendy right-on Hebden Bridge. The place was busier than we’d ever seen it. People with drinks wandered uncomfortably from room to room looking for seats. Two ladies eating pickled eggs and drinking wine were comfortably sprawled across all the bench seating for three tables at one side of the room. I managed to squeeze up next to a guy’s big rucksack which he did not move from the seat; he and his stuff were monopolising a space which could have seated five or six. He looked the sensitive type but clearly wasn’t! I couldn’t help noticing that the book he sat reading was called “Higher Consciousness”.

How come people seemed so uncaring and oblivious to each other’s needs?

I like to people-watch. I learn a lot. Normally I’m upbeat in observation with a light-hearted yogaturn overview – but not that day. I longed for planet simple, where social interchange was always easy, caring and thoughtful.

I often head off to the hills in my heart and mind – it helps me see a bigger picture which is more compassionate and kind. But not that day. I just felt annoyed. Husband said I needed to get on the yoga mat, and he was right. Getting on the mat does always seem to sweeten life and set things right. I had been unwittingly sinking into my own realm of the unwell, yogaturns somehow slipping away in my preoccupation with personal affairs and health.

These yogaturns are for any time, whatever our situation and however we’re feeling – we just sometimes need reminding.

Selfish and defensive behaviour are often rooted in uncertainty, ignorance and fear.

Remembering this is in itself a yogaturn, which helps us feel compassion toward the inconsiderate or unkind, at times saving us from our own knee-jerk reactions.

Yoga helps us raise a more attuned self-awareness which is not self-obsessed.

Remembering this is another yogaturn, so we don’t take ourselves too seriously and can have a light-hearted default mode, even if we’re not in a good place at the time.

I like to lie down on my back on the yoga mat, semi-supine, open-handed, arms out wide. Eyes closed, I imagine a starry sky on a clear moonlit night. Having seen such skies and felt sublime I can invoke those feelings once again, purely through memory.

Letting such wonder be part of the ordinary everyday is yet another yogaturn. It uplifts and enriches life.

When I remember to gaze up at the heavens , I’m overwhelmed with wonder at this vast display of space and time.

Such feelings bring a shrinking sense of self without denting self-esteem. We can be reminded of our own short transient life without fearing its end.

Gobsmacked by starlight, I know that I am but one of similar billions, with each of us a tiny part of this boundless ever-changing universe. Such feelings humble me, helping me feel more connected to others and our world.

Perhaps the word ‘awe’ is overused today – but not felt enough.

Feelings of wonder, awe and the sublime are not so rare – they can just easily be missed or overlooked.

It’s not necessary to visit exotic locations, have bucket lists with bungee jumps, be an astronaut, blow our mind on drugs… to be uplifted by a transformative experience.

Such feelings come at different levels, take varied forms and induce a range of emotions. But all will help steer us away from self-preoccupation.

Shared experiences of awe and wonder can help people bond, to have more respect and love for our home planet and for each other.

Soaking up all the small wonders of our daily life adds up to an awful lot of awe… Reminding myself and others of this is the reason for this blog.

“It is one of the greatest glories of this universe that the common and inconspicuous life of ordinary men contains a thousand daily opportunities for spiritual splendour.”

From Seven Schools of Yoga. By Ernest Wood, 1931

Here are some suggestions for wonder-triggers:

Look at an insect up close.
Don’t miss a chance to get out in the natural world.
Visit a cathedral or some similar awesome building or engineering project.
Expose yourself to be blown away by someone’s creative talent, music or art, from the past or the present.
Close your eyes and conjure up memories of awe and wonder, evoking similar feelings just by remembering them.

BLOG

SILLINESS

June 23, 2018

After a couple of very serious blogs, I found myself thinking I need to bring a little silliness into my day. Not tricky for me. I love a little silliness. I may have mentioned before, and often say this in the yoga class when faced with many serious and sombre faces looking back at me, “There is just not enough silliness in this world”.

I believe we have become too grown up and forgotten the freedom of our childish and innocent ways.

I love a little humour, in fact, I love a lot of humour. Within most of my daily tasks I inject some witty comments or ridicule (usually of myself) and laughter.

I love a giggly yoga class. I can find myself giving the instruction to lift the corners of the mouth – the reaction of my students never fails to amuse me as it dawns on them that I am asking them to smile. It always creates a chuckle or two. The joyous reaction of having a good old roll around in happy baby (Ananda Balasana) can lift the mood on a rainy day. We can take ourselves too seriously can’t we? Laughter is great therapy.

I attended a meditation session recently. It was all very reverent, lots of delightful chanting and serious nodding of approval. The last chant got underway – all very lovely – but the tune seemed to be turning a little ‘country and western’!!! When it was over, choosing her words carefully, my friend kindly pointed out that it was more like a rendition of ‘ You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille’. The place enjoyed minutes of uproarious laughter and fun. The session ended with lots of love and smiles all round.

If you haven’t already, go and create a little silliness in your day…. Then smile and be joyous that you did.

Love and silliness – Joy 🙂

BLOG

JUDGEMENT

June 17, 2018

Why do we do it? There’s no denying it! We judge ourselves for our actions, we judge our partners and friends for theirs, we even judge those who we don’t even know. We say they’re too fat, too thin, too brown, too silly, and so on and so on…..

As discerning human beings with opinions and intellect we constantly make decisions and choices. It’s part of who we are. Decisions are an important part of everyday living. We live better lives because of them….or do we?

Sometimes our inner decision-making skills are off kilter, for all sorts of reasons. We forget to ask ourselves why we feel something is better for us. We find ourselves caught up in wanting to make decisions and choices for others because it’s our own preference, not theirs. We justify it by saying “It’s for their own good” or, “I know what’s best for them”. Effectively taking away the power to make decisions for themselves. I pose the question – Should we do this?

No doubt, there are times to look after our children or loved ones that are in need of care. But being lost to the capability of keeping themselves safe enables us to take on the role of ‘keeper’ or ‘parent’. When we notice changes occur and they are stronger and more capable, we can choose to back off from our temporary role.

As the receiver of this kindness we may begin to rely on others to take care of all our decisions, becoming less responsible for our own actions and happy to pass on this mantle to anyone who will accept it for us.

As the giver do we feel comfortable to continue to fulfil a desire in us that makes us feel needed, unaware that we are taking someone’s independence away from them – albeit with their blessing and consent, even their gratitude.

It can become obvious in the yoga class. A regular cue of mine is to take things easy, not doing anything that doesn’t feel appropriate or backing off when the body decides it has had enough. In truth, few people are aware of their bodies and what they need or feel. They are mostly happy to push through a degree of pain in order to achieve what the teacher is asking of them. In other words, ‘Let the teacher decide what’s good for me’ – opting out of taking the decision to be responsible for themselves.

There is no better reward as a teacher to see a dozen different students doing a dozen different things from the same instructions – all of them independently aware that their bodies are requiring something slightly different at that moment in time – without competition or enquiry. Not so much on other occasions.

The yoga class is the perfect environment to get in touch with the responses and reactions of the body and mind. To be aware that the mind and all its chatter can be so bossy it takes over and doesn’t always allow us to feel what’s best for us. It makes us compete with ourselves and others. It makes a poor judgement call, feeding the ego rather than the soul. We can use the term ‘Ahimsa’ (Sanskrit for non-harming or non-violence) to bring our awareness back to the relevance of the here and now, empowering us to make the best judgment call for ourselves. To know that judging others or making judgment calls for them is not always the kindest thing to do. In practicing Ahimsa and awareness we can be in a more informed place to decide what’s best for us. By example, help those close to us to be responsible for their own decisions, supporting their choices to encourage confidence and personal growth.

The reward may not be as instant but over time it’s a win/win. We then have confident and well-adjusted family and friends around us to support us to make our own choices when we face challenges, rather than make poor decisions for us.

I hope this blog has been as thought provoking for you as it has for me. Giving ourselves space for thought before we rush in and inadvertently force our judgment on others may be one of the kindest ways of practicing our yoga off the mat.

BLOG

TICKETTYBOO!

May 27, 2018

Here are some thoughts about feeling fine with our here and now… which as it happens, is the yogic concept of santosha. What does this mean, and how can it be useful?

Santosha/samtosa/santosh/santosa is something of a pause… a way of taking in how we are, so we can then respond well to whatever’s happening at the time.

Sanskrit words don’t always seem to have obvious English equivalents, which can cause misunderstanding.

‘Santosha’ comes from san meaning completely or entirely, and tosha meaning acceptance or contentment. The concept is not however about resignation or passive fatalism. Santosha is a practical means for positive change.

Santosha concerns noticing the interplay between our present moments, thoughts and feelings: and how they then influence our subsequent responses and decisions.

It helps us see ourselves and our circumstances more clearly, free from misapprehension and self-deception. This allows us to make wiser choices about the direction we take – knowing how and where we are gives us a clear starting point.

The clarity which santosha brings comes from letting go of fears, which cloud our judgement.

Yoga considers that human nature is essentially happy, but irrational fears can sap this joy, commonly leading to suffering.

Fears can root us to the spot, making us hold on too tightly. They can make us defensive. They can make us want to flee. They can fuel an urge to try and control things. But the only thing I can really control is… me.

But when anxious, we’re hardly going to self-manage well!

Santosha helps ground us in the present moment, reducing anxiety about future situations – which may or may not materialise. We’re then more likely to make wiser decisions, with positive outcomes. Then, the future will seem brighter and we’re less likely to cause pain – to us or others.

Through santosha I feel at ease with myself, more fearless and clear-sighted, less wrapped up in my own needs – more likely to manage myself both unselfishly and well.

It feels like a relief to me, very much a physical sensation… a soft exhale through the mouth, a letting go of any struggles, as if making room to breathe more wisdom in…

The smell of gorse or juniper; the sound of boots crunching on sparkly snow; lying on the grass admiring passing clouds; the scent of lilac and the colour of the flowers; the roar of Tarn Beck on a hot day before plunging in; sitting in timeless meditation.

A sense of peace, and release… not having to bother trying to control the uncontrollable.

Life comes in waves of change. Highs and lows, joys and sorrows, all are part of living. Nothing ever stays the same.

Santosha helps us to embrace life, to handle change, reducing the desire to escape, or to keep things the same. Less wishing we were in a different time or place. Less yearning for sensory pleasures. Less thinking, ‘I’ll be happy when…’

As I get older I notice more how the Fridays seem to come round ever quicker.

Awareness of time passing, the faculty of memory, knowing that there is a future: all are part of being human. I think of santosha as a friend… who offers timely reminders if I’m missing too many precious present moments by dwelling in the past or wishing my life away.

If I know how to restore my equilibrium, I’m not so troubled when I notice my mind ‘doing its thing’: chattering away about what will happen tomorrow or what happened yesterday!

As santosha has come to feel more familiar, I’m able to cultivate it consciously when it doesn’t come unbidden.

And so, like many other yoga concepts, it’s a simple, useful, practical and powerful tool.

Why not take a few minutes now to sense it yourself…

Rest your hands

Let go of any tensions

Exhale softly and deeply through the mouth

Imagine yourself stepping back, to see the bigger picture, to notice your feelings about the here now.

Picture yourself feeling peaceful and fearless.

Breathe in endless possibilities and positive change.

Close your eyes and settle into the moment

On these pleasant spring mornings I often breakfast very early, on the swing bench at the back of the garden. Sometimes santosha creeps up on me, and I hear the birds sing to me: ‘Enjoy!’ ‘Enjoy!’ ‘Enjoy!’

So I do!

BLOG

NEW BEGINNINGS

May 7, 2018

Here are some thoughts about habits, followed by a few simple ideas for how to make more good ones… and break the bad.

Chatting before class recently I remarked that we can make yoga practices out of many everyday things, and someone said…“Then I’m going to make a practice out of drinking gin!”

And yes, I suppose we could do such a thing, if only to appreciate it more and to better notice how much we’re actually drinking.

Whilst it made us laugh it also reminds me how sticky it is to navigate a course through life… when even overdoing the healthy things can ultimately cause harm!

This is when our yoga helps us recover an even keel and strike a better balance: for strength and flexibility both physically and mentally, being able to flex and not snap under strain, to think more clearly… and do things differently.

Our habits are as wide-ranging and individual as our nervous tics. It’s useful to be made more aware of them. Are they helpful? What influences these things we do so regularly that they’ve unconsciously ‘set in’, and we seem unable to manage without them?

Our brain is continuously making decisions on all kinds of levels. Don’t they say that conscious awareness is just 5% of the brain’s activity? Meaning that the other 95% is happening below our radar!

We can function easily on autopilot. It’s one reason for our species’ success – this ability to do one thing whilst consciously thinking about something else!

Being spared conscious involvement in mundane tasks frees up our brain for other things.

But freedom goes and troubles come when we’re unable to self-manage well. We can easily become confined by unhelpful habits and the old routines, living too much on auto – at the expense of self-awareness.

Making practices out of regular daily actions helps keep us fresh and wide-awake to our experience of living. Why not help restore the curiosity of our childlike self, unafraid to question everything? I mean not just our individual habits, but those which societies cultivate collectively.

Long-standing routines and religious or cultural traditions can certainly bring comfort and reassurance. Doing familiar things can sometimes steady us, making structure from life’s uncertainty and chaos. But we also benefit from nurturing our more attuned awareness.

Our life is such a sensory experience. We’re definitely pleasure seekers – beyond doubt! It’s just that some things are so enticing… and when caught up by moments of temptation we tend to forget that short-term gratification can lead to long-term pain.

Yes, we all have internal tussles. And with pleasure as a catalyst, trouble can easily brew.

I was reminded recently of something I too easily overlook… that emotion, not rational thought, is what drives even our unconscious decisions.

Humanity is beset by addiction, and with so many enticing things out there the problem seems to be growing.

But where once most addictions were for some food, drink or substances, now they are more likely to be behaviours; timeless ones like obsessive hoarding, cleaning, gambling, checking… and now with the additional modern examples such as: online gaming, binge viewing, social media, using mobile devices, checking texts and emails, or online ‘likes’.

It’s easy to see how people get stuck in their debilitating habits and behaviours. Maybe we hold on too tight because we fear change or letting go? Maybe we’re stagnating through inertia, apathy even, unable to think differently and move on? Imagine the false comfort of using a walking stick, long after a leg has healed.

But on a positive note: whilst it’s easy to drag ourselves down, we can also drag ourselves back up again – by knowing how to give things a ‘yoga-turn’. This means being unafraid and even amused to see all we do in a clearer, more kindly light. It takes all kinds to make our rich and diverse world.

Knowing how to self-help in a positive way is a purpose and cornerstone of yoga practice. We’re already acutely self-aware-emotive creatures. Yoga is about nurturing an awareness which is benign, beneficial, powerful and positive.

We’re each unique. Is there really such a thing as ‘normal’? What I regularly do is my ‘normal’, but to someone else… it may be just ‘weird’???

HERE ARE SOME HINTS ON HABITS:

Self-observe

Cultivate a skill in self-observation. Simply notice personal routines and habits, so we can distinguish between the benign, useless, harmful and helpful.

Try to spot influences and associations concerning particular habits, such as people, places, situations, moods and mind-frame.

Some ill-serving habits are less consequential, but some can cause great suffering for a person and those around them.

Decide

Recognise what change is needed. Are you breaking a bad habit? Making a new and positive routine? All of this? Choose your path and make a plan.

Set realistic goals and manageable timelines… half a day of doing this, three hours of not doing that… until the hours extend to days.

Visualise

Picture the future you. Imagine your life and how you will be with this new routine or when free of that particular habit. Bring this picture to your mind’s eye on a regular basis, especially when temptation is strong – until it passes. It will pass… everything passes.

Clarity

Aim to be free of self-deception. Have courage and be fearless in having definite goals. Are you adopting something new? Managing something? Giving something up completely?

Use tactics

Seek out situations which consolidate a new and positive routine. Avoid people or places you associate with bad habits. Schedule in new well-serving habits. Tag them onto existing routines – like going swimming on the way to work.

Keep trying

Long-standing bad habits are very difficult to shift; they’re persistent. Don’t give up when you slip up. Just start again.

Willpower gets depleted more easily at times of stress and strain. Resting helps renew it; like a muscle it gets stronger with regular exercise, which starts to seem easier.

Procrastination

While it’s true that good timing can help make or break a habit, it’s also true that the best time to start afresh is sometimes… NOW.

It’s your call to recognise which is the wiser deed – don’t delay or put off taking action when you know you’re falling back on excuses.

Accept support

Be unafraid to share your journey with those you trust. Be a good receiver of support. Be prepared to seek medical help. A burden is lighter when shared.

Patience and kindness

Practise self-compassion. Change can’t always happen overnight; adjusting behaviour patterns is rarely instant. If a stiff body has been sitting slumped for years, even the greatest will in the world can’t make it sit instantly upright.

Look after yourself

Value yourself. Focus on the healthy-living you. Incentivise yourself – give yourself credit and treat yourself well. Get plenty of rest – the world can seem a better place after a good night’s sleep.

Each moment that passes adopts the sense of a new beginning if we choose it to be so. For most of us the absence of awareness allows the mundane and habitual process to creep in, eventually setting the tone of our daily existence to the detriment of pleasure and freedom of thought and action. A balance of security and safety of everyday stuff coupled with excitement and autonomy to make alternative choices is surely one of the gifts of human intelligence. Having the confidence to delight in our very existence and ‘ring the changes’ can significantly enrich our lives…. If only we could recognise these choices are ours to make!!

BLOG

SCREAM SHOUT LET IT ALL OUT

January 4, 2018

If you were to ask me if I felt happy, my usual reaction would be to say yes. However, there is a subconscious thing that happens to me that I must be aware of. Often, if I stop to think, I can gauge my level of happiness by how much noise I make. Is this odd? Is it just me? I realised some time ago that a true sign of my happiness is indicated by me tending to sing out loud. I was inspired to write this because I was caught unawares today, singing out loud in the car park.

I was on the way to a yoga class – normal Tuesday evening activity, slightly buoyed up by the closeness of Christmas holidays looming and the infectious chit chat of festivities and parties.

Strangely I hadn’t even noticed that I was singing until a fellow enthusiast commented how cheerful I sounded. (In truth, my tone is questionable, so maybe he was quietly amused by my cringe-worthy squeaks).

I laughed it off saying there was a party happening in my head and I was just joining in! This is often the case if I’m honest. BUT! It got me thinking…….

The action of making noise and hearing noise can really change the mood. I suppose it’s obvious if we think about it. We purposely listen to our favourite tunes and artists – the ones who really can sing – They lift our spirits, relax our brains, set us up for the lively night out or just tick along in the background offering some form of comfort or company.

If you’re like me you’ll often find yourself humming along quietly and before long, belting out the decibels as if we were on ‘Top of the Pops’. How good does that feel? Seriously good eh?

It’s brought back fond memories to me of when my brother and I used to drive along with the car windows down singing to the Eagles at the top of our voices. Wherever we went, we always arrived with a smile on our faces.

It’s not just the chemical reactions and release of feel good endorphins, but maybe the ability to express ourselves without inhibition, or even the change in tempo of our breathing. It’s kind of like exercising the vocals.

Whatever the combination of reactions in the body or brain, it certainly feels good.

Next time you’re tempted to let it all out, take a moment to notice how fabulous and free it feels. Take it to the mic and karaoke to your hearts content. It will make you smile…..and probably make everyone around you smile too.

La-de-da!!

PRACTICE

59-POINT RELAXATION

December 4, 2017

This practice is a way to restore equilibrium in a matter of a few minutes. It helps balance body systems and free us from muscular/mental tensions. This releases energy for use on other tasks.

In addition to these general benefits, this particular practice sharpens our attention span. It trains a chattering or sluggish mind to focus, meaning we have the potential alert engagement of our five-year-old self – minus the distractions!

The practice can also be used as an aid to sleep… meaning that it may not be completed because sleep intervenes.

This is wonderful if it’s our intention, but yoga offers more than that. If you do tend to doze off inadvertently, then try it at times when you’re more likely to stay awake.

People sometimes say they have no time to stop and practice, not realising how much their wellbeing benefits from doing exactly that, not appreciating how their function and energy is improved – saving time in the long run.

Notes on practice

The relaxation is written and also a podcast. You can listen by clicking the arrow above.

Grab opportunities in your day to practice; just a few minutes to lie down comfortably, uninterrupted, devices turned off.

The podcast lasts just over six minutes, but you can also learn the sequence, for practice without guidance.

Varying the method and times of practice will help keep the mind engaged; try different speeds, and varying the starting point between left and right.

The best position for this practice is savasana (the corpse pose), resting on the back, legs out, feet comfortably apart, hands palm-up and away from the sides.

If the lower back complains, put a pillow under the knees. If the neck prefers, rest the head on a thin pillow or roll something up for under the neck.

Covering the eyes will help to still the mind.

Be aware of body symmetry; lie face-up, for even a slight head-turn can lead us into doze or daydream.

If you find this a challenging practice, don’t be put off – you probably could do with its benefits, so it’s worth persevering. Be light-hearted and as you lie there, always imagine that your eyes are smiling.

Familiarise yourself with the exact areas of the body mentioned:

Forehead centre is just above the bridge of the nose.

When thumbs and fingers are mentioned, think of their tips.

The solar plexus is the centre of the upper abdomen.

The navel centre is just below the navel.

The pelvic floor is the saddle of muscle supporting the abdomen.

The hip is the hip joint, adjacent to the groin.

And if you deviate from our script it doesn’t matter, there are other ways to navigate around the body – you could make up your own!

The practice

Once in position, close the eyes.

Stretch the thumbs and fingers, then let them go.

Move the feet and wiggle the toes, then let them go too.

Relax the back of the neck and if the face is tight, yawn.

Begin to settle.

Gaze softly into the back of your eyelids; imagine that your eyes are smiling.

Let the mouth be closed, with no hardness in the lips, but the glimmer of a smile.

Notice your hands.

Now notice the breath, and let your exhales soften.

Allow yourself this time and space to totally settle.

Imagine any tightness melts away with each out-breath.

Your attention is now going to focus around parts of the body.

Notice the forehead centre; this is the start…

Forehead centre
Throat centre
Heart centre
Right shoulder
Inside elbow
Wrist centre
Right thumb
First finger
Second finger
Third finger
Fourth finger
Wrist centre
Inside elbow
Shoulder
Heart centre
Left shoulder
Inside elbow
Wrist centre
Left thumb
First finger
Second finger
Third finger
Fourth finger
Wrist centre
Inside elbow
Shoulder
Heart centre
Solar plexus
Navel centre
Pelvic floor
Right hip
Right knee
Right ankle
Big toe
Second toe
Third toe
Fourth toe
Fifth toe
Ankle
Knee
Hip
Pelvic floor
Left hip
Left knee
Left ankle
Big toe
Second toe
Third toe
Fourth toe
Fifth toe
Ankle
Knee
Hip
Pelvic floor
Navel centre
Solar plexus
Heart centre
Throat centre
Forehead centre

Let the awareness stay resting at the forehead centre.

Now notice your hands.

Become aware of your breathing.

Follow the breath as it flow out and in.

Begin to let your awareness pan out…

Take in any sounds… close up, then far away.

Notice the temperature of the air, the feeling of cloth against skin, the ground beneath you.

Breathe more deeply.

Stretch the fingers and the thumbs.

Now start to make bigger moves… perhaps hug in your knees or have a big stretchy yawn.

Open your eyes, and when you’re ready, get up and move on.

PRACTICE

A STANDING PRACTICE

May 28, 2017

We can occasionally find opportunity to do nothing but stand empty-handed.

We can make the best of a waiting or queueing situation.

Length will vary, with each occasion different. 15 minutes is a long stand, but 2 is still useful. Take advantage of such moments throughout the day. Let what begins as conscious effort become intuitive, until it no longer feels like practice.

Don’t expect every practice to be interesting or enjoyable. Even when we’re not waiting for something, restlessness and agitation can still be a challenge.

Obvious influencing factors are footwear, clothing, environment and circumstance – pleasant or otherwise.

Recognise inconspicuous opportunities in public or in private – especially when barefoot.

Wherever we are, however we feel, a practice can be beneficial to mind state and comfort in standing.

Why not try it now, let’s begin…

Sense the freedom of a pause from action, and interaction.

Put down bags, be empty-handed.

Become aware of breathing.

Let yourself settle, grow and widen.

Release the jaw, gaze at nothing in particular, eyes relaxed or closed.

If in public, be inconspicuous and pause from interaction.

Stand on both feet equally; let surroundings fade into background.

Notice the feet. Feel their floor contact, and their comfort or discomfort. Allow the toes to wriggle if possible.

Rock on the feet slightly: forward, back, all round. Imagine them even springier and stronger.

Let the heels lift slightly by pressing the balls of the feet down, and then settle, no longer moving but relaxing.

Focus from the waist downwards. Are the buttocks clenching too tightly? Are you holding-on too much in the belly?

Try not to let overtight leg muscles push the knees back.

Relax the legs as much as possible but keep the feet springy.

Loosen the hands, and allow the shoulders to let go of the arms.

Play with how weight distributes around your feet. Can you relax more and resist standing stiffly?

Optimise muscular action, in the buttocks, the abdomen, and the muscles around the waist. Rather, let them collaborate in more effortless standing.

Bringing your attention to the ribcage; sense its volume. Feel it move with the breathing. Allow the back to widen.

Notice armpits. Bend the arms slightly, then relax them.

Permit the head to lightly nod, rotate, then settle, with chin level.

Feel the head float up – imagine it weightless. Let jaws, lips and face relax. Back of neck soft. Imagine the eyes themselves softly smiling.

All below the waist is anchored by gravity, whilst all above can release up, like a plant toward sunlight.

Resist trying. Can you enjoy the energy and vitality of effortless standing?

When you sense the time to stop, let the breath deepen.

Let ears listen and eyes look. Take in surroundings. Then, till the next time, move on.

See OUR ARTICLES ON STANDING

BLOG

BEST FOOT FORWARD

May 28, 2017

Let’s get straight to the point. What I’m thinking is… throw the shoes to the back of the cupboard!! ‘Have I lost my senses?’ Maybe I have, or maybe I’ve just gone to sleep. Let me explain…

Consider what it feels like when you cover your ears, they don’t work properly, the sound is muffled. In other words the sense of hearing is dulled and the sensitivity is lost.

Imagine the same scenario with your feet. Put on a lovely comfortable pair of supportive shoes. The result is the feet are so cosy they go to sleep. They have nothing to do, no ground to feel, no heat or cold sensation. In other words, they’ve stopped having to bother. We may even work harder to search for sensation by stamping or hitting the ground harder in order to compensate. This can have the knock-on effect of creating tension or damage in the joints.

SET THEM FREE!

Kick off the shoes and socks, walk along that lovely shag pile that cost a fortune. Let the wool tickle the toes. As the feet feel what is beneath them, enquire where the weight is. Feel the toes spread as the weight shifts to the front of the feet. Feel how much they are able to bend when there are no shoes to stop them.

Take it to the beach for the wow factor or walk on the early morning dewy grass before breakfast. This will wake up the feet and let them feel again.

Clearly it would be poor advice to say no to footwear completely. It’s obviously not a good look with the interview outfit or at the busy shopping centre. We need to be aware of the hidden dangers of walking on unsuitable surfaces or being hurt by sharp objects. Let’s do it when we can. There’s nothing like the feeling of the ground beneath the feet or feeling the earth rise up to meet us as we walk. So feel your feet on the ground and let the floor be your friend.

(Inspired by my deliciously very touchy feely feet and an article I listened to by Leslie Kaminof)