On a week that saw Linda finally kicked out, the Donald brought in and more beaver references than anyone needs in The Arches, we have rolled, crunched and articulated our way thorugh a full timetable of 8 live classes.
I talk a lot about the importance I place on helping us all to learn more about our bodies. I could just roll out the same old exercises to put us through our paces and keep us ticking over but I want so much more for us all.
While I realise that not all of you are as nerdy as me about anatomy, physiology and movement, I am sure that understanding WHY your body does or does not do what it does better helps you get results.
Usually, if it hurts, it means that something is in the wrong place. If a pose or move cannot be achieved, it is because there is an obstruction or weakness so breaking it down, feeling it and imagining the movement can help us see what is happening, where it is coming from and what changes we can make.
It is a Buddhist belief that we are all sent the same lessons until we learn from them at which point we can move on. Is it not the same with our recurring injuries and niggles? It is all well and good getting them fixed but why did they happen in the first place? What behaviour or movement is being repeated to cause the problem and what steps can be taken to correct this?
Hate to say it and I dare say that you already know this but it is generally the moves we hate the most that we need to work on. Why do we hate them? because we find them hard? and if that is the case, why do we find them hard and what do we need to do to solve this?
From our class perspective, this is why I love revisiting the back to basics work and lots of "checking in" to stop automatic, default movement but to keep the mind body connection and better practise mindful movement with precision.
Quality of life can start with living and moving with purpose.
It is widely understood that we all learn differently. Some of need to see a demonstration, some of us find reading information helps us while others need to imagine or visualise what they are aiming for and lastly, perhaps we need physical, hands on correction or guidance. This is referred to as VARK (visual, audio, reading and kinaesthetic) and while I cannot help in the hands on (online), I do my best to cover the other options.
It can be something as simple as using different cues and visual suggestions (which can help us hear and imagine differently) but it can also be a little more in depth like going off down a rabbit hole of different moves and exercises that may not appear to be at all related but can all tie in to bring us back to the original challenge.
I am always learning and while teaching yesterday, I came up with 2 ideas that could actually really help break down another exercise (that we were not currently doing) and I had to hop up and scribble it down to use further down the line. At last night's count, I had 8 A4 notebooks with scribbles, diagrams, ideas and reference notes that I keep promising myself I will condense into a more orderly fashion...
I continue to learn in so many ways. I have learned recently that doing Pushups while wearing an 18" chain and pendant will end up with me getting my front teeth knocked out.
I have also learned that leaving my mic clipped on when I leave my studio will allow my class to hear me pop to the loo, tell the dogs I love them and say things like "OHMYGOD I am xxxxxxx exhausted"....
I have also learned (some time ago now) not to get into a parking debate at Tesco when I am wearing a branded sweatshirt....but we move on....
