Try Moving Series – Rhythm

When thinking about rhythm we think of music, its pace, its volume and how it makes us groove. Rhythm dictates everything in our life - how we move, what emotion we feel, how we relate to other people and how we breathe. If we know where the rhythm is coming from, we can change it. By changing our rhythm, we can ensure that we’re moving in the optimal tempo for the task at hand, be it a task the focuses on a physical, emotional or social aspect of our lives.

Physical

How do you walk – fast or slow pace, light or heavy steps, balanced or limping to once side, always finding a path or bumping through people? How does music change your walk, does music make you dance as you walk (skipping a step, rolling your head, locking your body)? How does walking with other people affect your walk – does it speed you up or slow you down? Does your posture change, do you twist your neck or body to engage in conversation? How does carrying weight (backpack, shopping, your young child) affect your gait? Where do you feel pressure, or even pain, when you walk? Knowing these details brings you awareness of what little changes you can make to give your body some relief when it is tasked with carrying you to different places. For example, changing sides with the person you’re walking with to balance the twist of the neck, walking slower to ensure you’re keeping your back straight and evenly balanced, or engage your core muscles when carrying heavy loads to relieve pressure from your backpain. When are you most comfortable when you walk? Notice what pace, what music, what company makes you feel most at ease when you walk, and replicate that ease in other situations as much as you can.

How do you breathe – slow deep breaths or quick shallow breaths, through your nose or through your mouth, do you feel relaxed or tense? How does this change in different activities, how does this change when you’re in different company, how does this change when you are in different environments? When do you feel most at ease with your breathing? Knowing this is important because you can mimic the breath that puts you most at ease and feeling most confident to overcome moments when you feel anxious or upset. For example, if you feel most at ease when you’re breathing quick shallow breaths during a jog, then before going into a tense meeting take a few of those familiar and empowering breaths to put you in the right frame of mind. If you calm and in control with slow-deep breaths, then counting yourself into those deep breaths can help recover from a moment when you were feeling upset and out of control.

When you are aware of the rhythm you like moving in then you have control. When you’re in control you are the one that decides how and when you want to groove in the world. Keep moving to your rhythm.

Emotional

What’s the rhythm of happiness, specifically of your happiness? It isn’t the same for everyone. Your happiness might be relaxed and calm, while someone else’s happiness might be dancing around the house, and someone else’s might be confidently making conversations with new people they meet on their commute, in a pub or at a park. Happiness is wonderful, but the energy with which we approach other people at that state can be overwhelming; bear that in mind so that the happiness isn’t sucked away by what might be perceived as rejection from those you want to share your joy with. Notice your rhythm and when sharing it with your surroundings, check that it doesn’t overpower the rhythm that someone else chose, they might like that pace.

What’s the rhythm of anger, specifically your anger? Is it sharp, strong, outward movements ready to throw things around? Or is your rhythm of anger an inner hurricane that gushes violently through your body? Perhaps it’s an imploding lava-like sensation that turns your inner organs dark and thick, melting in on themselves? How can you counter this self-destructive, often overwhelming, emotion? Change your rhythm – move slower, think slower, talk slower, breathe slower. You can also open up your body with a big stretch or expand your mind by thinking about something totally unrelated to the source of your anger so as to negate the imploding sensations. To negate the inner storms, you can physically move towards the opposite direction, or watch something the moves in a calmly (like white fluffy clouds in a blue sky or waves on the beach).

What’s the rhythm of sadness, specifically your sadness? Is it heavy and lethargic? Is it light and disconnected from any familiar rhythm? It is affecting the pace of your thinking? Is it affecting the harmony in your heart? You can counter this feeling by purposefully moving with more energy, with more focus, with an intention to reach a destination. Anchor yourself to rhythm that empowers you and invite a different emotion to take the place of the sadness.

Being able to change your rhythm means you can change your inner emotions so that you can feel most empowered in a given situation. It also means you are in control of how you are sharing these emotions with your surroundings.

Social

How are you moving with people – do you find it easy to move with others at their pace or perhaps you find that people tend to adapt to your pace of life? Do you rush to keep up with or trounce their status, adventurous accomplishments, and career achievements?  Do you feel relaxed with others, a sense of a genuine shared rhythm and a shared destination? Perhaps you find that rather than sharing the rhythm, you tend to clash with others, perhaps you find that their rhythm and direction is at odds with your equilibrium? Compare the rhythm you adopt when you are around others to the rhythm you know to be your natural and most empowering self. Don’t lose yourself in others’ song, because it may be at odds, and even detrimental, to your own tune. Bring your own groove to social encounters so that you attract people that share your rhythm

What came first, the rhythm in our body, your mind, your breathing or the song playing in your ears? Who knows, but it’s clear they affect each other. Find ways through your body, through your mind, through your breathing, through your playlist, and even through your social engagements to get yourself moving in a manner that brings out the best of what you have to offer. Let’s get grooving!