I take yoga classes to help keep my body flexible and ready for my graphic facilitation work. (It’s a surprisingly-physical practice, graphic facilitation!) Taking care of one’s body is particularly important when you’re working with a disabled dominant arm (the result of a work injury years ago) and a problematic left low back and hip.
So the other day I was in my yoga class and I thought of you.
There I was, doing my best to go deeper into Arda Matsyendrasana I (Half Lord of the Fishes Pose I). Here’s what it looks like, according to Yoga Journal. (That’s how the ASANA looks. . . not how I look when I’m doing it!)
You can see from the picture, a body doing this pose gets pretty tightly wound up! Not tight as in tense-tight (although that can happen when you’re working really hard to stay in a deep twist), but simply tight with all the potential energy held within such a deep twist.
It’s like pulling back on a rubber band. You can pull it back really tight, but it may hurt you when you let it go.
Pull it back too far, and it may also snap.
Isn’t this true in our own work as well?
We can reach and push and strive to take ourselves deeper into our practice, whatever it may be. Drawing out ideas, or drawing forth the best in our teams. Refining our skills, or stretching our capacity. We can work so hard at taking ourselves to a new level that we don’t realize just how wound up we’ve become.
This winding up may not be overtly-physical, of course. Sure, we can carry that stress in our bodies, but there’s a lot of winding up in our brains as well. So much to think about, so much on our minds. Things that could happen, things that already happened yet we keep re-hashing in our brains.
It’s hard to simply let those things go.
It’s even harder to “make” yourself let these things go.
So what’s the secret? Let’s go back to the yoga mat.
There I was in my yoga class, twisted up in that Half Lord of the Fishes pose, breathing and basically holding on for dear life not to fall out of the position and hurt myself. (I do yoga, but I’m not always the most graceful yogini.)
That’s when Sean, the yoga instructor, said something that stuck in my mind:
“Gently allow yourself to unravel from the pose.”
Hm. Gently unravel. Don’t just give up and fall out where you are, snapping back in the opposite direction and suffering from a backlash. Or worse: snapping and hurting yourself. . . or someone else. Sometimes a gentle unraveling is more effective than a straight-on push.
How does one gently unravel when they are so wound up?
For me, I have to focus on my breathing. I pay attention to my in-breath and out-breath, and use each breath to unravel a single thread of tension or holding at a time. I breathe in and create some space in my mind and body. I breathe out and release just a wee bit of tension. In to expand and create some space. Out to release and let go just a bit more. After a few breaths, I am safely out from being all wound up, and I haven’t snapped at anyone along the way.
It works when I remember to do it. Of course, I don’t always remember. (Hey, I’m human.)
How do YOU gently unravel when you are wound up?
Please share your approach in the comments below, and let’s learn from each other!
I cannot wait to see what you draw forth,
I go camping or on a long hike. Something about nature and being away from everything that has me wound up let’s me see things clearer. And camping and hiking get you out of your comfort zone (sleeping in a tent without amenities, or hiking a challenging trail). But it also gets you in touch with the energy of nature and with yourself. No cell phones, no computers, no email. No demands other than to walk or contemplate and enjoy the stars, trees and all the world has to offer. That is how I gently unwind .
What a lovely reminder, Amy! Nature is a great guide to help us gently unravel and reset ourselves. Thanks to you, I made some time today to sit on a bench and watch the sun set over the San Francisco Bay. Such a delicious moment of peace.