Full Circle - 3 - Baby Ball - Curl Up Tighter
Calligraphy by ThIch Nhat Hahn
Full Circle - 3 - Baby Ball - Curl Up Tighter
Curl up to open
Based on “Fetal Curl” and “Nourishment” lessons as taught by Alan Questel
As Thich Nhat Hanh says “the out is in.” The pre-Thanksgiving session takes us back to the slow curl into and out of the fetal curl. We regress further into our very first movement: sucking.
Infants explore the world first by mouth. “I want that food!” is the primal motivation. Seeking the nipple and rearranging the body to stay in contact is the root of all movement; lips reach, neck adjusts, body wriggles to stay comfortable.
Even as adults, with our developed facial bones and muscles, lips and tongue, the mouth takes up a huge part of the motor cortex. The ‘femunculus’ model, below, shows what the body would look like if the motor cortex real estate translated into actual form.
This lesson combines last week’s ‘fetal curl’ diaphragm lesson with the primal movement of mouths seeking, reaching nourishment. As the body curls, the lips reach, drawing the head in different directions and angles. Can your stiff adult body soften to allow your baby self to follow the food? Can you layer on the awareness of the diaphragm on the inhale to deepen your breath?
This is a side lying lesson with rests on the back.
Science Nerd Candy Bowl:
Ribcage Movement During Respiration : Will Larson (O:45) just what it says
The Movement of the Diaphragm - Anatomy Lab (5:15), frontal, side and back views of the diaphragm pulling and releasing the ribs
Set Up for Side-lying:
Lie on floor with support for head and legs as needed. You may want some extra under-head padding for a short, optional side-lying interlude. Have enough space around you to curl up into a little ball.
Sit on a firm, stable chair
How you might feel after this lesson: Longer; Yourself as your inner child; Soft lips, eyes, jaw; Open; Breathing deeply; Aware of your back ribs and spine; Connected; Calm
“We have to continue to learn. We have to be open. And we have to be ready to release our knowledge in order to come to a higher understanding of reality.”
If you have a Wednesday 9:30 am or 6:30 pm class registration, keep using it. If you were registered for the 12:00 pm Wednesday session, you’ll need to register. Registered, paid students receive the lesson recording link on Thursday. $40/month; $15/single lesson. PayPal or Venmo to jackisue@aol.com. Or check to Jacki Katzman, PO Box 116, Bethlehem, NH 03574
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