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Both the intuitive and mechanical approach to working with our body are closely linked. We may start with a mechanical idea for releasing tension, or doing some workout routine which then shifts into intuitive actions that are individual and suited to us. When the intuitive actions seem to run there course we may switch back to a mechanical or ritualized way of moving. In this way we use both to accomplish a result.
Being open to both the intuitive and mechanical forms, allows us to discover all the possible ways of working with our own body. Often in starting sessions it is the introduction of a mechanical pattern that will give way to some intuitive movements that release emotional content specific to the individual.
Doing a mechanical or ritual action can also be very important for building in or creating positive habit patterns. For instance, to build a habit of being aware of our breathing more of the time, we can do a specific breathing practice for a long period of time. In my early days of working with breathing I would do three hours of walking and feeling expansive breathing that would have some effort involved. In this way the momentum would build and different levels of feeling would come to the body. There were also breakthroughs or periods that felt like getting a ‘second wind’ and the mechanical exercise of breathing became easier and softer. I have always found the over all results transformative, feeling lighter with more space for my body
An intuitive impulse about working this way with the breath was to feel a gentle effort to keeping the breathing full, with the ribcage raised. This would cause me to be friendlier to each breath, while actually softening any dualistic notions that can make any exercise a chore. I noticed that breathing becomes more interesting when the idea of gentleness is applied even though there is a strong will to continue the breathing patterns no matter what they are.
Doing some of the positions for releasing, addressed in previous articles such as the arm or leg releasing exercises, are for the most part start out mechanical, while the intuitive elements in us are actively playing in the background as we feel and work with our own body. In this sense the intuitive and the mechanical are really two sides of the same coin.
SOUNDING
The intuitive play in bodywork may come on stronger as we allow sounds to come out of our body. Sounding has more of the element of child’s play. Observing children at play in the space of our world, we can see how easily they can make the oddest of noises seem almost natural. It’s a joy to observe young children, unselfconsciously go about the business of being alive and joyful. I am taken by the relaxed nature displayed by children, knowing in me are the same possibilities of relaxation and magic, with out the hesitations.
By sounding I mean; making a sound and expanding the sound to allow it to change. A simple sound like both YES and NO repeated while also modulating the sound will go into many harmonics.
Once, working with a group of 7 to 11 year olds, I was having the hardest time getting them to make any sound until I suggested they try saying NO! With this encouragement the kids just went right to it. I could only assume this NO sound was a response they'd been wanting to use for a long time, based on the gusto they showed. The acting teacher told me after this session there singing sounds were much freer.
There are a wealth of sounds and words we can use. By repeating a word or sound over and over again while observing the directions they take can be useful. We may discover many words that are loaded with meaning for us. The words start to become simply sounds and any energy that stops us from saying one thing or another lightens up. If you have any words or ideas that you know cause you to react negatively, try expressing it 20 or 30 times in different tones and volumes.
This process is great for positive ideas you wish to feed to the brain as well as revealing hidden energy in a negative thought. Having fun with this process is the point, what you can learn from such an exercise is in the doing.
Letting off Steam is another article that discusses making sounds, I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Peace
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