Monthly Archives: April 2023

Foundations

feldemoves awareness through movement April 26, 2023 Leave a reply

A friend of mine has just bought a fixer-upper, in a great location. Some people thinks she’s gone a bit crazy. But this move is largely in response to a tragic event in her life last year. Of course the first thing she did was to get the building inspector to check the foundations. Life-changing events can make us question our values, shed our skin and start something new.

Excessiveness, expansion can occur in times of ease or abundance. I remember a time in my life which was abundant. Its lovely to have enough, don’t get me wrong, but I became a lavish shopaholic. I feel like those times were not meant to last…

After my divorce settlement I went from being comfortable to struggling financially. I remember selling my Omega ladies 9ct gold watch at the pawn shop (now do you believe me about being a shopaholic). I cut down on memberships and had to juggle bills and work out how to feed my daughter on $10 a day.

So when constraints are put in place we have to adapt, sometimes creatively. These constraints, either chosen or placed on us can be limited space, time or money. This is not a new idea but it has been called `stretching’, being resourceful, using what you have, rather than `chasing’ for more, or being excessive. Chasing vs stretching has been coined by Scott Sonenshein. Stretching is seen as a better way to live than chasing, better for the environment, cheaper and more satisfying.

Drew and I are moving into a much smaller space. The studio space at the back of our house is being converted into a 1 bedroom apartment. I have been culling household items whilst learning about Marketplace. We have found a miniature versions of kitchen goods. Yes there is such a thing as a 45cm wide dishwasher. I am learning how to stretch rather than chase. I do think humans thrive when we have to adapt. I will let you know how we go sharing a 60m2 space.

In Australia consumer spending and excess has slowed after 10 successive interest rate rises (SMH 28/4/23). I’m sorry for those doing it hard. If you are missing your Feldenkrais 1:1 sessions because you have had to tighten your belt, I have a new series coming up- 10 weeks of classes which are very affordable.

We will be exploring our earliest movements, your own foundations. It’s a bit like checking under your own house to see if some gentle restumping is in order. This is `stretching’ not `chasing’ I assure you! I have taught this series before. It is a grounding re-examination, an immersive journey. You will lie like a baby, roll into sitting and even do some crawling. If you look at babies they have long backs with no tension, they are flexible and curious. That will be you!

Re-explore your earliest movements: Feldenkrais Method®

We are born as curious explorers filled with a sense of potential. We literally feel our way through the essential steps of development. The Feldenkrais Method approach helps to rejuvenate those early learning skills, using unique movement sequences to improve awareness, unravel harmful habits and regulate your nervous system.

This 10 week `Awareness through movement®’ series explores the earliest movements of life and the unfolding of developmental processes which lead from one function to the next such as:

·      Baby pose to rolling

·      Rolling to sitting

·      Sitting to crawling

You will be guided through these lessons which encourage somatic awareness, curiosity and fun!

This series runs for 10 weeks

May 2- July 4

Tuesdays 6:00-7:00pm

The 10 week block costs $170.

The Fourth Floor Level 4/65 Murray St

https://thefourthfloor.punchpass.com/classes/12933304

The gift of okayness

feldemoves mindfulness, self-compassion April 18, 2023 Leave a reply

Have you ever thought I should be feeling happier in my life? Perhaps you have been plagued by the sensation of feeling flat for a few days? Have you got a tendency to keep busy, or do you ensure there are things in your life to look forward to?

All of us have to manage our mental health to some degree. Whether it is through exercise, diet, sleep or talking to loved ones. Seeking professional help is essential if your mood is impacting on your ability to function in everyday life.

The positive thinking and gratitude movement has been around for a few decades. In fact the happiness and positive thinking industry is estimated to be worth US $11 billion a year.

I suspect most of us have found positive thinking and gratitude practice helpful at times because we do have a tendency in our society to ask, “What is wrong?” rather than, “What is right?” Shifting our focus to what is going well can change our thinking for the better, which can also shift our mood.

Do you remember when positive affirmations became popular in the New Age movement? Saying affirmations like “My life is perfect in every way!” felt like I was trying to con myself.

Some people can find gratitude practice difficult too. There are aspects of life that do make us sad and angry and sometimes no amount of gratitude practice will remove these feelings. Pushing ourselves to be grateful or positive could be a type of suppression of our our problems which can lead to more distress (Psychology Today)

It can be a slippery slope making happiness your number one goal in life. Yet the happiness and positive thinking industry helps perpetuate the fantasy that happiness is a realistic goal (Euba:2019)

Most of us know, perhaps painfully, that happiness is a transient state. Some experts say there is no neurological basis for happiness in the brain because it is a`human construct’ and even less dependable than depression for helping us to survive. Depression encourages caution and rumination that is biologically advantageous in dangerous times (Euba: 2019)

Despite this, most of us still aspire to be happy most of the time. Of course we do because it feels so good.

I love the poem by William Blake on the transience of happiness:

 

“He who binds to himself to joy

Does the winged life destroy;

But he who kisses the joy as it flies

Lives in eternity’s sun rise.”

 

Learning to accept what is, rather than what should be, is powerful. If you are anything like me you have probably spent a great deal of your life struggling with what is, rather than accepting it.

A few years ago during Covid, I received an online teaching by a Buddhist monk (I am sorry his name eludes me). He was talking about this idea of okayness. In other words, not aspiring for happiness and being satisfied with being okay. Is this sounding too beige and mediocre?

A few months ago I had been feeling a bit down for a few days and I was getting worried that something was wrong in my life. It was at that moment, I recalled the teaching on okayness. So I asked myself “Am I okay?”  And after a moment my answer came back, “Yes. I am okay.” I could feel the weighty striving for happiness float away and my heart swelled with the confidence that I would be alright.

Perhaps like you, I have had the habit of nudging myself to look on the positive side of life too much. It seems like something has been left out in the happiness and positive thinking movement. 11 million dollars is a good reason to perpetuate the happiness myth.

Being okay is empowering. It helps you to acknowledge the positive and negative aspects of your life. All expectations can drop away, even if it’s just momentarily.

Difficulties are part of life and if we can take a step back with a knowingness that despite the ups and downs we can find some equilibrium. When we accept that we are okay, maybe there is more room to kiss the joy as it flies.

References

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/therapy-types/acceptance-and-commitment-therapy

https://humanpsychology.com.au/expectations-the-real-hapiness-killer/

Euba, Rafael, 2019. https://theconversation.com/hu…