A Practice for Focusing Attention

It is with deep gratitude that I write you this message. I’ve participated in every online class you’ve offered over the past year or so, and I believe this one, the Gravity series, has been my favorite.

I’m a very quiet participant, so I don’t know that you’d know me or recognize me. All the more reason for me to send you this message, to let you know how much I appreciate you!

The other classes, particularly the book study, were excellent. The preliminary movement series was a wonderful experience.

This series, Gravity, has had the greatest impact, a deeper embodiment-it’s something about the way you’ve explained the movements, demonstrated the movements, and shared the feelings to feel in and around the body. It’s been such a wonderful class. The hours fly by!

Last week, when the Zoom class began, waves of energy flowed through my body just as you were preparing to be on screen, and it continued periodically throughout the class. It felt strong. I took deep breaths. It was good.

Overall, the movements feel very good. The first one, where we hinge down to throw the ball is the most challenging so far. I seem to lose the connection with the tension, with the lower dantien. It’s also most challenging for my legs. After months of practicing the preliminaries, my legs had grown quite strong, but they are very challenged again with this series.

Also, I find I must continuously tuck my tailbone, reset the alignment. I must also say that my mind continues to be quite active, and sometimes it wanders away completely. All the more reason to practice every day!

I do get frustrated with myself for so much mind activity, but I am reminded that you have said over and over again not to shame or blame or be hard on ourselves as that’s feeding into the social program, something else.

The best part of the practice, I feel it most with the preliminaries so far, is when my body moves on its own. It’s beautiful. Those moments are joyful. They give me hope.

Thank you for the elephant palms. When I point into my third eye and bring it down my body, I can feel it most clearly in my body. It truly helps me feel that center of my body, helps me locate it. It’s wonderful. It still surprises me.

My body truly enjoys these movements! My mind makes me afraid of getting it wrong, but once I begin, my body and my attention find its way, a contented feeling.

I also wanted to share that my lower torso, the stomach, and lower dantien is nearly always tense, clenched, tight with anxiety, fear, worry. Ever so slightly over these past months with the preliminary series practice, I feel moments it relaxes, as I place my attention on it.

I just keep focusing attention, keep relaxing it over and over during the practice. And now I also practice relaxing it throughout the day. I’m always armoring myself through its tense posture. Thank you so much for this aspect of the practice.

Thank you, Lujan. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I feel so much gratitude to you for sharing your beautiful gifts, your beautiful self.

May you have a beautiful day!

With love,
Julie