Winter Walking, Trager Style

I sent out a newsletter earlier in the week that suggested taking a walk in the snow and feeling how the light fluffiness of it all could permeate your body/mind and affect how you walk or how you feel about walking. Well, I just got back from such a walk. The snow is coming down fast here in New Paltz - a perfect opportunity to take a walk and enjoy the winter wonderland.

As I was walking with my husband, we started to play in the snow... what else would you do in the snow, afterall, but play. We started walking backwards, sideways and in zig-zags and we noticed something interesting upon walking backwards. Firstly, we noticed that in order to walk, we were using our bodies differently. A little more muscle here - a little less there - head postures changing... But what was most striking was that we could clearly see our footprints in the ankle-deep snow that we were leaving behind us (although they were really in front of us since we were walking backwards). Steve noticed that he was walking with his toes pointing inwards. I noticed that my left foot was totally straight while my right veered out to the right each time.

We both played then with walking as if our heels were leading the motion of each step and both noticed that again, it changed the way were walking and how we felt as we were walking, and all the while, just playing in the snow. Then, of course there were some impromptu sno-cones in our gloves that turned in to a minor, yet cold and wet snowball fight!

What kinds of things do you notice when you are walking in the snow today? Enjoy the exploration of playful movement in this winter wonderland.

Free Massages! Happy Holidays from Bodymind Massage. B3G1F!

Volume 4 Issue 10
December 2008

Call today for an appointment:
845.255.3228

"I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.

'We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,'
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December."

- Oliver Herford, I Heard a Bird Sing

Mentastics® Minute

Welcome to your Mentastics Minute!
Mentastics, or mind-directed movements, are a fun and easy way to help you relax, break through holding patterns in your body, move easier and recall the feeling of a Trager session.

In each newsletter, I suggest a Mentastics movement that you can "try on" for yourself. If you have suggestions or requests for the Mentastics Minute, please send us an email.

What a beautiful time of year. Didn't I say that about Autumn too? Well - every season has it's beauty and Winter is no exception.

Has it snowed where you live yet? If so, go outside and take a walk on the snow. Notice the crunch of the snow underfoot as you walk. How does the crunching feel to you? How far up your body from your feet can you feel the ripple of the crunch?

How would it feel to walk quieter? Is it the kind of snow that gets whisked away in powdery wisps with the slightest whisper of a breeze? How would it feel to be so powdery light that you could float away on the breeze?

Play with these ideas of quiet and lightness as you walk in the snow and as you walk during the rest of your day:

• at home
• at work
• at the mall
• at the grocery store
• at your holiday party

Where else can you play with walking quietly and softly? Even if you live in a part of the world that doesn't have snow at the moment, recall the sensations of walking in the snow and the imagery of the freely blowing crystals and remember how it can be to soft and free and wispy.


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