On curious exploration, embodied movement, and being a forever student

Published 2 months ago • 2 min read

Plunge into Calm

Happy Tuesday! Here's what is inspiring me (and making me laugh) this week...

Breathe.

💻 Join me tonight (8/20) at 8:30 PM CST on Zoom for a 15-minute breathwork practice. Register ahead of time and get the zoom link here.

There is something comforting about being led in a breath practice by someone else. You can let your mind relax and simply follow instruction. This is why I continue to practice with Our Breath Collective every weekday (would love for you to join me!).

With that being said, there is something magical about guiding yourself in a breath journey. If that sounds too "woo", then call it a breath practice, but it really is a journey. A journey where you allow the breath to take you where it wants - fast, slow, deep, shallow. Where you can explore the expansiveness of your inhale and the depth of your exhale.

Curious exploration is the key to a lot of things in life, including breath.

Try it: Put on a song and start with a single breath pattern—maybe connected, box, resonate or triangular breathing. See where it takes you. Feel free to mix it up. If you struggle with letting the body lead, let the music lead and sync your breath to the beat. This will be easier if you've practiced breathwork before, but try to let go of whether or not you are "doing it right" and just play.

Move.

“Most of us spend a great deal of our time living a very short distance from our bodies.”

- James Joyce, The Dubliners

When it comes to exercise, what I've noticed in myself and others is that too often people are just going through the motions. They're exercising because they know they should, focusing on how they look while doing it, their performance metrics, or the podcast in the background, without really tuning into how their body feels.

When I work with people, I'll ask someone where they felt an exercise, and sometimes they have no clue—they have to do it again to figure it out. It's like they're moving without any awareness of what muscle groups they're supposed to be working. They're missing out on so much!

I was thinking about this while stretching the other day. I used to stretch just to get it over because I know I should, but this time I decided to really be present. It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable sensory experiences - feeling the intense stretch, watching my mind panic, then using my breath to go a little bit deeper. It was actually fun and weirdly satisfying.

Movement is a great way to connect with your body, the key is being mindful and present enough to experience it.

But don't get me wrong, I’m not saying you need to be hyper-focused and mindful all the time. It's totally okay to zone out, listen to podcasts, and just enjoy a walk, dance, or whatever your thing is. Balance is key!

Be Human.

"People think of education as something that they can finish."

- Issac Asimov via the Waking Up app

A great reminder that we never arrive. Life is a continuous cycle of learning, questioning, un-learning, and evolving. Be a forever student of life.