What should I do after my session?
Call it homework or post-session self care or getting the most bang for your investment in our sessions, here are a variety of ways to nourish and support our work together. The common threads here are movement and tuning in to your senses.
-Walking, after your session. Give yourself 10 to 15 minutes to wander, at a pace that feels right.
-Unhurried time outdoors a few times a week. Go for a walk and give yourself 20-30 minutes to notice the world around you, the trees, the earth, the temperature and breeze, the birds and animals, and the human generated noise, too (trains, planes, automobiles, conversations).
A variation: Find a “Sit Spot”. I was introduced to this by Mary DeJong of Waymarkers. Find a spot in your yard or near your home near trees and grass, and spend time there every day. I like thirty minutes in the morning with a cup of coffee, but some days, five minutes is what I have, and that is nourishing, too. What do you notice as the seasons ripen and shift? Who and what comes to visit most days? What draws your attention?
-Dancing -Turn on your favorite music and move or check out a class. I dance in my kitchen making breakfast or in my living room when I’m feeling anxious or stuck or happy- you name it! No audience, just me and the music. I also really like free form classes, like Dance Church, where I can move with a group. If you are dealing with pain or restriction: For something less vigorous and guided, Jean at Sunset Hill Somatics offers a Tuesday night Zoom creative movement class to help you move and wind down.
-Singing- Mostly, I sing when I’m by myself, but singing with others is a treat, too. Singing helps me remember to breathe. If I am feeling sluggish or stuck in dark or anxious mood, singing often helps. If singing feels like too much, I hum. Try different pitches: “Hmm” vibrates a bit higher in the head, “Omm” can settle in the chest/throat and “Vu” can be lower still, in the belly.
Let me know how it goes (or if you want someone to dance or sing or hum with you). :) :)
