Will power (yuck).

I took a short run/jog/walk up City Creek Canyon this morning. To those of you who have never experienced the pleasure of living or working in Utah, you may be surprised how quickly nature is available here – skiing, rock-climbing, mountain biking in whatever terrain you choose – deep desert or deep forest – it’s all here.

Anyway, City Creek Canyon is a part-paved, part-trail, ravin about 6 blocks from my downtown condo. You can go straight up it about 7 miles if you choose. I don’t remember exactly where it will take you but there is undoubtedly a trail to another canyon or two.

As I began my run up the canyon I found myself thinking about “will power.” Our culture can seem so deeply focused on “trying harder,” “working harder,” “no pain, no gain,” and such other nonsense ideas. I see so many people bent over, stooped over, with limited range of motion and a often a total lack of awareness that their habitual way of using themselves is what is causing them pain.

Yes, you can stretch.

Yes, you can strain.

Yes, you can push.

Yes, you can use “willpower” to overcome movement “difficulties” but ultimately true power, true grace, true choice comes from perceiving and acting upon more easier and more efficient ways of movement.

Sound like hogwash? Sound too abstract? Sound like a bunch of platitudes? Well you are correct, it is a bunch of abstract hogwash. At least, until you EXPERIENCE it. Take a look at the main website: Feldenkrais Exercises and Mp3′s.

I will endeavor to keep as many free experiential downloads on the site as possible. But remember, listening to the files is a complete waste of time. You must listen while doing. As a child, you did not learn to walk by reading, “Walking for Dummies,” you learned to walk by trying on new behaviors, falling, crawling, reaching, sensing, feeling…learning how to use that body of yours was quite a major accomplishment…now explore how you can learn to use it better – not through “thinking” but through DOING.

Cheers – Ryan

Tags: feldenkrais, Utah