Slower than necessary
Hello from the Swiss Alps! I’m here facilitating another Cleaning the House workshop for Marina Abramović to prepare the performers for her exhibition at Kunsthaus Zurich.
The landscape is exquisite but getting here had its challenges, as travel often (always?) does. The first was when I realized I forgot my phone a few minutes before my train arrived. I sprinted back to my apartment to grab it but I still missed the train. Even though my mind was calm as I ran, it was a big experience for my body to make such a dramatic switch. When I stopped to catch my breath, a wave of uncomfortable sensations hit me—racing, fluttery heart, hot cheeks, wobbly legs. The discomfort of this moment was compounded by the fact that these sensations were very similar to ones I experienced earlier this year when I had a seizure (in public).
And then there were the hairpin turns up the mountain on slushy roads with poor visibility, my favorite!
To calm my nervous system during experiences like this, I have a reliable process. I’ll share it here in case it may help you with a challenging wave of your own.
Slow down. Whatever you’re doing, do it slower than necessary.
Notice, name, and give kind attention to the negative sensations.
Seek beauty. Give your attention a break from your body and look at something pleasing in your environment.
Slow down, kind attention, seek beauty.
I’ve found this process consistently helps me to reestablish a sense of calm after a period of activation. I hope it will help you, too. If you have questions about it, feel free to email me.
The final round of classes for 2024 will start November 6th. We'll close the year with one of my favorite lessons: Four Corners. It's such a rich and versatile lesson that I'm using it as the base for both the Wednesday and the Friday series. When I emerge from the floor after this lesson I feel two inches taller and my limbs move freely. It's wonderful!