DEFINING ALERT RELAXATION
CONTEXT
This excerpt emerged in conversation with Bella Krystal + Simone Gers during our recent series hosted by Unlock Your Design. It clarifies what I mean any time that I refer to ‘relaxation.’
As you will see, this isn’t about laziness or withdrawal. It’s about an every-moment dialogue with life - a practice that returns us to the very human dance of our existence.
I hope this explanation serves you well. Enjoy.
TRANSCRIPT
Relaxation is not laziness. What we’re talking about here is something that I have come to refer to as Alert Relaxation. This form of relaxation is, in fact, completely active in its awareness even though it may appear to be at rest in terms of overt activity. This is a very important distinction.
This form of relaxation is about coming into total contact with the stream of life itself. It’s actually very active in terms of this connection. It’s alert, alive, attuned. It touches life; it dances with the energy of every living moment.
This form of relaxation is in continual relationship to life, and it’s this special sort of poise - this true composure - that allows for appropriate response to the surprise of any given moment.
CONTINUED…
When we are tightened up, locked up, stuck, there is no movement - there is no room for life to happen. The natural momentum of our energy is stunted, ground to a sticky halt. The energy itself becomes depleted.
When we are relaxed, however, anything at all might happen. And when it does, we are prepared to meet its movement + adapt. We are prepared to dance.
So there is an adaptive quality to this state of Alert Relaxation. It’s not only that it moves; it's also generative. It also meets, enriches, opens.
And this act of opening allows for more opening. Amazingly, relaxation allows for movement.
CONTINUED…
It’s like a root system: the deeper the roots, the wider the foliage. The wider the foundation, the more capable that whole system is of receiving adequate nourishment + expressing the fertility + dimension of its life.