Slow It Down

  Slowing it down.This is the kind of pace I often move around on my mat. Some people have described my classes as slow. I used to feel a slight sense of negative criticism from this comment. It was probably more my ego feeling bruised because there is truth in this, they can be slow. There can be pressure from the 'faster means better' mindset. Sometimes my classes are pacier, it depends who’s in the room and what i’m trying to evoke. Yet I don’t think it’s a bad to thing to move slowly and consciously. I’ve mostly taught in London where everything happens quickly. We get annoyed if the next tube is more than 2 minutes away, hurrying up escalators without giving a seconds thought. Everything is becoming more instantaneous. Options are at our finger tips with one swift click. It’s both wonderful and also distracting in the same moment. I find myself going to classes and practising with a shadow layer around me, the thoughts, the running story for the day. Very gradually it starts to fade away, the more I allow myself to be less distracted with the thoughts the more engrossed I am in what I’m doing. I don’t know if anyone else feels the same way but I’m more aware of how distracted I am than ever before. Sometimes I catch myself checking Instagram walking up the stairs, or on the loo, how that will help me I have no idea. Put the damn phone down Alice. When I catch myself racking up multiple tasks I take a moment and re-prioritise. Although multi-tasking is a useful skill it can feel like i’m constantly peddling the wheels without truly giving myself to what i’m doing.Back to this video. I’m moving slow, feeling each and every part of what i’m doing. Embracing the imbalance as I move, eyes closed, eyes open, eyes closed, eyes open. Body spiralling and opening in response to the touch of the ground beneath me. I always think it’s such a gift to to be able to practice. We all have these incredible bodies that can breathe, flow, move, appreciate and soak up our environment. It’s in these moments of movement and appreciation that we can feel truly connected to ourselves, slow right down and soak up the glorious moments.