Every day brings a new opportunity to explore our world. Whether it is time to deepen our understanding of what we are working on or time to take on something we have never tried before, each day is a chance to make a fresh start. Although it is often a challenge to begin on that blank page or try something outside of our comfort zone, the possibilities of new pathways to unlock our joy and creativity should entice us to sample new experiences. The scenic routes are generally not the most direct paths or the easiest terrain; but often the vistas are worth the challenges required. I encourage everyone to explore their own personal range of movement from the gentlest stretch to the most energetic dance: discover your true capabilities!
2 Comments
For me, movement is a wellspring of Joy.
There is a centering joy in practicing early morning yoga stretches: Learning where my body stands today. Allowing me to be more open to the day before me. Putting me in a positive mindset to reach out into my day with purpose. There is a satisfying pleasure in teaching new dancers: Helping others use the various disciplines of movement to find those moments where it all works together. Seeing how each person journeys into their own form of expression. There is a true excitement dancing with a partner: Feeling like you and your partner are sharing the same movement and creating something beautiful that celebrates the joy you both share is incredible. I encourage you all to explore and discover Joy in Movement! Now that we have an established core set of poses, we are working on adding new poses to get to those deeper areas that are more difficult to stretch. My philosophy is one of encouraging the stretch rather than pushing into the stretch. In my opinion, as you try to go deeper it is even more important that you search for gentle release so that the muscles gradually grow accustomed to the deeper longer stretches and don't become tender and inflamed. Yoga doesn't have a time table. Letting go of feeling like we have to achieve a certain stretch and listening to our own body for today's best stretch allows us to continue to carry out the day to day tasks required without soreness, inflammation, and pain that can occur if we push too hard.
In recent classes we have been focusing on release. I am really looking for that moment when the muscles relax and allow a tiny release. I love that feeling. I find that, contrary to our modern western philosophy of push harder longer, release comes when I stretch but don't push and then hold for a few deep breaths and let the body follow the movement of the breath. What are your favorite poses to achieve release?
|
AuthorSherri LC Bunch Archives
October 2019
Categories |