Rock ‘n’ Roll: Grounding Tips By Yoga And Sustainable Movement Teacher Johanna Puxton
There is something simple, childlike and supremely satisfying about rolling around on the floor. As well as satisfying the childlike urge to play, ‘rolling and pouring’ as described by author Caryn McHose (How Life Moves: Explorations in Meaning and Body Awareness), can be a useful exercise in building body awareness. Exploring our edges, finding out where the floor begins and our body ends, can be one of the first steps towards letting go of deeply held tension.
Feeling first for the movement of the breath we can begin the process of tuning in, listening to the often inaudible rhythm of the body. In my experience following our own internal cue, taking the mind out of movement, can be a profoundly peaceful and tension free experience.
You could practice this movement exploration outside in a park, field, beach or back garden. It’s a great way to spend time outside, connecting with nature and a gentle alternative for times when you don't feel like being too energetic. Children can play ‘rock and roll’ alongside you.
Practice - 15 mins or as much time as you can spare.
Lying in constructive rest, on your back, with knees bent and soles of the feet to the floor or ground, arms alongside you.
Feel the places where your body meets the floor. Relax, try to release the collective weight of your body to the floor, trust the floor/ground to carry your weight.
Feel for the movement of the inhale and exhale of your breath, without judgement.
Relax the chest-space, shoulders, ribs, tummy and lower abdominal area. Notice any holding surrounding the movement of the breath.
Feeling the soles of the feet on the floor and the weight of the legs, hips and pelvis,
Let the weight of the lower body and movement from the breath initiate gentle rolling through the hips and sacrum.
Begin with small movements and then explore, taking the movement down through the legs into the sides of the body, from one side to the other. Try to let the weight of your body initiate the movement, watching for any pain or discomfort giving you the sign to modify your movement or come to stillness.
Quieten the mind, let the body lead, explore the rocking and rolling movement building momentum and maybe eventually including the upper body, back, shoulders and arms.
Play, relax, have fun!
Johanna Paxton is a fellow single parent and a yoga and sustainable movement teacher based in St Ishmaels, Pembrokeshire Wales. Yoga & Sustainable Movement classes are available, in person in Pembrokeshire and online in the comfort of your own home. Find out more here:
Website: https://themoving-point.com/
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