isolation

Greetings all.
This is a crazy time of great uncertainty and we are living it out all on our own, or alone with our family. It is emotional as we feel the fear this virus has created around the world. We fear for our loved ones, our lives, our health, our finances, our communities, our futures. It is hard to believe it is affecting our far off friends in foreign lands in the same way as it is affecting us, but it is. This is affecting our whole world. All we see is our 4 walls and the same view out the window, everyday. As do families everywhere from Asia to the Arctic, living confined to their own spaces, just like us. 

The airwaves are telling us all to stay in and keep washing our hands. By doing so we are protecting not only ourselves but our communities, our country. Staying in, slowing down, interrupting the habits of doing what we always did is challenging to the whole self. The whole family. But let's stick with what I can do for myself as an individual. If I take care of myself, then I can take care of my family. If we take care of ourselves, that's the best we can do.

At these times when every thing we know is shifting we are learning to live in limbo, on shaky ground. Adjusting our feet to each new step. Bringing our whole body with us. And it feels odd. The mind is full, the body is restless, the heart is heavy,  the breath is caught.  We know we can use many tools to find our ways into peace or healing. I use Alexander Technique which I find a practical tool for all sorts of reasons. It starts with addressing the here and now.

Where am I? How do I feel? Am I holding it together, for the family, for show? Does my body want to curl up and cry, or do I want to bolt out of here and escape? What are my physical feelings? Is there tightness in my neck, my face, my heart? Is my breath caught or can I let it flow deeply? Are my feet on the ground?

Whatever you are feeling in this moment, touch into it and let it be. Be honest with yourself. It's ok to be feeling whatever you are feeling. Learn from the signs your body, your barometer, is telling you. Your body is taking in a lot of new information and each piece of information has it's own invisible energy attachment. Let yourself feel what ever your body is feeling. Good or bad.  Whatever judgement you may put on a feeling, let it be. It's ok.
 
Give yourself private time to feel and get in touch with your whole self. The world has been shouting at you so let yourself listen inside to how you have embodied the world's messages.  If that brings a sense of vulnerability, let it be. If tears come, let them come. If words fill your head, let them out. If your body wants to shake with rage, let it. Dance or stomp it out. Do it. Let it out. Let it be. Take the time to care for yourself in whatever way your SELF needs.

Alexander Technique it is a great tool for balancing and working on your SELF, physically, mentally, heartfully. In working on yourself "stuff" might come up. See it. Feel it. Be with it. It might not fit into your Alexander knowledge but that's ok. Let it be. Slump, if that is what your body wants to do. Take the time to slump or collapse. You will find a time when you will want to lengthen out of a slump . . . and then . . .  you will. 

Giving your self that internal time can in itself help you feel lighter.  It can offer you a shift in perspective, a release maybe. By listening you can free the body of some little tensions just by becoming aware of them. Freeing the body up so that it can feel easy again and you can walk more gently on the shifting ground, finding a new balance. We have to let all the yesterdays go. The news is changing so quickly, everyday, and so we need to live in the new day. A little shift. A little different. Breathe out. Release. Move on.

There is an Alexander Technique App that I have to recommend. In these times of seclusion it is a great assistant in guiding your mind to focus on your body with listening, building awareness and freeing it UP. It is designed and written by eminent Alexander teacher and colleague Sarah Barker and it is called Allez-Up!. So go to your Play Store or where ever you get your Apps and download to your phone so you have this tool close to your well washed hand.

Go gently. Safety is in your hands. In a time when we can't put hands-on each other to teach or guide, know that I and many other Alexander teachers are available to teach online. Reach out if you need me. We'll work it out.

Love Fiona