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BALANCE
As we are so often told Scientific Development, during the last 150 years has still to catch up with our bodies and minds. Stress, Strain, Anxiety in this frantic rat-race towards an (nuclear power is still in use) unknown future has produced more depressed, neurotic, distorted hu-man beings than any past war. All Input and Output with no Thoughtput in between, and there’s no time for adjustment of mind and body before a new worry comes along and no help to be had without exorbitant prices being asked.
We must help ourselves to find our own body and mind balance by doing what Socrates told us long ago. As mind-evolution comes through body-awareness let’s start on the Tasmanian’s Principle of learning how to straighten our own body misuse ( and then helping others do the same).
By becoming aware of our own body-errors and learning how to correct them, we become aware of how our mind works too. This awareness does not protect us from life’s nastiness, shocks and struggles, but it will help us to find a correct balance (mental and physical), give us the courage to face, and adjust to them. As well-balanced parents our children too will be well-balanced...
BALANCE once learnt is never forgotten. It’s when your mind and body, after work, can return to a point of rest easily.
BREATHING correctly can be done anywhere. Put the backs of your hands on your back just above the waist-line. Breathe in slowly and you’ll feel your ribs move out sideways against your hands. Don’t raise your chest or abdomen as breathing is a back-activity Put your hands on your chest below your collar-bones, fingers pointing towards your breast-bone and breath out slowly (taking double the time of breathing in), you’ll feel movement in your upper chest and a drop in your breast-bone, and as you finish you’ll feel your stomach-muscles contract a little. Relax them. Repeat 12 times.
LYING DOWN. Never slump in a chair to relax. Lie down on your back anywhere convenient, point your knees to the ceiling, hands and arms flat, let your head loll left, then right, then forward, then wriggle your back until it is all touching the floor. Relax for as long as you can.
SITTING DOWN. With your heels apart, toes turned out, knee-caps bending continuously forward over the line of your feet (in line with the gap between your big and second toes) head and arms dropping forward slowly your bottom will sit itself well back on the seat,(when convenient point your knee-caps away from each other) a position you can keep for hours.
STANDING UP. Stand with your back to a wall, your heels about 2 inches/5 cm away from it and your feet about 18 inches/45cm apart. Lean back, your shoulder-blades and bottom should hit the wall together (not your head). To eliminate the gap between your upper back and lower back bend your knees slightly forward (feet flat) , at the same time thrust your pelvis up in front. Slowly straighten up (never brace your knees, standing or walking they should always be slightly bent) and bring your body away from the wall, head first, and put your feet together. Repeat 3 times.
WALKING. Place yourself between two high-backed chairs (seats in front) and lightly hold the tops with the tips of your fingers and thumbs, elbows sticking well out. Raising your right knee slowly your right heel will leave the ground (any wrong movement will be felt in your hands) , continue bending your right knee until only your big toe is still on the ground, carrying the movement through to place your right foot in front of you, heel first and then sole.
Your BALANCE attained by BEATHING, LYING, SITTING, STANDING, WALKING correctly, all parts working smoothly, will help you to understand better the workings of your mind and body.
