‘And then the day came
when the risk to remain
tight in a bud was
more painful than the
risk to bloom.’
-Anaïs Nin
Have you ever thought about why some people come across as relaxed, connected, or “whole,” while others come across as somehow fragmented or unstable? Do you think this is a purely psychological or emotional issue?
In my experience, this has a lot to do with our ability to ground ourselves, our ability to anchor ourselves in gravity. When we can let go of our weight, we can connect with the ground that carries us. This gives us physical stability and emotional confidence. We can release tension, connect to something solid, trust the earth; we are not alone.
In the Laban Bartenieff Movement System, we work with Flow Sensing and Weight Sensing to experience and relax our body weight and experience connection to the ground and the laws of physics. The pull of gravity is a fact that we live with, whether we are aware of it or not. When we do become aware of it, we can use gravity to our advantage. We can let go, connect and be grounded in our presence and in this way also be ready for action and change.
Vitality and Connectivity
Embodiment is a dynamic state of being that allows us to be fully present in every moment, as receptive to our inner experience as to the outer world. It can be explored through the interplay of two opposing and complementary energies: attraction (the effect of gravity on the body) and repulsion (the opposing upward energy of gravity, sometimes called resilience). Together, they enable us to feel vital and to move at ease in the world.
Grounding
Many people do not understand their direct relationship with the earth and our dependence on it for support. If we become aware of the effect of gravity on the mass of the body, we can consciously connect with this support and discover a solid foundation to lean on and move over and away from. This we can call Grounding.
Resilience
The human body has evolved to stand on 2 feet in its vertical axis with a minimum of effort. When the body is fully at rest on the earth in gravity (grounding), there is an equal and opposite energy reflecting upward (resilience). This energy pulls us upward, allowing us to see wider and farther, making us better able to find a clear direction in the world. We can call this verticality.
Dynamic Interplay
The dynamic interplay between grounding and verticality, between up and down, where we come from and where we are going, is vital to our ability to be fully present. When these two forces are in balance, there is a spontaneous aliveness that keeps us fully grounded, while we are mobile and creatively responsive. This allows us to maintain clarity while adapting to the immediate, ever-changing environment.
Self-confidence
Being grounded and easily vertical can provide a sense of self-confidence, making us appear bright and present. Being grounded is an optimal condition for moving in an economical, effortless way. This allows us to feel at ease, connected and ready to interact. By balancing grounding with feeling the upward, resilient thrust in verticality, we achieve an openness that gives us flexibility and mobility. This state allows us to be more available and more creative in responding to a situation, and nimble in their adaptation to the various demands of the evolving environment.