When it comes to movement, and the way we live our lives in general, we all have room to slow down and exhale.
You may recall a learning experience in which your Wellness Station practitioner offered you the option of repeating a portion of a movement lesson considering various speeds, such as moving more slowly. Very often we will encourage our clientele to move more slowly than what is typical, which can be challenging and elucidating for many.
Why is it important to slow down?
When we are rushing, it is much more difficult to be embodied in our experience. We are less likely to notice signs of strain on our body tissues, and far more likely to revert back to habitual and stressful movement patterns without even being aware of what we are doing. By moving too quickly, we may miss the opportunity to improve the quality of those moves.
Think about a time you were at a grocery store and you may have been rushing around, trying to get in and out as quickly as possible. Did you forget something? Many of us have been in this situation, and may have even forgotten the very item that caused us to go to the store in the first place! Rather than saving time by rushing, we may have had to make a second trip back to the store to make up for the mistake. The irony of rushing is that it will ultimately slow you down.
When it comes to engaging in movement, slowing down is extremely important. As part of your therapy at the Wellness Station, we begin to learn new movement patterns. Our job is to help you and your brain identify movement patterns that are less efficient, and develop new ones that are less stressful and more nourishing for your tissues. The purpose is not to practice what you already know, but to build more options in the way you move your body and engage with the outside world.
Mindfulness Movement Exercise
Take a moment to stand and walk around a little bit. As you do, choose one hand to make a light fist and continue to walk with that hand held in that fashion for 30 seconds to 1 minute, and then release that hand as much as possible. Which hand now feels more relaxed and free and easy? Is it possible that habitually you hold some extra tension in your hands and the contrast between purposeful tension and releasing informs your brain to release more fully? Many of us hold excessive tension in our bodies as we go about our days without being aware. By slowing down and paying attention during our daily movements, we can begin to let go of some unnecessary tension and begin to move with greater ease.
How can you learn something new unless you truly slow down? Consider learning a new language. If your French teacher spoke a mile a minute, would you have any clue what they were saying? It takes time and attention in order for our neurons to make new connections. Ever heard the phrase “Neurons that fire together wire together”? When we are engaging in new movement patterns, this is exactly what is happening. Neurons in your brain are beginning to “speak” to each other in order to create connections that can be utilized in the future. If the “speaking” is done too quickly, meaningful connections cannot be created or sustained, and learning does not occur.
Slowing down also will affect our tendency to be kind and gentle to our bodies. If we are rushing, we will be more likely to force our body into a new movement pattern, rather than allowing our brain to lay down and incorporate new connections. Are you willing to be gentle and easy, or is your predisposition to develop frustration or put in excessive effort when your body doesn’t immediately respond? These factors affect the relationship we have with the tissues of our body, and can either perpetuate our patterns of stress and strain, or begin to foster a positive and deeply communicative and compassionate relationship between mind and body.
Mindfulness Movement Exercise
Take a few minutes to practice doing something much more slowly than you are used to. Consider engaging in mindful walking, perhaps just around the house or on a quiet trail. Walk very slowly, paying deep attention to the way your feet make contact with the ground, your sense of balance, the changing sensations in your body, and anything else that your mind is drawn to. How does this impact your experience of walking? what kind of connections might your brain be making?
Written by Jacob Tyson, DPT - Physical Therapist, Yoga Instructor and The Wellness Station Team