Tag Archives: Body Awareness

Our worlds, our reality!

hands-600497_960_720In every moment our worlds are colliding.  The world we long for (our dreams), our world that is (our real experience)  and the world that is  shaping up around us (global experience).

The world we long for is our potential based upon all our lives.

Our world that is a culmination of our education, culture and choices we have made in this life.

The world that is shaping up around us is the outcome of our contributions (our actions) to it.

To make any personal changes it requires letting your hopes and dreams become meaningful enough to  to break through your conditioning that of society, which you helped to create.   Understanding this enables you to create more focus and it becomes about how you do it!

  • How do you want to contribute to your future?
  • How do you want to contribute to the future of society in each action you take to full fill your objectives?

For example,  if you want to contribute to enriched life then you will engage in increased actions that are life-giving.  This includes standing up for your values and lifestyles.  If you want freedom, choice and peace, your actions will be peaceful and you will give others free choice through your behavior and relationships.   If you want to live a healthier lifestyle you will support yourself in personal change that will be supportive versus self-destructive.


  • Healthier Lifestyle – transformation

If you are wanting to make a physical body change, relationships change or environmental change, it begins with having a dream.  Once you have the dream then it needs to become reality through actions.   No one will admit that this is easy.  I consider it to be a form of  warrior-ship!  The personal question is what type of warrior do you want to be.

Do you want to effect change from fear and judgement or from peace and confidence?

  1. Are you one of those types that is ridged with fear, goes 100 miles an hour delving into your new system and justifies your new lifestyle choices with everyone you meet?  On this new plan do you judge others on their choices or body type and try to teach them based upon your own fear based beliefs?
  2. Are you one of those types that explores personal change and observes the outcomes without being too rigid and giving yourself empathy with any self-judgments that come up?

Of the two characters types listed above, which one do you think would have a greater success rate for long-lasting  and a broader range of change?

One cannot say creating personal change is easy.  You are changing a culture and creating new patterns.  You  can long for it and even make a statement of commitment, however, if you are not supported effectively, the change you want or need may not be the outcome!

Some of the ways to support change is to follow a system for setting personal goals that are fun and  encompass a life style, not just an attitude!  Other ways are to learn a new system of behavior in how we process information and hold our posture.  Read more on this below in relationships and healthier life.

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  • Relationships  – transforming habitual responses (thoughts as a result of emotions) to focused clarity on what is important in the moment, not the past or future

Some of Dr. Marshall Rosenberg’s messages in his book Nonviolent Communication are the benefits of being empathetic while holding ones own believes and needs as important as those been heard in others.  It is a fine practice to enjoy autonomy while still being able to listen to others.  This is experience that becomes co-creative and enriching to all involved that creates effective change!

As my practice ages I am discovering that there is not one opinion that matters and that there are no two people who have the same views.  To contribute in our global world experience to effect the outcomes we hope for, the best path to achieve this is go beyond what we think we know into being curious about it. When we are stuck in the experience of thinking we know what is right, and if we think we have all the right solutions, we are acting out from a closed attitude that is life draining.   It’s essence reflects scarcity, survival and loss versus an open attitude reflecting open-mindedness.  An open and curious mind  has an essence of space and time that evokes growth, connection and co-operation to investigate possible outcomes together.

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  • Healthier Life (transforming habitual responses in a fuller understanding of how ones body is ones environment of experience; mentally, emotionally and physically)

To effect change in your living experience, movement and functional awareness can support how you experience yourself, your surroundings and others.   Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais developed a  system of somatic Education that increased personal connection to ones functioning.  In this practice one has the opportunity to become more self-aware with a heightened sensibility.

Once again, as my practice ages, I am becoming familiar with how  ones body condition creates their emotional, mental and physical well-being which corresponds in how they think, feel and respond.   I have witnessed how when ones movement patterns become more flexible and less conditioned  it increases ones level of tolerance to life events.

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Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
Jaw Release Program since 2007, Authored  Achieving your Goals  31 Day Program, Sleep Sweet Sleep, Kid’s Peace Bus Calendar of Values  Educational Program & InTouch with Your Values Self-Actualization Program.  Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Communication & Empathy Coach since 2004, Art of Placement  since 2000, Labyrinths of Victoria since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Grassroots Calendar Founder, Vice-Chair of World Children’s Summit on Peace & Nature in 2015

 

 

Posture collapse! Find out more about how fear, pain and movement go hand in hand in ultimate experiencing! Your life can change in a moment….

walker-1082410_960_720I saw a new student to our balance class walking in behind her walker.  She was bent completely over with arms outstretched in front of her, hands on the walker handles, head and eyes looking directly down towards the floor.  I was surprised and curious at how to teach the class and include her.

Sitting down on a chair was an effort for her with turning, twisting and letting go of the walker to sit down all the while talking and totally unaware that we had started the workshop. She began her story before coming through the doorway and didn’t stop for most of the class.

Her story, the one that gave away the secret of her current condition was possibly the first one she shared.  One we could all face in some way.  She had taken her elderly husband into  an overcrowd hospital where they left him in a bed in the hallway.  She tended to him herself and when trying to lift him she hurt her back and bent over in pain.  bend-1296747_960_720From the looks of her posture she never stood back up!  Did I forget to mention she is 4 foot 11 inches and a senior!

After many doctors visits with x-rays she heard there was nothing medically wrong.  No spine or brain damage and no strokes, etc.  In addition to her fear, she now experiences her husbands feelings of frustration at her condition.. She has fallen a few times and lost three teeth.

Some challenges we experienced together with her loss of connection to her own body:

  • The first challenge – stop talking long enough to experience the movement patterns and let  everyone benefit from the workshop
  • The second challenge – to support her sitting posture.    Not only was she falling over in standing, she was falling over in sitting.
  • The third challenge – remind her to stand up.
  • The fourth challenge – re-introduce her to her pelvis.
  • The fifth and sixth – to re-introduce her to her legs and feet.

hawaiian-hula-dancers-377653_960_720

Surprisingly she grew up a dancer and taught it up until that hospital visit you read about above. When she began to listen and follow our guided movement patterns she recognized them as movements she made and taught in her own classes.  Now in her frozen state she wasn’t making these movement patterns that were hers for seventy years.  Pain and fear had erased them from her posture and memory!.

Read more on what affected her the most and shifted her into paying more attention to learning what she could do verses seeking answers


Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Value-Based Communication & Empathy Coach since 2004, Art of Placement  since 2000, Founder of Greater Victoria Peace & Intercultural Celebrations since 2010 & Greater Victoria Labyrinths since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Calendar Founder – 2014 & 2015

“Resolutions imply resolving conflict!” Did you start your year focusing on your inner conflicts?

The Beauty Path WayDid you begin your new year drawing attention to your inner conflict and what you hate about yourself?  If you did, what do you think your chances of success are when your focus is on what’s wrong with you versus what’s right with you?  

Ever consider that you can put your failed resolutions down to the validation that you give yourself when you keep reconfirming in your mind what’s wrong with you.  Is your inner-voice telling you that you are a looser?

If you began to shift your focus slightly perhaps you will shift hopelessness into hope and inspiration.  Beginning with:

  • Asking yourself, “What is my motivation?”  
  • and “Do I want  to build my confidence or self-sabotage?”

Embrace your power and find your joy’

Explore how to create a conscious and doable life-scape that is empowering and start enjoying the journey!  Westcoast Pathway

  • Heart Mind Connection
  • Body Movement
  • Mindful Relationships
  • Stimulating your soul through your environment

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Renee Lindstrom, GCFP,
Feldenkrais® Practitioner since 2007, Value-Based Communication & Empathy Coach since 2004, Art of Placement  since 2000, Founder of Greater Victoria Peace & Intercultural Celebrations since 2010 & Greater Victoria Labyrinths since 2012, #yyj Peace Week Calendar Founder – 2014 & 2015

 

Physical Attributes of Chronic Fear & Anxiety

There have been opportunities to explore the long-term physical, mental and emotional effects of long-term fear and anxiety as a Feldenkrais® Practitioner and Life Coach .  Here are some examples of the results that have been presented.  Keep in mind that these results are based upon cases where these conditions have evolved slowly over time without any awareness.  The slow development of physical change results from lack of attention on body awareness, therefore,  the shift in movement behaviors generally they are not noticed.   

Flight

Dominate flight reactions tend to be the loss of strength physically, mentally or emotionally.    Two physical responses to panic; collapsing,  going limp or running away.  Chronic fear and anxiety can be noticeable in  general appearance and in social behaviors.   A common quality is over achievement, overdoing it whether hold strong, being strong or double jointed and limber. There is a disconnection from body awareness. Generally the body is not highly regarded, taken care of or appreciated.    

These following three reactions have shown up in cases of without a balanced approach to developing all aspects of well-being.  

1.  A  dominant focus of attention on a spiritual movement practice.  The physical movement of the body structure has presented with lack of strength and limited inner body awareness.  The core force of inner physical strength has been replaced with a limp disconnected reaction.

2.  A dominant focus of attention on a goal or achievement.  The body is strong with a lack of connection to the finer qualities in mobility.  The body is used to excel  the focus is on strategies to get results versus developing whole and spontaneous movement.

3.  A dominant focus on fear and creating safety.  This has shown up as permanent state without  connection to ones senses in the present moment.  The only connection to a felt body sense is a source of discomfort and pain.  It is regarded as the enemy and when explored the pain is a memory and not necessarily current.  

In relationships dominant flight fear/anxiety reactors will generally lack the qualities of self-empathy and empathy for others.  They are self-focused and intent on creating safety by whatever strategies that have been learned.  The need is for survival and it is primal.  This Read more….

Freeze

1.  Freezing presents itself by the lack of spontaneous moving parts in breathing and posture.  There is a habit of moving the body in a locked posture with the  inability to move different body parts separately.  An example of this locking of the head in a forward posture.  Turning to the left and right and become a full body movement as the pain of locking ones head creates a habit.

2.  Tremors start with long-term freezing.  The muscles are in a state of permanent contraction or extension.  Over time with the loss of the ability to extend, contract and relax in a flow of movement it has resulted in slowing movement and  shaking.

3. Slowing down will eventual result in  rigidity setting in as the posture of freezing locks in and becomes a habit.  It presents as a complete frozen state that includes facial expression.  This may eventually extend to drooping eyes, drooling and lack of mental/cognitive clarity as the physical effort to function becomes too exhausting.

In relationships most dominant freeze fear/anxiety reactors will be considerate of others and not want to hurt anyone’s feelings.  Their first reaction may be surprise, shock and horror at what they are witnessing, hearing, or experiencing. In relationships things will generally be taken personally and turned inward without attempts to stand up for themselves immediately.  Time is needed to process and the moment for responding has past leaving unresolved interactions and experienced as passive.  Read more…….

Fight

1.  A dominant focus on control.  Resistant to experiencing support that is not calculated and controlled.  Fear is subtle and deeply rooted therefore, movement is isolated and not a spontaneous flow.  Somatic learning is blocked by the filter of control.  Results in increased physical pain further reducing movement.

2. A dominant focus on seeking answers yet unable to integrate movement experience to form new habits.  The need to know has replaced sensual awareness therefore unable to recognize and value change.  When there is a response of  less tension and increased relaxation it cannot be fully absorbed and appreciated due to distractions of trying to understand it.    Will objectify versus notice their experience.   Therefore will adjust posture according to thinking versus somatic experiencing.

3.  A dominant focus on working hard and using brute strength.  Strength will be a reactive posture that will lead to lack of using fine motor skills resulting in being clumsy, tense and awkward.

In relationships the dominant fight responded will react with right and wrong thinking.  Therefore others are the enemies and the roots of disconnect.  This habitual response will lack the skill to include others perspectives and beliefs as they believe they have the answer.  Read more………

The intent of this article is in the context of how  communication and movement can support the decrease of anxiety, stress & fear. Values & Empathy integration in communication for transforming disconnection into connection and movement for calming one’s nervous system.

Read more on:

Feldenkrias Movement Benefits 

Read more on right & left side of brain reactions to stress

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by Renee Lindstrom

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by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP @ Inside Awareness,  Living in Natures Love Blog
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When you take a step you are using up to two hundred muscles!