I say some weird things in class. Things like:
Imagine your armpits are giant nostrils
Turn your butt smile to the ceiling
Imagine you are on the bottom of a bunkbed, now push your feet into the top bunk
Reach forward like you are trying to grab a fat puppy
Picture your navel as an eyeball - look down, look up
Smile with your stomach
Imagine you have nostrils all over your body
Your feet have been glued to the floor - how does that feel when you do this?
Imagine you can pick up your bottom ribs and lay them over the bolster
Imagine your whole body as a camping mattress - inflate, deflate
You are a mermaid on a rock, forlorn because your pirate has left
Try unhooking your bra using your shoulderblades
Nod like Lady Di (credit for this one to Glenda)
It may sound silly and often is. It doesn't matter how the message gets across, learning how to feel into different parts of the body, and focusing on them in new ways can only be beneficial.
I have learned from my yogis that many of them tend not to do exercises given to them by physios. They should - they work. However, they can be a bit dry and tedious (sorry physios). We do a shoulder rotation in class that is a pretty standard physio movement, but instead of 'reach and rotate' I suggest that they imagine themselves on the deck of a luxury boat, lolling about in the sunshine all gorgeous and sunkissed and roll their arm overhead and around like they are a greek shipping heiress. It always gets a laugh (not the intention but I'll take it) and they do get more relaxed and the movement becomes fluid and easier. They enjoy it, and at the end are all relaxed and soft. As you would be, if you had a full crew and were heading to Mykonos :)
How can you bring this idea to everyday movement of your own? If you are at the gym, can you picture pushing your children out of bed with your feet (gently, of course) when you are doing a leg press? When you go for a walk, can you picture the earth rotating in perfect time, so all you have to do is lift your feet and it moves beneath you? With every breath, can you feel the gentle flutter of the nostrils expanding all over your lovely body, breathing and nourishing and creating space?
Instead of moving in a way that feels formulaic or proper, can you move in a way that feels refreshingly fun and free? Loosen up. Get silly. And let me know if you come up with any movement nuggets.
With love,
Amanda xx
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