Finding Grace in our Bodies
Withher permission, I am sharing below a lovely blog post written by KateGamble, from Open Door Workshop. Open Door is our neighbor down thestreet, and Kate, a physical therapist and a dancer, offers a reallyinteresting array of classes and workshops all devoted to increasinghealth and wellbeing through art and movement modalities. Her blog entrycompletely captivated and resonated with me; I will often start classeswith students on their backs in constructive rest, at least for themellower classes. The connection to the floor, and the earth beneaththat, the organic process of beginning almost primordially supine andreconnecting with gravity, helps me create a more nuanced feeling ofease in my own body. Slowly building movement from that place ofcomplete repose builds an awareness of deep intention and efficiencyinto the experience of posture and flow. Kate writes beautifully hereabout having her patients and students begin on their backs. I Hope youenjoy the read as much as I did, and be sure to check out all thewonderful offerings at Open Door Workshop, or stop in on your way down to Tuckerbox after class.
**********************
"We start by lying on the ground in most of my PT sessions and danceclasses. This position—supine—allows us to rest in the moment, focus onour breath, and reacquaint ourselves with gravity. It’s a good place tostart to encourage curiosity about what the body holds and the usefuland the unnecessary efforts that have become habit. It is also theposition where we all began as infants—the beginning of what we call thedevelopmental sequence. Our nervous system is wired to learn from thisfirst stage. And the supine position is quite beautiful as it invitesvulnerability while also ensuring stability. What an excellent place tobegin.
I hope that from this beginning my students and clients can begin tolisten to their bodies. My skills as a PT and dancer stem from acuriosity cultivated from years of observation and study of bodies. Icontinue to learn that grace sometimes requires less effort, morehumility, and more surrender.
I also see that our bodies carry stories--sometimes painful, alwaysinteresting--which can show up in the body through an injury or in aplace of tension. These stories can hide in the neck, jaw, gut—anywhere.Often we crave to release these stories, and sometimes movement canhelp with the process. With movement and awareness we can begin to hearour own stories. It is my hope that with my guidance, touch, andnoticing, I can help facilitate this listening.
As we move from the supine position through more challenging positionsand sequences that gradually engage with gravity, we add effort andenergy but continue to assess what is essential and efficient. Outbiomechanics are structured in a way that allows us to discover what weneed to move and be supported. I watch the young person run with abandonand the older person walk tenderly on this earth and I know that thesemovements come from the same place.
Our work in these sessions and classes is not necessarily about settinggoals, although goals are achieved (less pain, easier movement, greatercoordination and strength). It is more about discovery, surprise, andrealizing that ease and grace will come with right effort. Perhaps weare opening doors that we did not know were closed and in so doing areconstantly evolving into what we want to be.
I am grateful to everyone that has walked and will walk in to Open Doorand are receptive to what we offer. This receptiveness is thecornerstone of our strength as an organization. So, I ask you all totake some time, lay back on the earth, allow yourself to be held, andsimply listen and feel.
Kate Gamble
November 2015Lieback daughter, let your head be tipped back in the cup of my hand.Gently, and I will hold you. Spread your arms wide, lie out on thestream and look high at the gulls. A dead- man's float is face down. Youwill dive and swim soon enough where this tidewater ebbs to the sea.Daughter, believe me, when you tire on the long thrash to your island,lie up, and survive. As you float now, where I held you and let go,remember when fear cramps your heart what I told you: lie gently andwide to the light-year stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.
—Philip Booth