Have you noticed the number of people looking down these days? Mostly we're looking at our phones, but even when just walking the focus seems to be down at the ground, deep in thought, pondering the future rather being present in the moment. I live near Brown University and I've become fascinated by this phenomenon especially among students, and marvel at the fact that you rarely see a collision. Though as I navigate through life, I've developed extra radar for others (in cars and on foot) who seem to be too distracted to look out for themselves. An accident waiting to happen.
This change in posture is interesting from the vantage point of how we are evolving as a society connected-but-disconnected. But also, given the allure of the bodymind for me, I am aware of how it is changing our relationship to our own bodies. Think about the central nervous system going from the brain down the spine and branching out through the peripheral nerves to all of the cells in the body. The head forward creates a detour in the clear path of information-sharing from the brain to the body and body to brain, not to mention the disruption of the energy flow up the spine and out the top of the head affecting coordination, balance and ease of movement. Plus, changing the natural alignment of the spine can cause permanent skeletal damage. And who wants to be irreversibly hunched-over as we age? Not a pretty picture.
In the Alexander Technique, the head's relationship to the rest of the body is key to our natural functioning- the way the body was designed to work. Check out my blog post Head Over Heels for more details. The head resting effortlessly on top of the spine in a neutral position (chin neither up nor down) is important to our overall health and wellness. Plus, the optical righting reflex in the body (one of our many protective reflexes and the most important one), tries to keep the eyes horizontal and depends on visual cues from our environment to function properly. This crucial reflex is being messed with big time. Not only are we looking down while we are walking, but most of us spend many hours on our computers, not always in the ideal alignment (slouching, rounding forward), adding even more interruption to the ideal alignment of the head in relation to the neck and the torso.
We also seem to be making eye contact with others less and less which I'm sure has an effect on the human community as well. So much so, that when it happens on that rare occasion that there is a meaningful moment of connection with another, it feels so odd as to almost be uncomfortable. So we look back down at our phones, avoid the risk and maintain our anonymity. It's sad really. Think of all we are missing each moment- really seeing what is around us and fully engaging with our environment. I get it, we're busy and have a lot on our minds. We operate on autopilot much of the time. Think about how often you drive somewhere and realize you have no recollection of how you got there. It's a testament to our muscle memory and our reflexive responses, but it makes me aware of how mindless life can become. Eckhart Tolle, author of The Power of Now says, “Most people treat the present moment as if it were an obstacle that they need to overcome. Since the present moment is Life itself, it is an insane way to live.”
So I encourage you to notice as you are walking and sitting, what the spine is doing in relation to the head, and how this is a direct response to where we are looking. Raise up your computer screen, sit up on your sitz bones and support from below (Zip It!). And be aware of the head perched effortlessly as an extension of the spine. Look down with your eyes and keep your chin level. Lift your phone up rather than turning your gaze downward to meet it. Look Out! for your optimal health and wellness and be mindful of the wonders that abound along the way.
#lookout #autopilot #opticalrightingreflex #alexandertechnique #naturalfunctioning #thepowerofnow #eckharttolle #bemindful
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