"The notes I handle no better than many pianists,
but the pauses between the notes –
ah, that is where the art resides."
~ Arthur Schnabel
Take a pause... for...
integration
It is an interesting fact that it is actually at rest, not during athletic activity when the body finds the space – through repair and replenishment – to increase power, strength, and endurance. Similarly, it is often in the space of days, or even weeks following our session when you will realise the effects of this practice. Please take the space to allow all of the notes we've struck today to resonate through your body.
Breath, along with heartbeat, cranio-sacral flow, fascial pulsing, muscle twitching, (the list is long,) is one of the many rhythms composing the human being. If all of the subtle and gross rhythms that compose you are a symphony, then breath is the conductor. As the only rhythm under both voluntary and involuntary control it is a gateway to the unconscious. This is one reason why breathwork and breath awareness are part of the meditation practices of almost every mystical and spiritual tradition, as well as most relaxation and stress management practices. You may have noticed the focus on breath during our session. It is your natural breathing rhythm that informs me when to act and when to pause for integration. It is my experience that the body/mind will not release on an inhale or held breath, but only upon exhale. As I have spent up to two or more hours following this rhythm to stay in tune with you, it is possible that you will feel much more aware of your breath after the session. Take this breath awareness with you. In the practice of relaxation and well-being, the awareness of breath is the door, the lock, and the key.
You may notice energy stirring in your body. 'Life force,' 'prana,' 'chi,' call it what you will; energy is a natural aspect of being. You may feel tingling or warmth, an electric or fluid 'buzz'. I invite you to be aware of and observe these sensations. People often experience energy build and/or relaxation deepen for some time after a session. This may manifest in emotion or emotional expression. Imagine there is space within you to contain this energy or for it to move through you as appropriate, and remember that one way of understanding emotion is simply as e[nergy in]motion. Blocked, stagnant, or unregulated life force energy will often manifest in symptoms of pain or dis-ease, (which may be why you've come to see me in the first place.) I encourage you to allow what you feel.
Space: allow yourself adequate and safe space to observe the effects of your practice of Integrative Bodywork. Allow space and time to integrate the experiences of relaxation and/or emotion. Drink plenty of water to assist the 'mechanical cleansing' we've done today, and avoid caffeine, alcohol, and soft drinks, which will dehydrate you. Avoid situations or people that might distract or seek to pull you from this reflective space, and have compassion for yourself as you may feel more open, vulnerable, less guarded. Take a bath, a walk, a conscious rest... to help you integrate the practice with the actual meditation – everyday life.
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