Monkey with Nili

Today started with me feeling quite sore again (getting really sick of this)

I laid on the fit ball again for a short while.
Helped again.

I had a turn with Robert (a qualified teacher).
Just one of the nicest and most comfortable people I have ever met.
He gave me a table turn.
I asked him some questions about how to get out of a pain hole.
He suggested that one needs to accept that the pain is there.
The though the projection of primary control allow the pain the dissipate through the whole body.
This does make sense.

We then had a group turn with Nili.
She took us through the monkey posture.
I must admit I have never done the monkey like this before
To start with we ran through the primary directions, then simply dropped in space down only, then stopped and ran through the primary directions again.
Then we moved forward but not from the hips, from the feet really.
We then continued to move down.
We found that unless we really allowed the head and neck to go forward and up then we could not go down much further.
We then did just that, and in fact we actually put the head down (sort of) and we found that we could down down in space very far indeed.
We then did the same experiment with feet wide, then closer and then next to each other.
It was quite amazing.
We learnt that the concept of forward and up is totally in relation to the back and not to space.
I also experienced again the idea of thinking up through my front, this stopped my pulling down that I tend to do.

We then had a group session with David.
We firstly started with putting a 5 kilo bag of sand on our heads to give us some idea of the weight of our heads. This was interesting and showed us how important it is to have correct balance.
We then looked at walking.
I discovered that I tended to pull back in my upper back and that my concept of what is a straight back is actually pulled back back and neck and head.
When I was in a straight position it really felt like I was stooping over.
Interesting.
A good day of learning, but was very tired by the end of it.

Day one with Nili from Isreal

Wow, what a new experience!
Nili has quite a reputation and I think well deserved.

I started the day feeling really crap, tight sore and tired.
Not a good way to start a big day..I have a job interview today also.

I had some own time downstairs to begin with, and I made use of the fit ball again.
This did help.
I had thought of maybe investing in one of these for home, we will see.

I then had a turn with Nili.
I can sum up the experience in 2 words.
"Miles More"
Direct you head forward and up ..miles more.
I must admit I really like this.
Really stretches the thinking. Lifts the lid.
Also "use your imagination" was mentioned.
One thing about Nili's style is that you never wonder about what she wants...I love it.
Also I discovered what up through the front of the body meant. I kept dropping down.
Although still sore, I felt a lot better after this turn.

I then had a group session with Nili.
I was "the student" to 2 more experienced teachers while we waited for Nili to come around.
Once again, "Mile more" was said and I went forward and up miles more. Wow.
I don't think I have ever been so forward and up before. It was really nice.
I felt really spoiled today, I probably had close to 1 hour or more of turns in total.
"Way more" and "escape from my hands" were two new phrases and I think they worked well.
Also the comment was made, to make the student work and not just rely on the teachers hands, I though this was interesting.

We then had a group lesson with Jenny.
This was interesting.
Two students sat across from each other and one placed hands palms up on from of them, while directing of course.
The other student then places their hand on the hands of the other.
The first student then moves the other students hands around.
Jenny very kindly then offered to use part of this lesson to help me get ready for my interview. I was feeling a bit tired so I laid on the table while the other students took my arms and feet and Jenny took my head and neck.
I felt really good to leave for my interview.

btw, it is about 34 degree in Melbourne today....ouch.

A short week.

I started the day feeling quite sore.
I did some work with a fit ball, lying on it on my front and thinking about freeing up my back and shoulders and also my lower back.
Also thinking about breathing into these areas while on the fit ball.
It seemed to force my breathing onto my back, forcing it a little to move, when normally it was fairly tight. Did hurt a bit doing it, but it also helped.

I had a turn with Margaret.(yes you guessed it, another lovely and kind teacher)
She has come from a pain background also so I find a lesson with her quite helpful.
She gave me a table turn and she helped to ease my body quite a bit.

We then had a group session where we practiced a performance we plan to do at the graduation at the end of the year, while teachers put hands on.
This was fun.

We then had the official performance session.
We had ours with Jenny.
I worked on speaking again, and this was interesting.
I noticed and others noticed that I tended to prepare to speak even when the other person had not finished speaking.
I discovered there was also a tendency for me to nod my head etc with a thought to give the speaker the impression that I was listening. There was unnecessary tension associated here also.
I think this speaking in conversation habit will be a tough one to break but I think very worth while.

A tough few days

We have just had a few days off from school over the Melbourne cup weekend.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
We were back at school today Wednesday.

I am sorry to say that I was sore the whole time.
I think maybe the work David did with me on Thursday may have left me in a state of adjustment soreness (if that makes sense)
Although during this time I also did make some interesting discoveries.

I have gained a new appreciation and understanding of "forward and up"
I think had the idea of up but not really an understanding of the idea of forward.
I found this gave me a new sense of release.

Today I had a turn with David.
He managed to get me closer to a better state.
The we had a group session where we got into pairs and played with lifting one foot while standing.
The doing the same while in monkey.

Then we had a yoga session.
I found this excellent and helped to free me up a bit.