Reasoned Considerations

I have the privilege and pleasure of working on a weekly basis with Wellbeing Improvers during telewellbeing sessions.

What do Wellbeing Improvers like about their sessions?

Slightly dubious to start with but wanting to get out of their own personal rock‑bottom situation, Wellbeing Improvers have come to enjoy meeting for their weekly telewellbeing session. Here are some of the positive points for them:

∞ The taking place of a recurrent event they can join in;

∞ The routine aspect of some of the experiments we do during the sessions: the beginning and the end. They are able to notice the difference between then and now and are happy to gradually add complexity to those experiential routines;

∞ The new experiences that pepper the sessions on a regular basis. As they progress through their sessions, a new experiment brings some anticipation and the challenge of not knowing where the new experiment is going to lead them to;

∞ The knowledge they will have fun with themselves and with the other participants.

I am looking forward to the sessions every week. I do like making experiments and benefit from them as far as mind relaxation and a greater mobility in the neck and joints are concerned.

What are Wellbeing Improvers finding out?

The Wellbeing Improvers taking part in these telesessions have rapidly noticed that:

∞ They usually sleep well the evening of the wellbeing session;

∞ As we perform experiments throughout the sessions, we are not trying to ‛fix’ anything there is no pressure whatsoever, and there is no ‛right’ or ‛wrong’, simply a curiosity about the outcome of an experiment;

∞ They find out improvement in themselves on a regular basis. They find themselves on a ‛more’ ladder, which is very satisfying and rewarding;

∞ They have lightbulb moments about something that has sometimes been discussed for several weeks

I like the beginning routine of my wellbeing sessions for the relaxation and joy it brings me. I like experimenting with movements in the neck, and especially noticing when my movements glide in harmony. I am surprised at how relaxed I am after each session and could really go to sleep after them! My wellbeing sessions bring me not only physical relaxation (which is why I started with them) but also a mental and psychological relaxation. I started with a wellbeing of 4 out of 10; 6 weeks down the line my wellbeing is 7 out of 10.

What more do Wellbeing Improvers find out?

At times, one Wellbeing Improver will report an unexpected outcome of their wellbeing session(s), such as:

∞ They notice change in their fellow Wellbeing Improvers; after a while, they come to the conclusion that if the other Wellbeing Improvers improve and it is noticeable, it must be the case for them as well, which is absolutely true;

∞ They are no longer on the verge of gouging out the eyes of their co-workers or their spouse; as phrased, it helps tremendously, even though I still get impatient with them!;

∞ They can now drink out of a bottle without choking themselves; I have not been able to do that, like for ever; and I just grabbed a bottle of water and drank!;

∞ They can meet with a relative who regularly digs at them; they have become more detached about the situation and think about it this way: my relative is not nice. I know. It’s her opinion, I do not have to react with a physical behaviour and I do not have to agree.

As a practitioner, I love hearing about the changes the Wellbeing Improvers notice about themselves and the others in the group ‑ and even about me! Acknowledging about them aloud, sometimes makes the inkling of a change real and even makes a change more real somehow. And the beginning of a change will bring more in its wake. It is true that There may be many more steps to go, but you can take comfort that you're making real progress in the right direction. (Heath)

I will finish this post with this anecdote of a Wellbeing Improver

I have an anecdote to tell. At the beginning of the week, I went to buy a 12.5 kg bag of dog food. I carried it in my little muscled arms to the car. On my way I started thinking: my arms are carrying the bag; do I need to tense my hands so much? I thought about the process and…. with my little muscled arms, I carried to the car a 12.5 kg bag of dog food somewhat lighter! I started giggling – and must have looked like a lunatic to others ‑ thinking that Sylvie was intruding in my thoughts!

Asking Where are your hips in a group is interesting and always a source of fun. Such a question paves the way to a debate as more than one answer is usually put forward.

One question and 3 possible answers

Answer 1: ‛The put‑your‑hands‑on-your‑hips’ hips

We all know the gesture! It might remind us of someone frustrated or a bit annoyed.

Or we might have been asked to put our hands on our hips in a gym or yoga class.

Answer 2: ‛the measure‑your‑hips’ hips

Those ‛hips’ are used to fit clothes or to check on weight, for example.

In this frame of reference, hips are below the waist and are wider than our waist.

They vary from one person to another and it is even possible to find information about the different types of waists.

It is measured at 7 or 8 inches ∕ 17.5 to 20 cm below the waist

Answer 3: the ‛space‑between‑2‑bones’ hips

In the ‛space‑between‑2‑bones’ hips, there is an empty space between the acetabulum (a rounded cavity in the hip bone) and the femur (the bone in the thigh). This space is called the acetabulo femoral joint. This joint is one of the joints in our legs.

Where do we move from?

So, for the question, where are our hips?, we have 3 possible answers. The next question is: Are these three possible answers going to be helpful for when we move?

When we move, when there is a displacement of one body part in relation to another one, the only ‛hip’ that can be involved in movement is answer number 3: the ‛space‑between‑2‑bones’ hips. The hip joint is a space that allows all kinds of movements: extension, flexion, rotation, adduction, abduction. This mobility is very useful in everyday life as well as in skill-based activities.

Why is it important to know where we are made to move from?

Knowing and understanding that we move from the acetabulo femoral joint and not from the hip bone or the hip for clothes fitting has a functional and a practical importance.

Functionally

Having an accurate idea of where our hip joints are means we are moving from where we are made to move from. It also means we are not moving from some other place.

True, there are different ways of moving about. Are they all as efficient as each other though?

Practically

This anatomical knowledge can have a significant impact on how we move in everyday life activities: bending forward, sitting, walking and for some of us, even sitting.

Moving from where we are meant to move could lead to:

∞ More mobility and more flexibility

∞ Increased energy and stamina

How can we learn to move differently?

We all tend to move according to ideas we have about how we move, our own conceptions. Revisiting our ideas can lead to a review of them and even a complete change in ideas.

Changing our ideas about movements will lead to a change in the way we move. It is very likely to take a little bit of time as we tend to not give much thought about how we move.