One Foot Out the Door, A Case Study
Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 08:26AM | 5 Comments Not exacty a case study for shiatsu, (maybe one more for shin tai) but still a potentially astonishing example of how one's body can really reflect one's state of mind.
I have a client whom I've been working with for a year. Among other things, one aspect that always stood out for me was the twisting of her body, and especially how this presented in the disparity of her leg length.
It was obvious when she was lying face down: her left shoulder blade protruded slightly posterior, and the angle of her sacrum was hard to miss. And in both face down and face up psoitions, you could see how one leg not only appeared almost an inch and a half shorter than the other, but was turned out about 10 degrees more than the other leg.
While this condition didn't seem to cause her pain or even a call for her attention, I did try to address it on occasion (she had a number of other things going on that would appear as a priority), but with little success.
Yesterday, however, during our session, I noticed while she was lying face down that her legs were much closer in length. Making a mental note but not really thinking too much of it until she was face-up, I realized there was definitely a shift.
Usually when she first flips over, the legs will appear close to even, but as I work, and she relaxes, the disparity will reveal itself again and the one foot will flop way over to the side.
It just didn't happen this time.
After the session, she shared an experience she had during the past week. She was required to take a test as part of her job, one that typically caused her a great deal of fear and anxiety. The person who she was supposed to do this with was a no-show and she was instead paired with the head of the department, who, beside just giving her some advice in regards to her fear, also gave her, in her words, "life lessons".
She realized that she had never really committed to this job, that she went into it intending to just do this for a couple years then retire. She'd approached these tests, and her job, with just enough skimming of the material to get by. In her mind she'd be gone in a month anyway, and even though here it is twenty years down the road, she still had one foot out the door.
This man suggested to her that if she were to just commit to this, put herself into it, take the time to really learn the material... and this was true of anything.. her job, a hobby, whatever it is she's doing in her life ... put herself into it fully, the fear would disappear for her, and all would flow more smoothly. She would know this stuff -- it would be a part of her and there would be nothing to worry about.
I told her about my "hips" post, and we both agreed that approaching our lives wholeheartedly creates a sense of effortlessness.. a word that she sang over and over, as it's been a belief and desire she's always had..that life could be effortless.
Could it be that her body responded to this reconciliation? That it was now no longer reflecting this inner conflict?
The Gall Bladder meridian, which governs decision-making and expenditure of resources, runs down the sides of our bodies, right through the hips. So, when we are indecisive or are experiencing inner conflict, this is the area of our physical structure most directly affected.
I see many, MANY people (and myself included) that present with these mismatched sides. Is it a predominant symptom of our culture to have this lack of congruency between who we are and what we're wanting to achieve?
And an even larger philosophical question, can an emphasis on freedom of choice throw us into a state of perpetual indecisiveness, and a fear of commitment?
Would love your thoughts.
Reader Comments (5)
I love this.
Not only because you're brilliant. But because it's fascinating to me how our bodies tell our stories. Even if we're not totally conscious of them.
And how, when we change our stories, our bodies change. More than that, our lives change.
Amazing stuff. Gorgeous post.
Yays all around.
This is fascinating! It does take a lot of effort to go through life in a less than wholehearted way.
In Crossing the Unknown Sea, David Whyte says, "The cure to exhaustion is wholeheartedness."
I've taken that to heart, and I've done a lot more listening to my body. Very interesting experience. I thought it'd take more effort to dive into life. The opposite is true! Happy that your client has both feet on the table!
Very interesting! And timely, as I found myself thinking about commitment these last few days. Thank you, Gina, for sharing this story and providing me with more food for thought...
This was fascinating. It makes me think of my left leg, which twists more outward than my right. I used to be constantly fascinated by it in pilates because whenever the instructor would tell me that it was finally straight, it would feel like it was way to the right.
Lots of food for thought! I think I am committed. Well, I have one foot out the door literally, but am committed until then. And I thought I was committed to the new path .. but maybe there are still stucknesses somewhere to examine. Like I said, fascinating.
I am very intrigued by shiatsu now. :)
@Fabeku: It's true what they say, whoever 'they' are, that 'bodies never lie'. Perhaps a blessing and a curse, because the body is often the last place our stuff shows up, but good for us to know when we can't figure out what's 'wrong' with us. And thank you!
@Bridget: Wow! I love that! It's so true... that 'wholeheartedness' thing. It's good to note, and I've certainly come to be real clear with this, when I'm feeling mysteriously tired, to look at what I may have agreed to be doing that I'm not fully on board with. It may not be something I can avoid, but at least knowing it, I can deal with it.
@Josiane: You're welcome. Our avoidance of commitment tens to show up in a variety of ways.... all the best to you...
@Elizabeth: Yay! I'm glad I've made another shiatsu convert! LOL Yes, who knows what your body may be trying to tell you. Working with some kind of meditation practice might allow you to open up and hear what it's saying.