Listening to Our Biological Systems
Listening to Our Biological Systems
My training has taught me there are 11 physical or biological systems to measure health. What got my interest from the beginning is, our biological systems are generally self correcting. How else would we as a human species have survived as long as we have. Studies have shown the complex systems in the body will gain optimization as medicine, nutrition, awareness improves.
Mind-body awareness has been my passion for quite a while, and continued studying keeps me in pace with breakthroughs and reintroduction of old modalities. If you think about it, most civilizations have deep connections to the mental spirit and holistic health. Bringing these ancient ideals back into your daily life will add longevity to your future.
Mental health was not listed as one of the original 11 biological systems. Our mental health can be the tipping point for so many who have lost some potency and vitality. I often share that when we move better, we feel better, we have more energy, desire, potency and vitality. This movement also enables us mentally and emotionally. Each system affects all the others to support or deplete our potential for optimal health. This state of optimal health is not static, rather it’s a dynamic conversation among the whole body that allows this ebb and flow to know how to restore to a more efficient state of being.
In a sense I am a playful fanatic about exploring Awareness Through Movement (ATM)® lessons on a daily basis. The benefits begin to show themselves even when we are not consciously aware.
Unexpectedly, I was in a DDS chair for about 2.5 hs. Lots of odd positions of the mouth as well as neck and spine. For most, this would create a bit of discomfort. What awoke within me, were so many ATM lessons, movements I started to play with during my time in the chair; diaphragmatic breathing, bell hand with the breath, flexing and extending my ankles to enable gentle oscillations to awaken all the way up through me, a bit of “worming” movements throughout my spine in the chair at moments of pause and rest from the procedure.
From my ATM lessons, I respond without ever needing to think about it, the lessons are living within me. The most spectacular moment was when I got out of the chair some 2.5 hours later. I felt so easy, tall, comfortable! I knew I had taken care of myself despite the external work on my nervous system. Years of ATM lessons have hard wired into my biological systems enabling this total sense of ease and comfort. Despite what I had to endure, actually doing ATM during the procedure as well as during the pauses enabled a remarkable result!
“Breathing is movement. Our breathing reflects every emotional or physical effort and every disturbance.” – Moshe Feldenkrais
This is our dance of life, not always so simple and easy and yet we can meet these situations without having to be tanked and distressed. I hope you will join me this week for 2 afternoon ATM classes to continue your process in finding greater ease and comfort even when life throws you a curve ball. You might be surprised that there are times that you can actually hit that ball like a home run, out of the ball park!
There will be only 2 ATM this week because I return to the 2nd virtual segment of the Ann Arbor Feldenkrais I Training program this coming weekend. Hope you can join me live for class. And just in case this doesn’t work with your schedule, you can always access my YouTube channel to enjoy over 80 FREE ATM lessons I offer you to continue to play and explore your pathway to finding greater ease and comfort on a daily basis. Remember, no one ever said life was easy, just ways to learn how to make this “Dance of Life” a bit easier, little bits at a time. If I can, I know you can too!
Warmest,
Peggi
