A Little, Often: Pull Your Head Off
A practice to clear your mind
My lovely acupuncturist always checks my pulse upon arrival to her office, gently pressing my inner wrist, and listening with her whole body… it’s as if she can hear the conversation happening on the other side — inside.
She sometimes describes my pulse as “slippery.” Apparently this is indicative of stagnation and feels like “beads rolling on a plate.” Haha beads on a plate — does your mind ever feel like this? Your pulse will clearly reflect that.
I wrote last week about checking your pulse. More specifically, the pulse beneath your pace. Our actions guide a certain pace, our pulse is the undercurrent of rhythm and feeling that we generate.
Today, a brief pause to put those beads — thoughts — into their place, or to clear a few out. Use this one simple inward movement to calm your nervous system, release tension, slow your busy mind...
Stand with your feet hip-width apart.
Fold forward, keeping a slight bend in your knees.
Drop your head.
Interlace your fingers at the back of your neck/base of your skull.
Press the sides of your head with your forearms.
Gently lengthen down toward the floor, as if you’re pulling your head off (gently).
Take 5–10 deep breaths here.
Slowly come back up to stand, pause, and feel the difference. And let that feeling set the tone.