Tiny spaces

We are four people living together in a 7m camper van. It’s going well (mostly) and we are learning how to live in a tiny space. For example, only one person at a time can do things in the kitchen/main area of the van. When one person is cooking, the others need to find a place to stay out of the way. This means enforced time for reading and rest. To those of you who know me, I don’t tend to have a lot of time for reading and for rest. What a luxury that is!

I have just done the dishes with a view over the ocean on the Kaikoura coast of Te Waipounamu (the South Island of NZ). It took a very long time. This is partly due to the fact that we are almost out of water so water for washing is collected from a stream that descends to the beach from the steep hills surrounding us. And partly it is due to the reduced spaces. I find that each movement needs to be carefully calibrated to avoid a splash, crash or topple. I move more slowly and each movement becomes a conscious movement. Slowing down is the fastest way to become more aware of your body and the movements you make.

When you move slowly, there is more time to process the sensory information coming to your brain. You might start to notice things that were previously engulfed in the whole movment. Take one habitual action, maybe tying your hair back; opening the front door; getting out of the car, and slow it right down. I mean right down to slow-mo. What do you notice? Get curious. Perhaps you hold your breath, or clench your jaw, or tighten your neck, or hold your belly in. There are myriad ways in which we interfere with our natural poise and co-ordination as we go through life collecting tensions, reactions, habits. It’s good information. Notice if you find yourself doing the same thing in other situations too. You are discovering more about yourself.

Alexander work is a holistic journey. The more conscious I become of my tensions and interferences, the easier it is to let them go. I am so fortunte to have the time to move slowly - what luxury that is!