Storage spots
Yesterday, I was working with a student. She was lying on her back on the table, (releasing into her length and width), and I was holding her arm, under the elbow and wrist. This process of letting go of tension in her arm (and HeadNeckBack) yielded a feeling of fear which seemingly arose out of nowhere.
She didn’t mention this until later in the lesson, but I’m so glad she did. First of all – incredible that she was able to witness that emotion as it surfaced. And name it. Without tensing in her body. Second, it’s SO important for me to know what my student is experiencing, so I can see how they are thinking and if/how they are responding. This immediately invites me to notice how I am responding in my own body, and helps me to support them more.
Over the years, I have experienced and witnessed emotions running through people while in the AT practice space. Sometimes we stop and talk, but mostly, we focus on the priority at hand – maintaining ease. Tears can flow through and we are still there, grounded, suspended, and responsive. If we are easy, we can add in a simple thought of spatial direction for a small, subtle, release. We stay with ourselves, and these micromovements that happen clear the way for major release of tension, stress and sometimes emotion.
I am left-handed, and recall a time when another teacher was holding my left arm, gently lowering it down while I sat on a stool. It took maybe 5 minutes to lower my arm that day. When it finally landed in my lap, I said “I feel like my whole life just flashed before my eyes.” I wanted so badly to pull toward my arm, shortening my neck and back, (and so many other parts) and losing my connection to gravity. Going slowly helped me to see this process happening, and see the other choices available. All these stories enacting themselves throughout my body connected to my left-handedness – scoliosis, joint pain, headaches, etc.- and this piece of the pattern is exposed to work with and learn from.
BOOM. Major awareness of deep habitual psychophysical response. A piece of the puzzle revealed. AND there is never a knowing of the whole picture…because life is movement, and my body will be different tomorrow than it is today. As old habits are released, new ones form, and that left-handed relationship of my arm to my back will continue to shift, on and on.
