lessons from the nursery #3

Potting on is a regular job at the native tree nursery where I often do some work. And not just a few pots, we work in the hundreds, if not thousands. After filling pots for a couple of hours I start to notice an ache in my mid-back somewhere bewtween my shoulder blades. In the evening when I finally slow down enough to pay some proper attention to my body, I perceive an ache that extends from my right elbow all the way down to my fingertips.

What should I do about it? Well as I see it, there are three options:

1. Put up with or ignore the discomfort, it’s an unavoidable part of the job and will pass sooner or later.

2. Avoid or stop doing that particular task.

3. Figure out what I am doing with myself while I am potting to cause extra wear and tear on this part of my body.

The third option is also what the young Shakespearean actor F.M. Alexander did in the 1890’s when faced with a recurring voice problem that his doctors were unable to cure. His patient self-experiments are what led to what we call the Alexander Technique today.

Back at the potting table, it is easy to let my mind wander during a repetitive task. But if I want to figure out what is going on in my body I need to be 100% present. Slowing down the movement to what I call “noticing speed” also helps.

I notice that I grip the handle of the scoop harder than is strictly necessary. I also notice that I lift the full scoop from the heap whereby it would also be possible to let it slide along the bench resucing the effort expended by more than half. Lastly I notice that I am often hurrying and that trying to go fast causes me to to tense my shoulders and restrict my breathing.

All I need to do now is simply to stop making all that superfluous effort and the action flows in a most enjoyable manner. Somehow everything just got easier.

If you’d like to read more here is a link to a short article about RSI and ergonomics by AT teacher Holly Sweeney: http://alexandertechnique.com/rsi.htm