Jaw and eyes soften neck
Yikes, it’s already Saturday morning! I’m not sure how that happened. My sense of time seems more elastic than usual these days, speeding up sometimes, and then slowing down.
The other day I read yet another article on how busy and disconnected we all are, how much we fear slowing down.
Of course, I keep a whole file of these articles, like,
The Case for Doing Nothing
The Cult of Busy
Productivity isn’t about time management, it’s about attention
How unpredictable hours turn families upside down
Stress can make you sick
Want to be happier? Stop scheduling your free time
And so on.
I did live a stressful, rushed life in New York City for nearly twenty years—and then I didn’t. I get how it feels to be constantly getting things done, except they’re never done because then there’s the next list, and the next.
I don’t rush around in my life now. I choose to do less if something feels too rushed. (Not that I don’t get a lot done! I ran about eight errands yesterday and puttered around the house for two hours, keeping all the little things ship-shape.)
I think not rushing is one of the best antidotes to stress.
I am lucky in that I get to see mountains every day, go on long walks with my dog, and hang out with friends.
So I won’t tell you to do all the things that de-stress, like eat right, rest well, walk outdoors, breathe, take time for friends and family. I didn’t do any of these things when I was rushing around in my life, and I know how hard it is to fit it all in.
What I will suggest is to do Feldenkrais. Give yourself the gift of attention in this busy world. Get on the floor and feel all the hidden inner spaces, the nooks and crannies of your experience you ignore the rest of the time.
Let go of thinking and just be. This lesson is helpful for the neck and jaw. Amazing changes happen in a short time when your attention is truly free. Use it to unwind sitting at the computer, which, if you’re reading this, you are!
More lessons:
This lesson is from the Jaw, Neck, and Tongue section in the Feldenkrais Treasury.
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Quote of the week:
“Being a poet is one of the unhealthier jobs—no regular hours, so many temptations!”
Note: I know last week’s lesson had some short rests! I fixed it. If you click the link below, it will play the new version.