Jul 2011
I'm Not Drunk, I'm Elvis...
Filed in: I'm Not Drunk, I'm Elvis...
by Stephanie Moses
WhyAreWeWhispering.com
How many times have you watched a small child doing most anything and said, “If only I had that much energy!”
We admire their freedom of movement – how they “embody” their energy - how freely they move is just what's required for them to navigate our “big” world. The couch is up to their chin, reaching the door handle takes tippy toes, and looking at mommy is like looking up to a giant.
We call them toddlers because they're always at the edge of balance and range and comfort – they're always about to toddle over. We, on the other hand, are always trying to stay upright, within range and in control, mentally, physically and emotionally.
During times of stress and anxiety – triggers for fight or flight systems – we really crank it down. We tighten up and create an imaginary wall to our movement - we “hunker down” or “lock up.”
Imagine your inner dialogue during times of stress: “I'm fuming,” “I feel miserable,” “I’ve got to get out of here,” “I wish I could just disappear,” or “I feel like my head’s exploding.” The body acts out the emotions both as literal actions – shoulders up and tight, arms and diaphragm closed around your chest, fists and sphincter clenched, head to toe muscles tensed and ready to run – and as an overall bio-emotional state of feeling locked up or locked in.
All roads lead to Rome so use the mind to affect the body and the body to affect the mind. Yes, you could go out and specifically stretch and train, but the emotional inhibitors would still be active with such conscious effort. We want to relax the command center and let the 'troops' have some fun.
Private Dancer
Can you dance? I mean really shake your butt? Why? Because as we do natural 'easy' movements like dancing, this residual holding and tightening from our emotions really show. Dance right now, wherever you are, seriously - whether you’re sitting in your office (Natalie calls it the “Hiney Hustle”) or the train; your kitchen or your living room.
How’s your range of motion? Did your hips sway wider, was there more bounce in your step in the past? Go ahead, swing wider - feel that smile in your lips and your eyes?
Here’s a fun trick -- choose your favorite movie star or character from a film or television show and spend two minutes moving and dancing like them. Walk, talk, swagger and stride like they would. You’ll be surprised how effective this is for releasing the unconscious clenching of our stance and gait, and untangling the knots in your body. A client of mine in his 60’s once used this technique for talking to women. When I tried to guess who he’d choose, I picked John Wayne or Charlton Heston. He laughed and said, “No, if I’m going to talk to women I’m going to be Elvis!” So, Elvis Schwartz left the building, headed out to some senior events and a week later he had three dates.
WhyAreWeWhispering.com
How many times have you watched a small child doing most anything and said, “If only I had that much energy!”
We admire their freedom of movement – how they “embody” their energy - how freely they move is just what's required for them to navigate our “big” world. The couch is up to their chin, reaching the door handle takes tippy toes, and looking at mommy is like looking up to a giant.
We call them toddlers because they're always at the edge of balance and range and comfort – they're always about to toddle over. We, on the other hand, are always trying to stay upright, within range and in control, mentally, physically and emotionally.
When did you last climb up over someone’s head to have a seat?
As adults we've taken on decades of social reserve and have restricted our natural range of motion for convention’s sake and to fit in. It's far less healthy and way less fun. Because our nervous system is so sensitive, this restricted, ‘toned down’ movement overrides our natural, open ways of interacting with who and what surrounds us.
Imagine your inner dialogue during times of stress: “I'm fuming,” “I feel miserable,” “I’ve got to get out of here,” “I wish I could just disappear,” or “I feel like my head’s exploding.” The body acts out the emotions both as literal actions – shoulders up and tight, arms and diaphragm closed around your chest, fists and sphincter clenched, head to toe muscles tensed and ready to run – and as an overall bio-emotional state of feeling locked up or locked in.
All roads lead to Rome so use the mind to affect the body and the body to affect the mind. Yes, you could go out and specifically stretch and train, but the emotional inhibitors would still be active with such conscious effort. We want to relax the command center and let the 'troops' have some fun.
Can you dance? I mean really shake your butt? Why? Because as we do natural 'easy' movements like dancing, this residual holding and tightening from our emotions really show. Dance right now, wherever you are, seriously - whether you’re sitting in your office (Natalie calls it the “Hiney Hustle”) or the train; your kitchen or your living room.
How’s your range of motion? Did your hips sway wider, was there more bounce in your step in the past? Go ahead, swing wider - feel that smile in your lips and your eyes?
Here’s a fun trick -- choose your favorite movie star or character from a film or television show and spend two minutes moving and dancing like them. Walk, talk, swagger and stride like they would. You’ll be surprised how effective this is for releasing the unconscious clenching of our stance and gait, and untangling the knots in your body. A client of mine in his 60’s once used this technique for talking to women. When I tried to guess who he’d choose, I picked John Wayne or Charlton Heston. He laughed and said, “No, if I’m going to talk to women I’m going to be Elvis!” So, Elvis Schwartz left the building, headed out to some senior events and a week later he had three dates.
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