Body / Limb Compassion

DEFINITION

  • To practice empathy with our limbs and body parts by seeing things through their eyes 

IN USE / PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  • Limbs are people too. Spines are people too. 

  • They deserve opportunities to move, explore and recover—on their terms. 

  • Not only in service to our exercise. 

Examples in STATURE

  • In Helical Resets – our neck is given a helping hand to support the weight of the head

  • In AM Power UP – our legs stand tall and move around – while our torso provides them with stability

Drilling Down - into AM Power Up

  • What would it look like if our legs did yoga? Not if we did yoga with them - but they did yoga with us?

  • What would a Leg doing Mountain Pose look like? Both Legs doing their version of Tree? Frog?

  • How 'bout all together in progression? - Mountain - Tree - Frog?

DETAIL - important

  • With regular support and decreased load, the neck and legs can elongate further and sweep in more generous arcs to increased restorative effect 

  • OR, under constant load - strain becomes tension which over time can become decreased mobility and, when left unchecked, loss of ability – unnecessary aging 

  • Time to choose

TAKEAWAYS

  • Put yourself in their shoes: 

    • What must it be like to carry our sack of potatoes (torso) and big head around? 

    • What would I want, my partner or teammate need to ‘unplug’, rest, regroup? 

  • See Explorations* (moves) through their eyes: 

    • Where would you want to go? 

    • How would you like to move - that you almost never get to? 

  • With active + actual listening, we can imagine more and more robust wellness measures - for them (and richer more effective I|ST & PEARL for us)

ANALOGY 

Imagine visiting a ranch and seeing horses grazing in a field – still harnessed to their carriages. 

You ask the farmer what they are doing, and she says she’s letting them rest, stretch, and play. 

Image created by ChatGPT

MANTRAS 

  • Let our 'horses off their carriages' 

  • Let them rest, stretch, explore, and play – on their terms 

  • Let them be – unbridled and in charge – for a while – regularly

* See Exploration through their yes + begin to see why they’re called Explorations