The interplay of tension and relaxation

This topic has become like a fun game to me. Once you start to become aware of your body, what you use and what you don’t, you notice, how you have the opportunity to choose – what muscles to use, how to use them, in what combination. Also, what you like to experience doing so.

As an example, if you grab a glass from high out of the cupboard, it could be a challenging task. Maybe a task where you experience tension in your neck and shoulders, stressing the arm from reaching up high. Once you notice, you cannot un-notice anymore. This is a power. You get unsatisfied with the experience created in this movement and think about how to do it differently. What if you got this elongation from another place in your body, such as stretching out your entire ribcage on that side while taking a deep breath in. Taking on a vague shape of a banana. Suddenly, this challenging task of reaching for the glass has become an opportunity to find a deep inhale that gives you energy and lifts you up towards the glass. Effortlessly.

Another example I experienced the other day packing large paintings which were lying on the floor. If you just bend over for the total amount of wrapping and taping the paintings, it starts to cause discomfort and even pain in multiple places in the body: the neck, the back, the hamstrings and knees. Instead, I chose to use this moment as an opportunity to move in a way I would in a yoga class of mine – squatting and using the squat as a starting point to explore my hips, my sides, finding a hip opening, a lower back release, a twist.

The trick is to notice, become aware of the situation you are in and take a moment to think about how you could change it and make it serve you. Put yourself in a better place and better experience. If you are able to notice the discomfort and where the extra tension sits, that produces it, it helps you to distribute the “impact” into other places in your body. Spreading it or relocating it by doing smaller changes and shifts.

This is you getting in touch with your body, noticing and responding. Taking care of yourself in more challenging situations.