Finding Root

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When I made the shift from ballet to modern/contemporary dance, I found that I had to shift my lens on which I viewed movement.  All of a sudden my porcelain world of form, precision, right/wrong, and lifted weightlessness was transformed into a world of motion, flow, creative choice, and weighted connection to the earth.  It was a welcome, albeit difficult, change for me.  As a student, and later a teacher, I found myself often contemplating the concept of “grounding”—one of modern dance’s favorite terms to throw at its participants.

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The word “ground” is both a simple, straightforward word as well as a word that carries a lot of meaning and metaphor in our society.  The dictionary’s first definition for “ground” is: the solid surface of the earth; firm or dry land.  But that’s just one of the 52 definitions for the word.

Consider these phrases:

“Standing one’s ground.”

“Gaining ground.”

“Losing ground.”

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Even just the term “being grounded” will bring up two very different emotions depending on whether you are an aspiring dancer or a just-got-punished-from-my-parents teenager.  I think for the most part, however, we can relate the word grounded with its World English Dictionary definition:  sensible and down to earth; having one’s feet on the ground.  When we describe some as grounded, it’s usually a compliment.  Contrasted with adjectives like “flighty,” “head-in-the-clouds,” or “air head,” a grounded person is someone we can generally trust, someone who is stable and firm.

Peggy Hackney defines grounding as: stabilizing through connecting with the earth.[i]  From a movement perspective the concept of “grounding” is really important.  Whether you are a dancer or not, spending a few minutes to enhance your relationship to the earth could do everyone some good.

Why? 

Well, for starters we are all on this big piece of “ground” that we call earth.  With its gravitational pull, the earth can be one of our greatest assets, especially as we age and feel our once sure-fire stability start to waver. Being a grounded mover (and I’m assuming that if you’re alive, you fall into this category) can enhance your core support, personal sense of power, and overall ease in even our most basic body actions.  I’ve also found that whenever you work on something physically, larger metaphors and life contexts are often brought to consciousness.

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What do you got to lose?  We all can benefit from deepening our roots.  In the next post I will go over some basic ways all of us can improve our sense of grounding.  Until then, have a great (long) weekend!

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[i] Hackney, Peggy.  Making Connections: Total Body Integration Through Bartenieff Fundamentals, 237.

I Don’t Want to “Fit In.”

I came across these vintage ads and was absolutely blown away:

What the fine print says:  "How soon is too soon?  Not soon enough.  Laboratory tests over the last few years have proven that babies who start drinking cola during the early formative period have a much higher chance of gaining acceptance and "fitting in" during those awkward pre-teen and teen years.  So, do yourself a favor.  Do your child a favor.  Start them on a strict regiment of soda and other sugary carbonated beverages right now, for a lifetime of guaranteed happiness."

Laboratory tests!?  Are you kidding me?  For me, this is just another reminder that food and health often fall victim to fads, trends, and popularity schemes as part of someone’s marketing ploy.  And while it is easy to point fingers, laugh, or get angry all the while thinking, “I’m glad I live now when we know so much more,” I’d caution us that in so many ways we have fallen into so many other marketing traps.  Consider the following:

No or low fat diets?

No or low carb diets?

Processed diet-foods diets?

Or how about the way we approach food in general?  The media tells us that many health problems, whether it is weight loss, regularity problems, popularity, or whatever can be solved with flashy processed products, wrapped and labeled with all sorts of clever taglines.   Even our approach to actual food (you know, the kind that doesn't come from a box or bag) has proven both cruel and dangerous.  Consider the way we pump hormones and antibiotics into our animals that we consume or the way we genetically engineer foods to withstand poisonous pesticide.  With the recent recall of more than half a billion (yes, BILLION) eggs some people are beginning to realize that maybe our “smarter than previous generations” egos are getting in the way of real food.  And it is becoming increasingly more dangerous.

I am grateful to know not just where my eggs come from, but who.  I’m grateful to the local farmers who provide my family with chemical-free produce.  I’m thankful for those willing to withstand enormous government regulations and keep battling to regain our right to safe and nourishing foods.  I’m thankful for those who let me see and be a part of their farming practices. 

So I don’t really care if I “fit in.”  For me and my family we will stick to time-tested, real food. 

Want some more?  Check out these articles:

Worried about bad eggs?  How to buy the healthiest ones.

Slideshow: 6 Things Food-Industry Execs Aren't Telling You

The Double-O Dozen: 12 Reasons to Buy Only Organic

A Challenge

In the past few months, as I’ve had more and more “me” time (read: less “working for the man” time), I have discovered a well-loved freedom from feeling constantly “connected” to the big huge world.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that we should all give up our phones, internet, and go live our lives in the forest (but seriously, doesn’t that sound great some times?).  But I do think we could all benefit from a little less of the “phone as appendage” mentality. 

Some days I’ll forget where my phone is… which isn’t too bad because I don’t really get a lot of phone calls.  (Yes, I realize with each passing line on this post I am sounding more and more like a friendless, lazy bum… wow.)  I allow messages to go to voicemail, and know that I can get back to them when the time is good.  And I’ve learned a very important lesson, one that I would like to share with you all today:

The world does not end if you miss a call or text. 

This is an important lesson for many reasons.  For one, I am constantly amazed at how increasingly “at one” we are with our little electronic devices.  Going to a restaurant, shopping at the grocery store, driving on the road—I see people everywhere attached to these little devices.  I’ve noticed people frantically dismantle a purse to find their phone the moment it rings.  I’ve witnessed teenagers on dates texting other people.  I’ve been slightly offended when at a family gathering and I see someone more interested in their latest iphone app than having an actual conversation with the group.  (Are we really that boring?)  

I think we have a problem.

Seeing how this blog is dedicated to improving our overall wellbeing and heath, I would like to issue a challenge.  Rather than feeling that you have to constantly be “connected” to that distant world of texts, voicemails, status updates, etc.—I challenge us to try being a little more connected to the present moment:  The people in our physical presence, the activity at hand, and the world we are actually in.

I think on many levels this challenge can free us from a virtual façade of importance, and help us rediscover the joys of living in the present, physical moment.  But on an even more serious note, this challenge has a very personal intent behind it.

About two and half weeks ago, one of my close friend’s husband was in a serious car accident.  My friend was ill (and pregnant) at home, while her husband was driving their two small children (4 and 2) home from a visit at the grandparents.  A 17 year old who talking on her cell phone ran a red light and hit their car.  Miraculously, the two children left the scene with only minor scrapes and bruises and a broken arm.  The father, however, was not so lucky.  He is still in very serious condition and will spend several months in the hospital before coming home to an altered life due to this accident.

A week or so after the accident, my husband and I were at a little sandwich shop where I saw this quote by Dave Barry:

“The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.”

Of course this quote was intended to be humorous, but it got me thinking.  I’m sure we’ve all had PLENTY of moments on the road where we’ve seen someone else on the phone that has made us angry.  But how many of us think that we are the exception ?  How often do we use the phone on the road because we are bored, want to “check in,” or just to pass time?

I am begging you to reconsider your approach to the phone.  As I read the updates on my friend in the hospital, and think about how it has changed his body, life, and family forever, I can’t help but think that this truly is a matter of health and wellness.  Ultimately, it is a matter of love.

No phone call is so important that it is worth putting you or someone else at risk.  Liberate yourself from the thought that you must be “reachable” at any moment, and instead, start connecting back to the task at hand.  Let’s make the car a NO PHONE ZONE.