Angela's Blog

I am constantly being reminded that the WAY to get the chirunning focuses in your body so that it becomes an automatic response is to PRACTICE ALL DAY LONG! (Or at least, for most of us, whenever you remember!)

On a personal level, I am reminded most often these days when I pick up my cello to practice! I have been learning to play the cello since I was 14 years old. I have taken lessons over the years and played in various amateur orchestras and chamber groups, always maintaining a certain level, trying desperately hard to practice more often and for longer periods and most often with minimal results.

It all happened when I started learning the principle of relaxation and alignment from the Chirunning practice that I was able to apply this practice to the cello. Now, instead of going at it hammer and tongs, playing harder, thus tightening up more and then wondering why I felt so exhausted after half and hour, I simply sit down in the chair and practice leveling my pelvis, relaxing my shoulders, breathing deeply (more on the out breath and through my nose) taking time to really relax and enjoy the experience rather than feeling that this is something I MUST do if I want to continue playing sweetly. The amazing thing is that the more I relax and sit back and enjoy the sounds that come from the cello the sweeter and softer it sounds and then in turn I start to relax even more and it seems to flow even more. Again it all starts with leveling the pelvis and lengthening the back of the neck, relaxing the shoulders and, guess what, remembering to BREATHE!

You don't have to learn to play a musical instrument to practice these focuses. Here are the other times when I try to remember the focuses:

• Washing dishes - We eat a lot of of homemade food and tend to dirty lots of dishes. Standing at the kitchen sink is an excellent place to practice: posture, patience, focus.
• Driving - I have taught myself to lengthen the back of my neck every time I get behind the wheel! Then when I stop at a traffic light I re focus. It is amazing how much more I notice while driving (Not sure my husband would agree to that though!)
• Riding a bicycle - same principles apply!
• Swimming - Lately I have been practicing the pelvic rotation while swimming. The lengths seem to go by faster.
• Standing in the grocery line or listening to someone talk your ear off I practice some of the body looseners

Approaching every-day activities as a practice instead of a "do" or a goal makes life much more forgiving. Instead of setting yourself up for goals, try setting yourself up for experiences. After all it is all about mindfulness.