Enter, 2012.
Welcome to the next chapter of time, and the next year of your life.
January has always been one of my favorite times of the year. The holidays are over and we’re back to the daily grind – true. But there is something exciting about the chance to make a new start that January can’t help but offer.
Each year in January, according to Western calendars, one book is closed and another is opened. In some countries, the momentum of January is preceded by a lengthy break from work: weeks of downtime, reconnection with family and friends, and with luck, many hours of joyous celebration. Couple that with the cold weather that some locations enjoy (tolerate?), inviting people to stay indoors, catch up on some reading, cuddle, watch a good movie, and sip hot coco… The potential for rejuvenation is greater at this moment than almost any other time of the year.
In other locations, however, people seem to rush by this opportunity and barrel headlong into the New Year without missing a beat. Having recently returned to the USA after two years in the UK, I find myself pulled and tugged by the undertow of corporate time management: a few more days to get things done, catch up, hurry up. Time off?! What? Are you kidding?
Ok, I’m being a little dramatic. It’s probably not that bad – at least not everywhere. But I do notice a real difference in the general pace, mood and intention around the December holidays here in California as compared to Brighton, UK. I notice because these last few years I learned just how valuable it can be to really GROUND my body, mind, and spirit before taking my first few steps into the New Year. I like to think of living into January as building the foundation for the twelve months to come.
Have you ever said to yourself, “20XX was a terrible year. This next year is going to be better”?
Cliché or not, we make New Years resolutions out of an intention to start off on the right foot. The stance we take in January can set the tone for what’s to come. Likewise, in our physical bodies, starting off “on the right foot” can make all the difference in the grace and precision of our movement, the physical health of our bones and joints, and the efficiency with which navigate through our environment. That’s why as we step into the New Year, I’d like to invite you to focus on the BASE OF YOUR BODY: feet, ankles, knees, legs and hip joints.
Pause for a moment right now as you read. Can you feel your legs?
About a year ago, I didn’t have any connection with my legs. Well, don’t get me wrong, I knew they were there. If you had asked me at the time, I would have told you I could feel them. Of course I could! How could it be possible that any physically fit, non-injured, athletic person was disconnected from her legs? And yet, I know now that something was missing because today, a year later, I really CAN feel them. And it’s different.
The base of the body is like the foundation of a house. When properly constructed, it appears (and is!) solid, strong and reliable. What goes on top is without a doubt more interesting, and serves a wider variety of functions, but without the base, nothing else would be possible. How to build a strong foundation? Learning to feel your legs is a great place to start.
Stand up and sense your own foundation. Look in the mirror, or close your eyes and visualize yourself as you stand. What do you notice? Do your legs look strong and relaxed? Shaky and thin? Are your ankles flexible or tight? Fragile or solid? Do your knees line up with the direction of your toes? Are your hip joints tight? Loose? Do your muscles hug your bones comfortable, clench, or sag? Is it effortless or challenging for your base to carry the rest of your body?
Take a walk. What do you notice? Does the movement feel natural? Comfortable? If you notice any areas of un-ease, simply take note. The most important part of this practice is NON-JUDGMENT. Taking a realistic look at what IS will help guide your future actions in the direction of self-healing. Bodies are not “ruined forever.” Our biggest mistake is to give up on ourselves when we notice some part of our body is out-of-whack. The truth is, what we intend (e.g. healing) and what we do (e.g. physical practices) make a difference.
This week, I invite you to take a clear intention to “Build a Strong Foundation” in January. Include both your physical body, and your life-work-relationships in the intention. Then, as you move through life this week, take note of what is already solid and what could use a bit of tweaking in order to start this year off on the right foot.
Happy New Year!
LeeAnn
