We practice movement with the same attitude that we bring to the breath awareness and body awareness meditations: openness, curiosity, patience, gentleness, and kindness towards ourselves. We move without striving or forcing. We practice accepting the body as we find it, in the present; from one moment to the next. While stretching or lifting or balancing, we learn to gently work at our limits maintaining moment-to-moment awareness. We learn to be more patient with ourselves.
For instance, as we carefully move up to our limits during a stretching movement, we practice breathing at the limit, dwelling in the creative space between not challenging the body at all, and pushing it too far. Do your best to be curious about what is happening in your body as you move and sustain the postures. You can even ask yourself: “What is the sensation in my back, my neck, etc.?” “Am I responding to it, or reacting to it?” “Can I soften and open up to these sensations in this moment, and moment-by-moment?”
***A reminder to be gentle and work at your own capacity during mindful movement***