Standing
is the position from which much of our action is initiated. The patterns we use in standing help determine
the way we proceed through the world and our life and the way we relate
to the earth. Gravity is a strong
environmental force, which can drag us down or support us, depending on
whether we stand in accord or disharmony with this powerful force. Bracing, holding, and leaning are ways of
fighting gravity. Gravity always
wins.
In
the following two exercises, we are going to explore standing in a way
that may be more comfortable, use less effort, and be more available to
action:
Stand
barefoot with the toes pointing forward (the second toe should probably
be facing forward) and the feet under the torso. The feet should be 4-6
inches apart. Arrange your weight
so your weight is distributed equally on the two feet. Now
raise all the toes so the weight is balanced on the ball of the foot and
heel. Sway forward and back like
a palm tree until you detect when the weight is evenly balanced between
the heel and ball. When balanced,
lengthen the toes and lay them flat on the ground.
EYE OF FOOT
Stand
barefoot with the toes pointing forward and the feet under the torso (not
outside your ribcage). The feet
should be 4-6 inches apart. Arrange
your weight so you are distributed equally on the two feet. Sway extremely forward and back like a palm
tree in the breeze. You may notice
as you sway forward to the extreme that the toes claw the ground, the ball
of the foot gets the weight, and the back of the legs, spinal erector muscles,
neck and shoulders tighten. As
you sway back to the extreme over the heels, the toes and kneecaps may
rise as the front of the legs contract, and the diaphram and neck tighten.
Continue
swaying forward and back, letting the sway become less and less extreme
until the pressure on the heel and ball are very slight. The sway can become so slight as to be barely perceptible to a
person observing.
This
area of the foot below the ankle bones, that your weight is now on, can
be
referred
to as the eye of the foot. Here,
you may be able to relax and lengthen the lower back, relax the buttocks
and knees, and breathe easily.