Somatic Lab #2: Carrying Capacity
“On a rock split into two by a lightning strike, a woman carries another woman on her back”
—An interpretation of the 8° Aquarius symbolic degree (sun) Janduz version.
When Matt and I were in the pre-writing stages of Strangers, we explored our birth charts and found the imagery written by Janduz in Les 360 degrés du Zodiaque poetic, inspiring, and ultimately, generative. I created this lab based on a Thai-Yoga exercise I learned from Bobbie Ellis called “Riding the Wave of the Breath” and a writing prompt I have been refining called “Back Stories.” What do we carry in/on/with our backs and how much are we capable of carrying? When is surrender necessary? Holding? What is built and what is released? It can be done solo, but consider engaging and sharing with a partner—an extra set of eyes/hands/insight. You will need writing tools, a blanket, and a quiet space. Read through the prompt before starting so you can remain present in the practice.
Spread the blanket on the floor. Partner II in this practice will serve to watch, observe, and reflect back to Partner I what is noticed at the level of breath and movement along the spine. Partner I will engage in the practice by breathing in response to Partner II’s prompts. The objective is to watch the wave of the breath travel from the lowest part of the spine up into the skull and notice places of freedom/movement and resistance/stickiness: the curve-shape-crest of this particular wave, this particular person, in this moment.
To begin, Partner I lies prone; Partner II kneels beside Partner I’s sacrum/hips (use a pillow if knees are sensitive or sit on bottom). Partner II will read the prompts to Partner I—watch, listen, feel.
1. Partner II (place hand on the lowest part of the spine where hips and glutes meet): Breathe into my hand, send your breath to the lowest part of your belly, feeling the belly fill into the floor and the hips and low back widen and expand. As you exhale release any tension from the hips and glutes. Complete three rounds of this breath.
2. Partner II (place hand on the curve of the lower back just above the hips): Breathe into the warmth of my hand, send your breath into the low back, feeling the belly fill into the floor and the low back widen and expand. As you exhale release any tension from the lower back. Complete three rounds of this breath.
3. Partner II (place hand on the thoracic spine where the ribs end, just above the lower back): Breathe into the warmth of my hand, send your breath into the back of the ribs, feeling the belly fill into the floor and the ribs widen and expand. As you exhale release any tension from the ribs. Complete three rounds of this breath.
4. Partner II (place hand on the back of the heart, between the shoulder blades): Breathe into the warmth of my hand, send your breath into the back of the heart, feeling the chest fill into the floor and the shoulder blades widen and expand. As you exhale release any tension in the upper back. Complete three rounds of this breath.
5. Partner II (place hand on the curve of the neck just above the shoulder blades): Breathe into the warmth of my hand, send your breath into the neck, feeling the throat fill with air and the neck widen and expand. As you exhale release any tension from the neck. Complete three rounds of this breath.
6. Partner II (place hand on the back of the skull just above the neck): Breathe into the warmth of my hand, send your breath into the skull, feeling the nose fill with air and the face widen and expand. As you exhale release any tension from the skull and face. Complete three rounds of this breath.
7. Partner II (release hands from partner and sit back and watch): Breathe into your back space, exhale slowly. Find your natural breath.
Watch as your partner Rides the Wave of the Breath. What do you notice? Trace the curve of their breath on paper and/or generate some observations. Where does the breath have free range of motion; where does it stick or skip?
Listen as your breath rides through your body. What do you notice? Where does the breath have free range of motion; where does it stick or skip?
To safely rise from the floor, press hands at shoulder level and shift body weight back into the legs—Child’s Pose. Slowly roll up to seated.
Partner I: take 5 minutes to free-write your experience: what resonates, remains, emerged?
Go back into your free-write (for generative) OR a previous writing (for revision) and circle 3-5 phrases/words that stand out to you. Read the word/phrase out loud. Listen to how it resonates in your core: where does it strike along your spine? A place of stickiness or freedom? Repeat the word out loud until you have identified where it sticks/hits/opens/moves in your back body. Record. Repeat with other phrases/words. Write the story of the back space and/or revise draft accordingly: do you want to create an experience that opens your blocks or exposes your blocks? Why? Are there any baseline words/phrases? How do they work to highlight the range? Score on the page.
We would love to hear the results and/or process of this experiment. Feel free to share here!
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