How Deep Are Your Roots?

The deeper our roots, the less were swayed by external circumstances: the opinions of others, the mundane stressors of modern life, the next flash-in-the-pan sensory stimulation.

But they don’t dig into the earth in fits and spurts.  It’s a slow growth, a steady, gradual deepening, a continual process.

Redwoods don’t pop up overnight.

Inch by creeping inch, they sink deeper down to grow farther up.

That is the value of a daily practice.

See, you’re always in process.  

Your cells are adapting to the environment.  The various sub-personalities within your psyche are grappling for dominance.  Your moods and thoughts bubble up and drop back down.  Nothing about you is fixed.

And this process can take the path of least resistance if you let it.  

You can lower yourself to the standards of “good enough” to get by.  There’s nothing inherently wrong with that if that’s what you want for yourself.  

But sooner or later you’ll suffer the consequences.

You can also deliberately shape and shift this process if you choose.  You can alter the course of your own psychophysical growth and development.  

All of everything you are is malleable.

Your practice can take any number of forms as long as it molds you the way you want to be molded.

In Ecosomatics we work with three key themes: awareness, articulation, and exploration.

Awareness

We tune into what’s going on.  Typically this is seated, standing, or in Constructive Resting Position.  We pay attention.

Articulation

We begin to mold things.  This could be through our morning Controlled Articular Rotations.  This could be through “morning pages,” as we articulate our thoughts.  We move things around however we’re able to.

Exploration

We play.  The first two parts inform the day’s exploration.  Do your hips need special focus in internal rotation?  Is there a particular conversation you need to have that you’ve been putting off?  This step inherently involves a bit of improvisation.  We start to explore the unknown as we create new ranges of motion in joints, take on new roles and projects, become more of ourselves.

And it’s only as effective as it is consistent.  

I was talking with a student, Pierre, earlier in the week, and he said:

I’m amazed at the difference between now and 6 months ago.  I can really feel it if I miss a day, particularly in my hips.  From everything I’ve learned with you, I feel like I can be my own therapist”.

And it’s true: you can.

But you can only help yourself as much as you know yourself.

Your daily practice points the way.

Chandler StevensComment