Day 2 of IDJSIJ - Be a Weeble

The body and mind are like two best friends holding hands, and one of them is always up for trouble. Where one goes, the other follows.

If your mind is busy and agitated, your body will reflect that and it will be harder to settle. Similarly, when the body is stiff, uncomfortable, or in pain, the mind will focus on that and increase the experience of sensation while flapping around trying to fix the problem.

If you have a hard time doing jack shit because your mind won’t let you, consider some preparation for both the mind and body. Listen to music. Take a hot shower. Do something quiet and repetitive for awhile, like slow toe touches. Focus on taking deep inhales (say to yourself “1”) and exhaling (say to yourself “2”). Knead bread (this would not be my choice, but whatever. You do you.) If we can get this troublesome pair to slow down and harmonize, it will be easier to relax.

Posture of the day - legs up a wall

Although I do like elevated legs, it took some maneuvering for me to get comfortable in this one.

Start out by sitting right up against the wall with one hip securely on it and the legs parallel to the wall. Then you topple over like a Weeble who wobbled and DID fall down (dated reference, sorry millennials) and wind up with your butt close to the wall and the legs above. This didn’t feel great on my hips after 5 minutes, so I moved a bolster under them. You could also use a folded blanket too, but make sure you end the fold at the top below the waist – this avoids curving the lower spine. If it's too much of a hamstring stretch, move the hips further from the wall, or prop the hips higher.

Leg variations are an option as well.

• Bend the knees slightly with soles of the feet on the wall, and then alternate crossing an ankle over the opposite knee (like a reclined pigeon pose)
• Bring the soles of the feet together with knees apart
• Let the legs spread into a wide V shape, holding the outside of the thighs for support

Try to find stillness in the body, and the mind will follow.

Note to self: in the future when putting legs up the wall, do not wear the fuzzy slippers with the black rubber soles. Thank you universe, for the wonder of the Magic Eraser.