*Upcoming US and Europe Workshops:* inspiresomatics.com/workshops/ *Private Sessions for Assessment, Guidance, and Addressing Your Specific Patterns* Zoom sessions: inspiresomatics.com/schedule-online-video-sessions-2/ In-person sessions: inspiresomatics.com/schedule-office-2-2/ In-person for multiple days: inspiresomatics.com/travel-for-multiple-sesions/ Professional Guidance for Yoga and Somatics Teachers: inspiresomatics.com/professional-training/ All UA-cam Playlists: www.youtube.com/@ericcoopersomatics/playlists
Thank you. I'm going to do more with the "breathing room" that this one has. It's easy to talk too much in the movement. I'm learning, too. The basics are powerful. Thank you for encouraging comment. I'm glad your are practicing. So many videos are in the works.
I enjoy the slow, easy, gentle approach. I feel much calmer after practicing with you. The attention to the breath is also very helpful. Simplify, simplify, simplify; thank you Eric.
Thank you, Joyce. I like this one, too. I'm glad you found it. I want to do more in this style. It has extra space, it's uncluttered. It's too easy to fill in every valuable silence with talking. The most important movements are to free ourselves from stuckness of our breathing space. Again, thank you for your encouraging comment.
It's a simple teaching. That can be deep. I'm glad you liked it. It's actually a version that I am trying to have translated into many languages. I taught this one so there would be room for the translation. One of my faults is to usually fill in the open space with talking. This helped me see that it doesn't need to be that way. I also like the openness of it. Thank you for your comment.
You do very professional videos here. Thx a lot. I bought the Hannah Book a few years ago. Could never reach that pandiculation experience and swapped over to TRE and Feldenkrais. Maybe I will give it another try.
This movement method allows you to address the deep tension habit that feels like persistent stress. Recently, a client who had been doing TRE for a year told me he made more progress in a week with specific pandiculations of stress tension patterns. Teach your system out of the holding patterns.Stress tensions in humans are mostly front and back. As the tension has normalized, it runs outside your awareness. These movement allow you to teach your system out of that hidden holding pattern. I encourage you to explore this playlist of movements for the tensions of stress: ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayi01UZkxj4X5X2epj74vDxf.html
You are the third somatics teacher I have checked out and I love your approach and for me the videos have a meditation-like aspect to them, which is wonderful. It makes me look forward to returning to practice again the next day, or later the same day. Thank you
I am so glad you found my channel. You can make a real change. You can free yourself. What most people don't realize is that, to make the change you want, it takes more practice than than you may expect. This means practicing often. These tension habits run deep. It takes 5 or 10 minutes of practice sprinkled throughout the day. 5 of 6 times a day is the minimum to navigate the ship to safe waters. Then the maintenance is easier. Get away from the rocky shore. This is a great movement to practice. I do it every day. If you want to take it further, to look at it in a more advanced way: *The Two Axis Rocking Chair -Focus the lesson for scoliosis and everyone* Relax the front where the stuckness is hidden. Address your asymmetrical hunch. 12m:44s This is now a cornerstone movement in my personal practice. ua-cam.com/video/jsIRiFbc5sU/v-deo.html I encourage you to work from the top of this playlist: *Start here. Begin your Somatics Experience Here playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayiIX9O0hRsMwyxhaK4LTXXF.html Or, try my Free UA-cam Basics Course: (The begin here playlist is better in some ways) *Free Intro to Somatics Course Playlist, Where you're stuck is hidden.* 2h:28m Somatic Movement to reconnect to yourself. ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayhL0zxrFjrpw0ok2298dZEG.html&si=n1fYUY8YG_NGkvP0 A cat practices about 40 times a day. Please let me know if you have questions or aha moments along the way. Thank you for your comment.
@@ericcoopersomatics Hi Eric! Just found your channel and I find what you are doing interesting. To be clear, the point of these exercises are telling the body to be safe?
You can do it. It is possible to be so diligent that you find time to practice, even if it is only for 2 minutes whenever you feel even a drop of worry, sadness, or depression. Keep pulling the record needle out of the skipping groove. I have a whole playlist of the movements that turn off this tension pattern. *How to Stop Being Depressed Playlist. Come out of the grip of it.* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayi4gUn7X4D4YtdWyZhqsrSW.html&si=3iGbkTrugQ0aR9GM Learn the first 5 movements. Then you can make the change. Just practice often. Respect the pattern, never force it, never stretch it. Teach it. My goal is to help as many people as possible over the greatest amount of time. Thank you for letting me know this is helpful.
Oh, I'm so glad. This can be such a helpful movement. I do have more that are related. This playlist has them all: *Hunched Postures, Rounded Shoulders, Sunken Chests Playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj0YgnU5JKNCjOzUTfgZpTF.html Yesterday, i published a new movement called The Bow. It focusses on a valuable detail of Elbows to the Sky. You may want to try it, too. *The Bow, Teach your brain to let you out of hunched posture* 7m:55s On UA-cam: ua-cam.com/video/VmmiGfcr0G8/v-deo.html This patten runs deep in us. It takes practicing often to bring a greater freedom from it. Think: _often_ , Sprinkle your practice sessions throughout the day. Thank you for your comment. Please let me know what you discover along the way.
Dear Eric, after a long day of work, spendig time with your work, supported through you gentil an nice voice, it is easy to calm down. Thanks for your way how you are and the possibility to watch and listen.
I was trying to make this teaching with more space and openness in the talking. I do like this version. If this is your tension pattern, the tendency of your system, then this is a good movement to do a million times. Obviously, not all at once. I do this one every day. It helps me survive life. Otherwise, I'd be so hunched over. I have a whole playlist of movements related to Elbows to the Sky. And another that looks at the emotional aspect of this tension habit. They are very similar. *Hunched Postures, Rounded Shoulders, Sunken Chests Playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj0YgnU5JKNCjOzUTfgZpTF.html *Stop Being Depressed Playlist. Come out of the grip of it. playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayi4gUn7X4D4YtdWyZhqsrSW.html Thank you so much for your comment. Please let me know if you have questions along the way.
So beautiful that you are in the process. You're right, it is teaching. The teaching is that you are reconnecting how brain and body interconnect, clarifying the lines of communication. That lightness is confirmation that you are unburdening yourself from the deep habit that depresses the chest. I have a whole playlist of related movements: *Hunched Postures, Rounded Shoulders, Sunken Chests Playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj0YgnU5JKNCjOzUTfgZpTF.html It includes many other *Elbows to the Sky* versions of varying duration. The movement called *The Bow* is also in that playlist and can help you see other subtleties in those areas.
If you want a huge gain: First, more fully address the sides: *Side Bend Practice Video 2022* . Covers both sides and many variations 17m:50s ua-cam.com/video/HcYjAoXRdAk/v-deo.html Upper half of the Side Bend: *DETAIL for YOUR RIGHT Side RIBS, Part 1* ua-cam.com/video/wty5R_lP7cw/v-deo.html *DETAIL for YOUR LEFT Side RIBS* , Part 2 ua-cam.com/video/XC8PySOLDS0/v-deo.html Lower half of the Side Bend: *DETAIL Part 1 for YOUR RIGHT Side Waist* ua-cam.com/video/g9gcWyZ2BEA/v-deo.html *DETAIL Part 2 for YOUR LEFT Side Waist, Lower Half of Side Bend* ua-cam.com/video/L4YZ1ZNxlbM/v-deo.html Practice a more focussed version of *Elbows to the Sky* , that I call *The Rocking Chair* *The Rocking Chair, Focus the lesson on exactly the place that needs the lesson.* Red pattern 12m:13s ua-cam.com/video/il0T-pZosDM/v-deo.html Also address the front diagonals: *Sunrise, Sunset + The X of the Front | OPEN your torso, AWAKEN your Twist, FREE your breathing* 12m:04s This movement helps you awaken the long front diagonals of the torso, the diagonals of twist and breathing. ua-cam.com/video/pCa2oPXpT1A/v-deo.html And with all of that, to make a deeper change, practice often. Dive in deeper in your practice. Set the timer to 45 minutes. Keep it simple pandiculation and teach your system that you can change. Please let me know how it goes. If you want, here are some other versions of Elbows to the Sky, to go deeper: *Elbows To The Sky Practice Sequence. Get out of the tension of worry, sadness, and depression* . Red pattern 5m:47s from Costa Rica ua-cam.com/video/1nalF3G0TB8/v-deo.html *Get out of stress practice | Elbows to the Sky | Somatics for worry, disappointment, sadness.* 1 cycle of Arch and Curl 4 cycles of Elbows to the Sky 3m:20s On UA-cam, please like, comment, subscribe: ua-cam.com/video/F67BeLXJzBk/v-deo.html *Elbows to the Sky - Worry Off, Fear Off, Sadness Off* | Practice sequence with explanation, 6m:56s ua-cam.com/video/APM0uSU-Qw0/v-deo.html *Escape the Grip of Stress | Elbows to the Sky + The Four Leaf Clover* Red pattern 10m:50s ua-cam.com/video/TTYn4TIfPrc/v-deo.html
@@ericcoopersomatics Thank you for your response, you are a very interesting teacher, I like all the details you include. You are a very intelligent man .
I am so happy to hear that. Practice often. I do this every day. I find a couple of minutes to get out of the grip of it. I encourage you, with all my heart, to treat yourself to more of life outside this tension pattern. Because it's the tension pattern of worry and sadness. Who wants to be in the persistent pull of that. These tensions become deep automatic habits. They grip us and pull us. You can do it. You can free yourself. It's a practice, a maintenance.
I am so glad you felt a change toward the positive. These stress tensions take up huge amounts of slack that your system needs for you to feel at ease. It is very important to practice this one a lot. I practice it every day. *Hunched Postures, Rounded Shoulders, Sunken Chests Playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj0YgnU5JKNCjOzUTfgZpTF.html From that list, also learn *The Bow,* and *The Rocking Chair* Freeing your sides will help it work better. (work from the top of the list, down.) If Your Sides Are Different Playlist, 'A scoliosis problem is a tension problem'. Asymmetry Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj1sC-HRPGz7rv_koiiaWVk.html you may also want to explore these Psoas line releases, especially the one called Un-sitting. Here is my Psoas playlist. It will help you unburden the glutes. Psoas and Hip Flexion Releases playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayiVl74QTJqNmYGNLfTy15yG.html
As you give yourself gentle lessons to unfreeze from these holding patterns, powerful stuff can come up. That is part of the healing you are doing. As you revisit this movement, which should be part of your daily practice, there will be less and less dammed up (stagnant?) backwater needing to rush out. I hope you found the contact with the powerful emotions to be of value. That is part of you. You are making contact with it. Perhaps, when it comes up like that, take a moment to simply be in it. Find the capacity to receive the lesson it has to give you. Keep going. Your are doing it. Freeing yourself is a beautiful courageous act, an expression of healthy self-love.
Hello Eric, thank you very much for putting together such a great playlist. Today I tried out the exercises in this video. It's really nice to be accompanied through the exercises by your gentle voice. It is a wonderful accompaniment on the way to feeling and perceiving oneself, recognising the tensions and releasing them. You talk about the feelings of depression, fear and sadness in a very natural way, so that they can simply be. This helps a lot to realise these feelings yourself and to release the tensions associated with them. I am again very touched by the exercises.
These movements are some of my favorites.I am glad you are exploring them. If you're a person who is good at these tensions then you know how powerful their grip can be. I think it does take looking at it to begin to see the nature of the holding. It will show up noticeably in the mind before a person may notice the accompanied tensions in the body. Devote yourself to practicing often. The often-ness is what changes it's grip. Practicing is a chance to create a new habit of being more free from the Red Pattern contractions. If you find that these tensions of the front are unwilling to open, do The Side Bend first. Even just the upper half of The Side Bend will make the system better able to let go of the Red tensions. These before the Elbows to the Sky can help you make a deeper change: *Side Bend practice | What if your sides were relaxed? | Basics course sequence excerpt from 2022* 6m:59s ua-cam.com/video/hiaj5mZMWmU/v-deo.html *Side Bend Practice Video 2022. Covers both sides and many variations* 17m:50s ua-cam.com/video/HcYjAoXRdAk/v-deo.html *Upper half of the Side Bend:* *DETAIL for YOUR RIGHT Side RIBS, Part 1* ua-cam.com/video/wty5R_lP7cw/v-deo.html *DETAIL for YOUR LEFT Side RIBS, Part 2* ua-cam.com/video/XC8PySOLDS0/v-deo.html Thank you very much for your comment.
That's a good question. In my very first video of this movement, (2018 ua-cam.com/video/RmZxKuiiGpc/v-deo.html) I did teach it with an activation of the glutes as you describe. I decided that that isn't good because it links glutes to powerfully to the upper front contaction. That doesn't mean it can't be a good combination. I suggest relaxing out of the contraction as separate elements , relaxing glutes then relaxing front, so they are not so wired togehter. I like unlinking the parts that like to chime in together. Try this *simple pelvic floor pandiculation sequence* , ua-cam.com/video/TLv7Fl10LwQ/v-deo.html How is pelvic floor linked to postural lines of tension? I hope your university life is going well.
Thanks! I have a general question regarding how many exercises to do for any specific area: Do you think it's better to do just one/few exercises for each area (lower back for example) or doing many different exercises? I'm aware that usually the whole body needs to be treated, not just where the symptom shows. But I mean within this whole-body-treatment approach: Will my brain/body/healing profit more from focus on few exercises or will it prosper more on a multitude of exercises? Maybe there's no general answer? - But I was wondering which approach to take regarding limiting or increasing the number of exercises. Thank you.
That's a sliding scale. If you're doing a multi-movement sequence, perhaps just a few. One other way is to look carefully and see if you can control going into the contraction and come out of the contraction. Did you override the autopilot? Is the muscle as easily open as you want it to be? Don't make it tedious for you attention. -->> Most important is the torso. The key is finding limits of your easy breathing space. Look in every direction for the torso. The deep holding is breathing constriction. Can you breath easily into your low back? Can you breath easily into each side? Upper front and lower front? I organize it by front and back (That's stress) Look at sides. You can look at diagonals, which are rotation. You can look at details. Try some of my sequences. Here's the sequence playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayi5g-EIHvIoxssLuuYpKptY.html Be creative with it. Sometimes I only do the side bend on one side as a practice session.
@@ericcoopersomatics Thank you for explaining, it's very interesting. You write: "don't make it tedious for your attention" (going into and out of contraction). But at the same time, aren't we supposed to be very attentive to the inner feelings of the movement? Maybe we should be quite focused on whats going on, but not overly focussed (which could become straining for the mind)? Also take long enough pauses after each movement or whenever necessary. What you write about breathing is very interesting. I will have to explore the breathing aspect during the movements to fully understand what you mean.
Yes, i think that's a good way to consider the parameters. The system can only learn as much as it can at that time. Explore different levels of concentration of your attention. Try a movement like the X of the Front, or Sunrise, Sunset + the X of The Front ua-cam.com/video/oNboiNo-RiU/v-deo.html And try slower more intentional on one diagonal. Then less attention on the other diagonal. Is there a difference? Your actual experience can answer those questions. Thank you for exploring it at that level.
This exercise does something for me that I need. I get the TRE tremors when I make it and my body shakes. It's not uncomfortable just a little bit odd.
My general answer to your question (your exact situation may differ) is the following: 1) If the shaking is in the contraction phase of the movement, that is often showing how the dis-sassociation/sensory-motor amnesia/confusion-about-muscle-control expresses under load. The experiment is to contract with much, much less intensity, Try 20% of the initial effort. There is little to be gained,by pushing into that quiver, as far as restoring muscle control in the way Somatics offers. Basically, a quiver is too much effort. 2) If the quiver is in the descent out of the effort/ the slow relax, then give it more time, be more careful, focus the awareness and go much slower. Perhaps lower in steps. These movements allow you to teach your nervous system, so give it a winnable lesson. It doesn't have to be perfect. It's the practice of the movements that fills in the gaps in control. I like TRE, But Somatics is very different. The goal of the videos is to allow the brain to understand how to let the muscles relax, to restore easy breathing space, to allow you to feel calm and at ease.
Hi, so grateful i have found you, i have somatic Tinnitus, an impinged shoulder, muscular tension down the right side particularly, which video would be helpful for me please especially as its too painful for my shoulder to do certain movements, thanks so much for what you do.
Greetings, Since I don't know your specific situation and your specific limitations, I cannot advise you in a specific way here in this comment section. First, It is very important that you do not go into any strain, discomfort or strain when doing these movements. None at all. The process will derail and recoil if you force the muscles to stretch. This process is about teaching the muscles that they can safely lengthen and relax. It is most important to focus on the root holdings that are driving your Tinnitus, shoulder issue, and tight right side. Start with this movement to learn how to look for root holdings. *Can Gentle TWISTING Free Your BREATHING? Gentle Slow, Simplest Twisting Washrag Full Version* 17m:12s Detailed front and side breathing assessment combined with an easy, slow twisting Somatic movement exercise On UA-cam : ua-cam.com/video/lfbeq1is-ns/v-deo.html It will help you with a basic assessment for front sides and the front diagonals. Once you see how to assess with gentle breathing, then you can look deeper, with detailed consideration of the back, and more complex asymmetry lines like the Inner-X lines, the Pendulum Pattern, and the Paralellogram pattern. And of course, rotation/twist can be a powerful holding as well. All these patterns limit breathing in ways we/you may be unaware of. Address the root holdings that drive your asymmetry. Work from the top down, through this playlist on asymmetry. *If Your Sides Are Different Playlist, 'A scoliosis problem is a tension problem'. Asymmetry Playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj1sC-HRPGz7rv_koiiaWVk.html And do not go into any discomfort in your exploration. The painful areas, the tinnitus and the shoulder issue are the boiling over of bigger tension patterns in the body. Address those patterns to make the most change. You can also work your way from the top down, through my Begin Here playlist: *Start here. Begin your Somatics Experience Here playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayiIX9O0hRsMwyxhaK4LTXXF.html Address the roots of the problem. And, you may want to try my Basic Jaw video. But realize, the jaw is tight in relation to the big hidden tension patterns that distort posture. Change/teach those hidden tensions. *Relax your Jaw, Beginning sequence* This is the beginning. Help your brain reset the baseline tensions of the jaw.There is much further we can go in exploring how jaw holdings interlock with postural tension. On youtube: ua-cam.com/video/Aok4Sntbbw0/v-deo.html
@@ericcoopersomatics wow...thank you for your comprehensive reply, i very much appreciate it, i saw an Osteopath yesterday and we discussed this tension and he gave me exercises, i also tried yours yesterday - the approach you use is so helpful and fascinating, the tension i hold has been from decades of work related physical stress, not helped by never feeling well due to having my thyroid removed, the key here is you are never too old to learn!! I am 59 now and feel like i need to start again, so am incredibly grateful to have discovered somatic exercises thanks to you,,,i hope you are well and thank you again for helping me on my journey to recovery.
@Seabob65 I encourage you to explore these playlists. Work from the * top down. Start here. Begin your Somatics Experience Her* e playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayiIX9O0hRsMwyxhaK4LTXXF.html *Free Intro to Somatics Course Playlist, Where you're stuck is hidden. 2h:28m Somatic Movement to reconnect to yourself.* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayhL0zxrFjrpw0ok2298dZEG.html&si=n1fYUY8YG_NGkvP0
Thank you very much this is mybfirstvtime following your instructions and it confused me i haven't really done much of somatic exercise and ibdont get the simmering boiling point anology. Also are we suppose to do this in bed?
Thank you for asking these questions. If you revisit this movement, it will make a lot more sense the second time you do it. The pain that people have, the common aches and pains are not exactly the root of the problem. If someone is stuck in the tension pattern that this movement helps them get unstuck from, the tensions of the front that hunch us over, they may actually have pain expressions in the back of the neck, and the upper back, or certain types of headaches. Often the back works hard to hold open a silent tightness of the front. Our bodies can handle some persistent tension but as the tensions increase soon it "boils over" as more localized achy problems. Practicing before bed is especially helpful because it allows your body to rest out of these tensions for much of the night. If the bed is soft, it won't allow you to open fully out of this movement. There's a lot more feedback for your system to see what it is relaxing out of if you do it on a yoga mat on the floor. When I'm going to bed I practice in bed on a firm mattress. This is a good movement to begin with. Many people, most of us, have some persistent tension in the front of the body that's trying to hunch us over. It's part of the well practiced habit of stress reaction. So if you're working through my channel's 'Begin Here Playlist' ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayidRQCBv3Jnfj0OrRZDMlSF.html&si=cManqJwVHabBIKhV You will be able to reconnect to a better understanding of what it is to be in your body. Because of the stresses and difficulties of life, we begin to lose awareness that certain places can move easily, that are breathing can be full and relaxed. This movement helps you restore those constrictions that, when left to run automatically end up boiling over as anxiety and worry and depression. Again, thank you for your question.
@@ericcoopersomatics when you ask me that question, i wondered to myself , do i know what he means by that.! Open do you mean without tensions that i cant resolve..?
When the muscles tighten, they pull their ends together. That is their nature. The muscles, when they tighten, pull the bones together, they close the space between the bones. With the Somatics Movements that I teach, as the muscles relax, the space between the bones opens. Breathing is opening and closing. When you squeeze the air out, you are closing the breathing space. When the breathing space opens, you are bringing the air in.
I don't think this can be learned from a book. I do have many playlists on this UA-cam channel. You may want to start at the Begin Here Playlist. ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayiIX9O0hRsMwyxhaK4LTXXF.html&si=9sNsDTyqO0zoId8i Some of the other playlists are for specific afflictions that people have, including common postural tendencies. You can only learn this method by doing it. It has to be experienced in a certain relationship to time. A book cannot convey the flow and how to move in this relationship to time time. That inward view needs to be clarified and completed by the practice of these movements. But very deeply into yourself and learn to see the places that, in the line the movement, there are little places and section that don't know how to move. Teach your brain that those places can move. It takes a dedicated practice to make that change. There's lots of UA-cam videos for you to explore here. Please let me know if you have any questions along the way.
The biggest benefit of weight training is that it strengthens tendons and their attachemens to the bone. Many people end up strengthening the patterns that are the root holdings that boil over as their pain. if you do weight training, find time to pandiculate 30-60 minutes after your workout. Remind the muscles what rest is. Don't take the tension of the workout to bed with you. It's your experiment. My personal experiment is: only somatics, and some daily walking (usually over 12000 steps.). That works for me. I see so many people who messed up their bodies with weights. It can be done well and it can also distort the body out of its natural balance. Often, places that feel like weak muscles are actually tired muscles.
It is a process. It is challenging to change the course of your ship. The tensions of the emotions run deep. It takes practicing every day to come out of these deep tension habits. They are like a record needle skipping in the groove on a vinyl record. The patterns and habits are worn deep. For you it may take some practice, and a little dedication to make a real change. Here is a playlist to come out of this pattern. I suggest that you work your way from the top of the list: Hunched Postures, Rounded Shoulders, Sunken Chests Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj0YgnU5JKNCjOzUTfgZpTF.html The playlists are for general situations and may not perfectly fit your specific situation. These videos are practice videos for my clients. Be gentler on yourself. This is a skill that takes practice. Can you learn to relax your body and yourself? PS. the crying may be a good and much needed release.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
*Upcoming US and Europe Workshops:* inspiresomatics.com/workshops/
*Private Sessions for Assessment, Guidance, and Addressing Your Specific Patterns*
Zoom sessions: inspiresomatics.com/schedule-online-video-sessions-2/
In-person sessions: inspiresomatics.com/schedule-office-2-2/
In-person for multiple days: inspiresomatics.com/travel-for-multiple-sesions/
Professional Guidance for Yoga and Somatics Teachers: inspiresomatics.com/professional-training/
All UA-cam Playlists: www.youtube.com/@ericcoopersomatics/playlists
Definitely a lovely video. I like the simpleness and more beginner teaching for folks new to Somatics.
Thank you. I'm going to do more with the "breathing room" that this one has. It's easy to talk too much in the movement. I'm learning, too.
The basics are powerful. Thank you for encouraging comment. I'm glad your are practicing. So many videos are in the works.
Thanks Eric.
I enjoy the slow, easy, gentle approach. I feel much calmer after practicing with you. The attention to the breath is also very helpful. Simplify, simplify, simplify; thank you Eric.
Thank you, Joyce. I like this one, too. I'm glad you found it.
I want to do more in this style. It has extra space, it's uncluttered. It's too easy to fill in every valuable silence with talking. The most important movements are to free ourselves from stuckness of our breathing space.
Again, thank you for your encouraging comment.
Excellent!
It's a simple teaching. That can be deep. I'm glad you liked it.
It's actually a version that I am trying to have translated into many languages. I taught this one so there would be room for the translation.
One of my faults is to usually fill in the open space with talking. This helped me see that it doesn't need to be that way. I also like the openness of it.
Thank you for your comment.
You do very professional videos here. Thx a lot. I bought the Hannah Book a few years ago. Could never reach that pandiculation experience and swapped over to TRE and Feldenkrais.
Maybe I will give it another try.
This movement method allows you to address the deep tension habit that feels like persistent stress.
Recently, a client who had been doing TRE for a year told me he made more progress in a week with specific pandiculations of stress tension patterns. Teach your system out of the holding patterns.Stress tensions in humans are mostly front and back. As the tension has normalized, it runs outside your awareness. These movement allow you to teach your system out of that hidden holding pattern. I encourage you to explore this playlist of movements for the tensions of stress: ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayi01UZkxj4X5X2epj74vDxf.html
You are the third somatics teacher I have checked out and I love your approach and for me the videos have a meditation-like aspect to them, which is wonderful. It makes me look forward to returning to practice again the next day, or later the same day. Thank you
I am so glad you found my channel. You can make a real change. You can free yourself. What most people don't realize is that, to make the change you want, it takes more practice than than you may expect. This means practicing often. These tension habits run deep. It takes 5 or 10 minutes of practice sprinkled throughout the day. 5 of 6 times a day is the minimum to navigate the ship to safe waters. Then the maintenance is easier. Get away from the rocky shore.
This is a great movement to practice. I do it every day. If you want to take it further, to look at it in a more advanced way:
*The Two Axis Rocking Chair -Focus the lesson for scoliosis and everyone*
Relax the front where the stuckness is hidden. Address your asymmetrical hunch.
12m:44s This is now a cornerstone movement in my personal practice.
ua-cam.com/video/jsIRiFbc5sU/v-deo.html
I encourage you to work from the top of this playlist:
*Start here. Begin your Somatics Experience Here playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayiIX9O0hRsMwyxhaK4LTXXF.html
Or, try my Free UA-cam Basics Course: (The begin here playlist is better in some ways)
*Free Intro to Somatics Course Playlist, Where you're stuck is hidden.* 2h:28m Somatic Movement to reconnect to yourself.
ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayhL0zxrFjrpw0ok2298dZEG.html&si=n1fYUY8YG_NGkvP0
A cat practices about 40 times a day.
Please let me know if you have questions or aha moments along the way.
Thank you for your comment.
@@ericcoopersomatics Hi Eric! Just found your channel and I find what you are doing interesting. To be clear, the point of these exercises are telling the body to be safe?
Thank you for this. Giving me another tool to use towards wellness and becoming a non depressed person.
You can do it. It is possible to be so diligent that you find time to practice, even if it is only for 2 minutes whenever you feel even a drop of worry, sadness, or depression. Keep pulling the record needle out of the skipping groove.
I have a whole playlist of the movements that turn off this tension pattern. *How to Stop Being Depressed Playlist. Come out of the grip of it.* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayi4gUn7X4D4YtdWyZhqsrSW.html&si=3iGbkTrugQ0aR9GM
Learn the first 5 movements. Then you can make the change. Just practice often. Respect the pattern, never force it, never stretch it. Teach it.
My goal is to help as many people as possible over the greatest amount of time. Thank you for letting me know this is helpful.
@@ericcoopersomaticsbless you
Amazing! Helped the tension straight away
Oh, I'm so glad. This can be such a helpful movement.
I do have more that are related. This playlist has them all:
*Hunched Postures, Rounded Shoulders, Sunken Chests Playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj0YgnU5JKNCjOzUTfgZpTF.html
Yesterday, i published a new movement called The Bow. It focusses on a valuable detail of Elbows to the Sky. You may want to try it, too.
*The Bow, Teach your brain to let you out of hunched posture* 7m:55s
On UA-cam: ua-cam.com/video/VmmiGfcr0G8/v-deo.html
This patten runs deep in us. It takes practicing often to bring a greater freedom from it. Think: _often_ , Sprinkle your practice sessions throughout the day.
Thank you for your comment. Please let me know what you discover along the way.
Dear Eric, after a long day of work, spendig time with your work, supported through you gentil an nice voice, it is easy to calm down. Thanks for your way how you are and the possibility to watch and listen.
I was trying to make this teaching with more space and openness in the talking. I do like this version. If this is your tension pattern, the tendency of your system, then this is a good movement to do a million times. Obviously, not all at once. I do this one every day. It helps me survive life. Otherwise, I'd be so hunched over. I have a whole playlist of movements related to Elbows to the Sky. And another that looks at the emotional aspect of this tension habit. They are very similar.
*Hunched Postures, Rounded Shoulders, Sunken Chests Playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj0YgnU5JKNCjOzUTfgZpTF.html
*Stop Being Depressed Playlist. Come out of the grip of it. playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayi4gUn7X4D4YtdWyZhqsrSW.html
Thank you so much for your comment. Please let me know if you have questions along the way.
Thank you, I enjoyed that. I felt a lightness in my chest after. I feel like I need to teach my body so much ❤
So beautiful that you are in the process. You're right, it is teaching. The teaching is that you are reconnecting how brain and body interconnect, clarifying the lines of communication.
That lightness is confirmation that you are unburdening yourself from the deep habit that depresses the chest.
I have a whole playlist of related movements:
*Hunched Postures, Rounded Shoulders, Sunken Chests Playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj0YgnU5JKNCjOzUTfgZpTF.html
It includes many other *Elbows to the Sky* versions of varying duration.
The movement called *The Bow* is also in that playlist and can help you see other subtleties in those areas.
Very nice teaching, i feel like i could breath better after, and some new spaces open up. Not a huge gain but definitely felt some changes
If you want a huge gain:
First, more fully address the sides:
*Side Bend Practice Video 2022* . Covers both sides and many variations 17m:50s
ua-cam.com/video/HcYjAoXRdAk/v-deo.html
Upper half of the Side Bend:
*DETAIL for YOUR RIGHT Side RIBS, Part 1* ua-cam.com/video/wty5R_lP7cw/v-deo.html
*DETAIL for YOUR LEFT Side RIBS* , Part 2 ua-cam.com/video/XC8PySOLDS0/v-deo.html
Lower half of the Side Bend:
*DETAIL Part 1 for YOUR RIGHT Side Waist* ua-cam.com/video/g9gcWyZ2BEA/v-deo.html
*DETAIL Part 2 for YOUR LEFT Side Waist, Lower Half of Side Bend* ua-cam.com/video/L4YZ1ZNxlbM/v-deo.html
Practice a more focussed version of *Elbows to the Sky* , that I call *The Rocking Chair*
*The Rocking Chair, Focus the lesson on exactly the place that needs the lesson.* Red pattern 12m:13s
ua-cam.com/video/il0T-pZosDM/v-deo.html
Also address the front diagonals:
*Sunrise, Sunset + The X of the Front | OPEN your torso, AWAKEN your Twist, FREE your breathing* 12m:04s
This movement helps you awaken the long front diagonals of the torso, the diagonals of twist and breathing. ua-cam.com/video/pCa2oPXpT1A/v-deo.html
And with all of that, to make a deeper change, practice often. Dive in deeper in your practice. Set the timer to 45 minutes. Keep it simple pandiculation and teach your system that you can change.
Please let me know how it goes.
If you want, here are some other versions of Elbows to the Sky, to go deeper:
*Elbows To The Sky Practice Sequence. Get out of the tension of worry, sadness, and depression* . Red pattern 5m:47s from Costa Rica ua-cam.com/video/1nalF3G0TB8/v-deo.html
*Get out of stress practice | Elbows to the Sky | Somatics for worry, disappointment, sadness.*
1 cycle of Arch and Curl 4 cycles of Elbows to the Sky 3m:20s
On UA-cam, please like, comment, subscribe: ua-cam.com/video/F67BeLXJzBk/v-deo.html
*Elbows to the Sky - Worry Off, Fear Off, Sadness Off* | Practice sequence with explanation, 6m:56s
ua-cam.com/video/APM0uSU-Qw0/v-deo.html
*Escape the Grip of Stress | Elbows to the Sky + The Four Leaf Clover* Red pattern 10m:50s
ua-cam.com/video/TTYn4TIfPrc/v-deo.html
@@ericcoopersomatics Thank you for your response, you are a very interesting teacher, I like all the details you include. You are a very intelligent man .
Really enjoying your page. Very helpful! Cheers 🥂 🎉❤
I am so happy to hear that. Practice often. I do this every day. I find a couple of minutes to get out of the grip of it. I encourage you, with all my heart, to treat yourself to more of life outside this tension pattern. Because it's the tension pattern of worry and sadness. Who wants to be in the persistent pull of that. These tensions become deep automatic habits. They grip us and pull us. You can do it. You can free yourself. It's a practice, a maintenance.
@@ericcoopersomatics thanks for your heartfelt reply 😍
I felt this release through my lower back and down the back of my buttocks/upper thighs. It was good. Thank you!
I am so glad you felt a change toward the positive. These stress tensions take up huge amounts of slack that your system needs for you to feel at ease.
It is very important to practice this one a lot. I practice it every day.
*Hunched Postures, Rounded Shoulders, Sunken Chests Playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj0YgnU5JKNCjOzUTfgZpTF.html
From that list, also learn *The Bow,* and *The Rocking Chair*
Freeing your sides will help it work better. (work from the top of the list, down.)
If Your Sides Are Different Playlist, 'A scoliosis problem is a tension problem'. Asymmetry Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj1sC-HRPGz7rv_koiiaWVk.html
you may also want to explore these Psoas line releases, especially the one called Un-sitting.
Here is my Psoas playlist. It will help you unburden the glutes.
Psoas and Hip Flexion Releases playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayiVl74QTJqNmYGNLfTy15yG.html
@@ericcoopersomatics thank you so much for the reply, I'll take a look and build my own playlist. Thank you!
Thank you. So powerful, emotion came up while I did it
As you give yourself gentle lessons to unfreeze from these holding patterns, powerful stuff can come up. That is part of the healing you are doing. As you revisit this movement, which should be part of your daily practice, there will be less and less dammed up (stagnant?) backwater needing to rush out.
I hope you found the contact with the powerful emotions to be of value. That is part of you.
You are making contact with it. Perhaps, when it comes up like that, take a moment to simply be in it. Find the capacity to receive the lesson it has to give you.
Keep going. Your are doing it. Freeing yourself is a beautiful courageous act, an expression of healthy self-love.
Thank you so much
Hello Eric, thank you very much for putting together such a great playlist. Today I tried out the exercises in this video. It's really nice to be accompanied through the exercises by your gentle voice. It is a wonderful accompaniment on the way to feeling and perceiving oneself, recognising the tensions and releasing them. You talk about the feelings of depression, fear and sadness in a very natural way, so that they can simply be. This helps a lot to realise these feelings yourself and to release the tensions associated with them. I am again very touched by the exercises.
These movements are some of my favorites.I am glad you are exploring them.
If you're a person who is good at these tensions then you know how powerful their grip can be. I think it does take looking at it to begin to see the nature of the holding. It will show up noticeably in the mind before a person may notice the accompanied tensions in the body.
Devote yourself to practicing often. The often-ness is what changes it's grip. Practicing is a chance to create a new habit of being more free from the Red Pattern contractions.
If you find that these tensions of the front are unwilling to open, do The Side Bend first. Even just the upper half of The Side Bend will make the system better able to let go of the Red tensions.
These before the Elbows to the Sky can help you make a deeper change:
*Side Bend practice | What if your sides were relaxed? | Basics course sequence excerpt from 2022* 6m:59s
ua-cam.com/video/hiaj5mZMWmU/v-deo.html
*Side Bend Practice Video 2022. Covers both sides and many variations* 17m:50s
ua-cam.com/video/HcYjAoXRdAk/v-deo.html
*Upper half of the Side Bend:*
*DETAIL for YOUR RIGHT Side RIBS, Part 1* ua-cam.com/video/wty5R_lP7cw/v-deo.html
*DETAIL for YOUR LEFT Side RIBS, Part 2* ua-cam.com/video/XC8PySOLDS0/v-deo.html
Thank you very much for your comment.
Hi Eric, can you tuck tailbone to get release on that section?
That's a good question. In my very first video of this movement, (2018 ua-cam.com/video/RmZxKuiiGpc/v-deo.html) I did teach it with an activation of the glutes as you describe. I decided that that isn't good because it links glutes to powerfully to the upper front contaction.
That doesn't mean it can't be a good combination. I suggest relaxing out of the contraction as separate elements , relaxing glutes then relaxing front, so they are not so wired togehter.
I like unlinking the parts that like to chime in together.
Try this *simple pelvic floor pandiculation sequence* , ua-cam.com/video/TLv7Fl10LwQ/v-deo.html
How is pelvic floor linked to postural lines of tension?
I hope your university life is going well.
Thanks! I have a general question regarding how many exercises to do for any specific area:
Do you think it's better to do just one/few exercises for each area (lower back for example) or doing many different exercises?
I'm aware that usually the whole body needs to be treated, not just where the symptom shows. But I mean within this whole-body-treatment approach: Will my brain/body/healing profit more from focus on few exercises or will it prosper more on a multitude of exercises?
Maybe there's no general answer? - But I was wondering which approach to take regarding limiting or increasing the number of exercises.
Thank you.
That's a sliding scale.
If you're doing a multi-movement sequence, perhaps just a few.
One other way is to look carefully and see if you can control going into the contraction and come out of the contraction. Did you override the autopilot?
Is the muscle as easily open as you want it to be?
Don't make it tedious for you attention.
-->> Most important is the torso.
The key is finding limits of your easy breathing space. Look in every direction for the torso. The deep holding is breathing constriction. Can you breath easily into your low back? Can you breath easily into each side?
Upper front and lower front?
I organize it by front and back (That's stress)
Look at sides.
You can look at diagonals, which are rotation.
You can look at details.
Try some of my sequences. Here's the sequence playlist:
ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayi5g-EIHvIoxssLuuYpKptY.html
Be creative with it.
Sometimes I only do the side bend on one side as a practice session.
@@ericcoopersomatics Thank you for explaining, it's very interesting.
You write: "don't make it tedious for your attention" (going into and out of contraction).
But at the same time, aren't we supposed to be very attentive to the inner feelings of the movement? Maybe we should be quite focused on whats going on, but not overly focussed (which could become straining for the mind)? Also take long enough pauses after each movement or whenever necessary.
What you write about breathing is very interesting. I will have to explore the breathing aspect during the movements to fully understand what you mean.
Yes, i think that's a good way to consider the parameters. The system can only learn as much as it can at that time. Explore different levels of concentration of your attention. Try a movement like the X of the Front, or Sunrise, Sunset + the X of The Front ua-cam.com/video/oNboiNo-RiU/v-deo.html
And try slower more intentional on one diagonal. Then less attention on the other diagonal. Is there a difference? Your actual experience can answer those questions.
Thank you for exploring it at that level.
@@ericcoopersomatics Thank you for your kind guidance! I'm enjoying working with your videos and exploring many things.
This exercise does something for me that I need. I get the TRE tremors when I make it and my body shakes. It's not uncomfortable just a little bit odd.
My general answer to your question (your exact situation may differ) is the following:
1) If the shaking is in the contraction phase of the movement, that is often showing how the dis-sassociation/sensory-motor amnesia/confusion-about-muscle-control expresses under load. The experiment is to contract with much, much less intensity, Try 20% of the initial effort. There is little to be gained,by pushing into that quiver, as far as restoring muscle control in the way Somatics offers. Basically, a quiver is too much effort.
2) If the quiver is in the descent out of the effort/ the slow relax, then give it more time, be more careful, focus the awareness and go much slower. Perhaps lower in steps. These movements allow you to teach your nervous system, so give it a winnable lesson. It doesn't have to be perfect. It's the practice of the movements that fills in the gaps in control.
I like TRE, But Somatics is very different. The goal of the videos is to allow the brain to understand how to let the muscles relax, to restore easy breathing space, to allow you to feel calm and at ease.
Hi, so grateful i have found you, i have somatic Tinnitus, an impinged shoulder, muscular tension down the right side particularly, which video would be helpful for me please especially as its too painful for my shoulder to do certain movements, thanks so much for what you do.
Greetings,
Since I don't know your specific situation and your specific limitations, I cannot advise you in a specific way here in this comment section.
First, It is very important that you do not go into any strain, discomfort or strain when doing these movements. None at all. The process will derail and recoil if you force the muscles to stretch. This process is about teaching the muscles that they can safely lengthen and relax.
It is most important to focus on the root holdings that are driving your Tinnitus, shoulder issue, and tight right side. Start with this movement to learn how to look for root holdings.
*Can Gentle TWISTING Free Your BREATHING? Gentle Slow, Simplest Twisting Washrag Full Version* 17m:12s Detailed front and side breathing assessment combined with an easy, slow twisting Somatic movement exercise On UA-cam : ua-cam.com/video/lfbeq1is-ns/v-deo.html
It will help you with a basic assessment for front sides and the front diagonals.
Once you see how to assess with gentle breathing, then you can look deeper, with detailed consideration of the back, and more complex asymmetry lines like the Inner-X lines, the Pendulum Pattern, and the Paralellogram pattern. And of course, rotation/twist can be a powerful holding as well. All these patterns limit breathing in ways we/you may be unaware of.
Address the root holdings that drive your asymmetry.
Work from the top down, through this playlist on asymmetry.
*If Your Sides Are Different Playlist, 'A scoliosis problem is a tension problem'. Asymmetry Playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj1sC-HRPGz7rv_koiiaWVk.html
And do not go into any discomfort in your exploration.
The painful areas, the tinnitus and the shoulder issue are the boiling over of bigger tension patterns in the body. Address those patterns to make the most change.
You can also work your way from the top down, through my Begin Here playlist:
*Start here. Begin your Somatics Experience Here playlist:* ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayiIX9O0hRsMwyxhaK4LTXXF.html
Address the roots of the problem.
And, you may want to try my Basic Jaw video. But realize, the jaw is tight in relation to the big hidden tension patterns that distort posture. Change/teach those hidden tensions.
*Relax your Jaw, Beginning sequence* This is the beginning. Help your brain reset the baseline tensions of the jaw.There is much further we can go in exploring how jaw holdings interlock with postural tension. On youtube: ua-cam.com/video/Aok4Sntbbw0/v-deo.html
@@ericcoopersomatics wow...thank you for your comprehensive reply, i very much appreciate it, i saw an Osteopath yesterday and we discussed this tension and he gave me exercises, i also tried yours yesterday - the approach you use is so helpful and fascinating, the tension i hold has been from decades of work related physical stress, not helped by never feeling well due to having my thyroid removed, the key here is you are never too old to learn!! I am 59 now and feel like i need to start again, so am incredibly grateful to have discovered somatic exercises thanks to you,,,i hope you are well and thank you again for helping me on my journey to recovery.
@Seabob65 I encourage you to explore these playlists. Work from the * top down.
Start here. Begin your Somatics Experience Her* e playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayiIX9O0hRsMwyxhaK4LTXXF.html
*Free Intro to Somatics Course Playlist, Where you're stuck is hidden. 2h:28m Somatic Movement to reconnect to yourself.*
ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayhL0zxrFjrpw0ok2298dZEG.html&si=n1fYUY8YG_NGkvP0
@@ericcoopersomatics thank you very much, i really appreciate your help.
Thank you very much this is mybfirstvtime following your instructions and it confused me i haven't really done much of somatic exercise and ibdont get the simmering boiling point anology. Also are we suppose to do this in bed?
Thank you for asking these questions. If you revisit this movement, it will make a lot more sense the second time you do it. The pain that people have, the common aches and pains are not exactly the root of the problem. If someone is stuck in the tension pattern that this movement helps them get unstuck from, the tensions of the front that hunch us over, they may actually have pain expressions in the back of the neck, and the upper back, or certain types of headaches. Often the back works hard to hold open a silent tightness of the front. Our bodies can handle some persistent tension but as the tensions increase soon it "boils over" as more localized achy problems.
Practicing before bed is especially helpful because it allows your body to rest out of these tensions for much of the night. If the bed is soft, it won't allow you to open fully out of this movement. There's a lot more feedback for your system to see what it is relaxing out of if you do it on a yoga mat on the floor.
When I'm going to bed I practice in bed on a firm mattress.
This is a good movement to begin with. Many people, most of us, have some persistent tension in the front of the body that's trying to hunch us over. It's part of the well practiced habit of stress reaction. So if you're working through my channel's 'Begin Here Playlist' ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayidRQCBv3Jnfj0OrRZDMlSF.html&si=cManqJwVHabBIKhV You will be able to reconnect to a better understanding of what it is to be in your body.
Because of the stresses and difficulties of life, we begin to lose awareness that certain places can move easily, that are breathing can be full and relaxed. This movement helps you restore those constrictions that, when left to run automatically end up boiling over as anxiety and worry and depression.
Again, thank you for your question.
My upper chest is still tight this move helped some.
Those hidden spaces or good at playing hide and seek, I Can't find them .
I encourage you to play the game of hide and go seek with those space that never move. What sections, places and spaces don't know how to open?
@@ericcoopersomatics when you ask me that question, i wondered to myself , do i know what he means by that.!
Open do you mean without tensions that i cant resolve..?
When the muscles tighten, they pull their ends together. That is their nature. The muscles, when they tighten, pull the bones together, they close the space between the bones. With the Somatics Movements that I teach, as the muscles relax, the space between the bones opens.
Breathing is opening and closing. When you squeeze the air out, you are closing the breathing space. When the breathing space opens, you are bringing the air in.
Do you have a book with your techniques or am I out of lock?
I don't think this can be learned from a book. I do have many playlists on this UA-cam channel. You may want to start at the Begin Here Playlist.
ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayiIX9O0hRsMwyxhaK4LTXXF.html&si=9sNsDTyqO0zoId8i
Some of the other playlists are for specific afflictions that people have, including common postural tendencies. You can only learn this method by doing it. It has to be experienced in a certain relationship to time. A book cannot convey the flow and how to move in this relationship to time time. That inward view needs to be clarified and completed by the practice of these movements. But very deeply into yourself and learn to see the places that, in the line the movement, there are little places and section that don't know how to move. Teach your brain that those places can move. It takes a dedicated practice to make that change. There's lots of UA-cam videos for you to explore here. Please let me know if you have any questions along the way.
@@ericcoopersomatics I am going to start weight training , can i do both, or should hold off on the weight training
The biggest benefit of weight training is that it strengthens tendons and their attachemens to the bone. Many people end up strengthening the patterns that are the root holdings that boil over as their pain. if you do weight training, find time to pandiculate 30-60 minutes after your workout. Remind the muscles what rest is. Don't take the tension of the workout to bed with you.
It's your experiment. My personal experiment is: only somatics, and some daily walking (usually over 12000 steps.). That works for me. I see so many people who messed up their bodies with weights. It can be done well and it can also distort the body out of its natural balance.
Often, places that feel like weak muscles are actually tired muscles.
What is this supposed to do? I'm trying and nothing is happening and I'm crying because it isn't working.
It is a process. It is challenging to change the course of your ship. The tensions of the emotions run deep.
It takes practicing every day to come out of these deep tension habits. They are like a record needle skipping in the groove on a vinyl record. The patterns and habits are worn deep.
For you it may take some practice, and a little dedication to make a real change.
Here is a playlist to come out of this pattern. I suggest that you work your way from the top of the list:
Hunched Postures, Rounded Shoulders, Sunken Chests Playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLFLw4vgr7ayj0YgnU5JKNCjOzUTfgZpTF.html
The playlists are for general situations and may not perfectly fit your specific situation.
These videos are practice videos for my clients.
Be gentler on yourself. This is a skill that takes practice. Can you learn to relax your body and yourself?
PS. the crying may be a good and much needed release.