THE WALTZ
By: Lauren Anderson
Last week, I overslept. Again. Shoot! I hate it when I do this!
In the list of possible annoying things to happen to you within an average day, I realize this is one of the easier things to deal with. But it still sucks. I look at the clock. I now have exactly 15 minutes to get across town to work when it’s reliably 20 minutes away. I get ready in a blur, and I’m out the door. Hoping that I remembered to brush my damn teeth.
I fumble for my keys. I drop them. I pick them up, and drop them again. Uh oh. I am frantic.
If I’ve learned anything over the years of doing improv, is that frantic energy has no real purpose. Sure it’s energy, but it has no direction. Therefore it becomes useless. I like to think of it like this:
Let’s say you dropped a lucky penny in the street. You want to pick it up, but it’s too dark to see. So you shine a light on it, thinking this will help. Instead, the light is too bright, and it temporarily blinds you. Now, not only can you not find your penny, but you can’t even see the street it fell on.
Frantic energy is just like that light. Too much light. It’s your body thinking it’s in danger, (aka high stakes,) and is trying to get you up and out of harm’s way as quickly as possible. But just like a kiss or a cupcake, getting though something quickly… is not always best.
As someone who has spent a better part of her life oversleeping and dropping proverbial pennies, I am no stranger to frantic energy. But I learned a little while ago, (Again, mostly from doing improv. A high stakes environment with expectations and no safety net.) that frantic energy doesn’t serve me. It splits my focus, and by going fast and furious, I actually make more mistakes, than if I just took a deep breath and got intentional.
Well, that’s great. But what does that look like? I mean, I still have a job to do. I don’t just have 20 minutes to stop and breathe, and get back to good. So what do I do?
Well, I used to just plow through and hope for the best. Until I learned how to waltz. That is, I stumbled onto an old concept about focusing called “Do Easy”. It is a way of doing. Not thinking or being, but doing. You can google it. But here is a blurb from the old-timey film that was put out:
“D.E. is a way of doing. D.E. simply means doing whatever you do in the easiest most relaxed way you can manage, which is also the quickest and most efficient way, as you will find as you advance in D.E. You can start right now tidying up your flat, moving furniture or books, washing dishes, making tea, sorting papers. Don’t fumble, jerk, grab an object. Instead, drop cool possessive fingers onto it…”
It purposes that everything you do in a day should feel on purpose, effortless, and easy. And the reason it’s not, is we are not being intentional enough. We are in a sense, neglecting our own rhythm. This is a rather utopian concept, because some stuff is just really flippin’ hard no matter what right? But perhaps it doesn’t have to be as hard as I make it.
And so I decided to practice this Do Easy idea. And I found, that by being intentional about the little stuff, actually freed up my brain to focus on the big picture. Everything fell into place. Things got, well, easier.
By slowing down, narrowing my focus, and getting really intentional–even in small tasks– this concept suggests that everything should start to flow together. It should feel easy. Even though you are going slower, you are actually speeding up, because you’re making less mistakes, and exerting less energy. Deep breath, and 1…2…3. 1…2…3. Like following the rhythm of a waltz. I don’t remember this all the time, but “Do Easy” is the first thing I draw on in instances where I’m feeling frantic.
* * *
Cut to many months ago at the gym, when I was brand new to CrossFit. Without a clue how to do anything.
Coach Jenn is walking me through how to do the rowing machine. Even though it’s a machine, and it looks simple enough, there is actually a lot of technique. You’d think it was just a pull and scoot thing, the faster the better. But it’s not.
In fact, if I do it like that, I’m actually expending more energy, and not rowing as many meters! It seems so counter-intuitive. But the slower and more steady I go, the faster and more powerful I can row.
Coach Jenn says, “It’s a big pull back, your back only really moving from from about 11 o’clock to 1. Pulling the handles up to your chest. Really driving through the legs, and then letting your self regain for two. The repeat. ONE…two…three. ONE…two…three.”
“Oh, so you mean kinda like a waltz?” I ask.
“Yeah. It’s just like that.” Coach replies.
Okay. I think I get it now. In order to row faster, I gotta Do Easy. I get on the rower. It’s harder to do this well than I think. But with a little practice, I start to get it. I’m not a fast rower, but my form is solid. I can barely squeak out 200 meters without collapsing. But I do it.
* * *
Cut back to last Wednesday in class.
Barbells are put away, and it’s time for the MetCon. Coach Hannah instructs us on the rower. We are doing a partner row, (meaning one person rows, while the other one rests,) switching every 250 meters, for as many reps we can do in X amount of time.
The buzzer sounds off, and we begin. Even though it’s as many reps as possible for time, I still stick to my waltz. 1…2…3. Breath in, breath out. I close my eyes, and I’m transported. I’m no longer on the machine, I’m dancing. 1…2…3.
Even though I am moving slower than others in the class, I am still keeping pace. Because I am moving with good form, strength, and purpose. It’s not easy by any means, but I am approaching it as if it is. And before I know it, I hit 250 meters. I hop off the machine.
As I catch my breath while my partner rows, I notice that I hopped off the machine really quickly. I take a moment to reflect on how far I’ve come. Getting in and out of the rower, used to be difficult all by itself. Now I don’t even think about it. I used to balk at rowing. 250 meters just once would’ve been enough to send me packing. Let alone many, many reps. I used to have to take my inhaler before, during, and after rowing on the machine. Now I don’t even reach for it.
Before the time is up, my partner and I row over 1,000 meters between us. I definitely couldn’t have done that 6 months ago. I start to get tingles. I can’t believe it!
Later last week, at my one on one w/ Coach Jenn, I ask her to take a video of me rowing to show you. I’m not sure if you can tell, but my eyes are closed for a good portion of this. I am literally counting on the rower, like you would in a beginner’s dance class.
Check it out:
You can see in the video, it’s not easy. I still struggle. I’m still working my ass off. But I am approaching the movement and the machine with intention. Purpose. As if it were easy. And in changing my mindset, it becomes so. Enough that I can still smile, and still get the job done.
I’ve found myself doing this with everything at the gym. When lifting, snatching, and especially transitioning between one movement and the next. I am practicing doing it “easy”, and keeping my form. Moving in the quickest and most efficient way, so I can remain consistent and stronger for longer. Because I’m not wasting energy by being frantic. Wow. What a lesson to learn!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
And I’m back at the door. Running late. Keys keep dropping and I’m feeling more frazzled and frantic than ever. I think about Do Easy. I think about the waltz. And I think about the rowing machine.
I take a deep breath. Even though I am running late, rushing like this is not helping. If anything it’s slowing me down. I count to three. 1…2…3. I take a deep breath. I pick up my keys and I keep counting. 1…2…3. I lock my door 1…2…3. I’m down the steps 1…2…3. I get in the car 1…2…3.
I’m no longer rushing. I’m not dropping anything. No wasted movement. Efficient. With purpose. I’m no longer frantic. I’m dancing.
And before I know it, I get to work in just in the knick of time.
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P.S.
Speaking of dancing! It’s time to sign up for another round of Body Adapt!
Taking a minute to reflect on how far I’ve come, makes me appreciate this new program Solcana offers even more. Because I know first hand just how intimidating starting a new journey of fitness can be.
If you’ve been looking to start, but didn’t know where to do it, then Body Adapt could be the perfect thing for you! At Solcana, starting October 30th!
Body Adapt is thoughtfully designed upon the following core values:
-Movement helps you feel powerful!
-Fitness takes as many shapes as there are bodies.
-Knowledge is power.
-All are deserving of finding joy in their health.
So what are you waiting for? Give your body some love, learn the foundations of health, complete a nutrition challenge and have a good time with other humans doing the same!
Fitness classes are Tuesdays and Thursday 6 to 7 PM, and nutrition classes are Sundays 6 to 7:30 PM.
Grab your spot in Body Adapt before October 15th and you’ll get $30 off the full program price–go to www.solcanafitness.com/bodyadapt for details and to sign up!