poise 1 (poiz)n.
1. A state of balance or equilibrium; stability.
2. Freedom from affectation or embarrassment; composure.
3. The bearing or deportment of the head or body; mien.
4. A state or condition of hovering or being suspended.
Research is beginning to show that we can gain much useful kinesthetic reprogramming through our visual sense, by observing people and animals who exhibit ease and freedom in their movement and “carriage.”
This image of an Indian dancer is one which speaks to me about the quality of “poise” – in the general sense of a state of being, but also specifically, of the poise of the head atop the spine. And along with poise, comes the concept of balance, and possibly even the terms posture and alignment. She does appear to have good balance and good posture and alignment in this static snapshot of a moment in time. But there is more to it than that, and as you develop your powers of observation you will become very aware of and receptive to this quality of expressed ease. From this image we can extrapolate her larger movement, remembering that balance, posture and alignment are not static, but highly dynamic and consist of a series of continuing, minute adjustments in the relationship of our component parts.
Consulting the dictionary came to me as an afterthought. I have always liked to use the phrase in describing Alexander’s discovery “the quality of ease in the poise of the head resting on top of the spine determines the quality of ease of movement and coordination throughout the entire body.” Well apparently poise is also known to include balance, stability, equilibrium, and a quality of hovering (floating?) and suspension – reflecting polarity between earthly, or earthy and more ethereal concepts. And to be poised also describes an emotional state where we are composed and have freedom from affectation. Poise also suggests a moment of clarity or a state of being ready for anything – “poised for action.”
So, poise manifests in our inner state, our outward appearance and in our relationship to the world. Once again here we are, poised between Heaven and Earth – receiving, transmuting, translating and balancing different qualities of energy.
So I share this image as a reminder to myself that this natural poise is really our human birthright. It is the same type of relationship of head to body you will see in small children before they have had a chance to begin to interfere with their innate coordination; and you will also see it in the movement patterns of healthy animals. The good news is that we can learn to allow this quality of ease to manifest in ourselves -- not by trying to create it or feel it or recreate it, but by noticing its possibility and particularly by remembering that it originates in the poise of our heads on top of our spines.
1. A state of balance or equilibrium; stability.
2. Freedom from affectation or embarrassment; composure.
3. The bearing or deportment of the head or body; mien.
4. A state or condition of hovering or being suspended.
Research is beginning to show that we can gain much useful kinesthetic reprogramming through our visual sense, by observing people and animals who exhibit ease and freedom in their movement and “carriage.”
This image of an Indian dancer is one which speaks to me about the quality of “poise” – in the general sense of a state of being, but also specifically, of the poise of the head atop the spine. And along with poise, comes the concept of balance, and possibly even the terms posture and alignment. She does appear to have good balance and good posture and alignment in this static snapshot of a moment in time. But there is more to it than that, and as you develop your powers of observation you will become very aware of and receptive to this quality of expressed ease. From this image we can extrapolate her larger movement, remembering that balance, posture and alignment are not static, but highly dynamic and consist of a series of continuing, minute adjustments in the relationship of our component parts.
Consulting the dictionary came to me as an afterthought. I have always liked to use the phrase in describing Alexander’s discovery “the quality of ease in the poise of the head resting on top of the spine determines the quality of ease of movement and coordination throughout the entire body.” Well apparently poise is also known to include balance, stability, equilibrium, and a quality of hovering (floating?) and suspension – reflecting polarity between earthly, or earthy and more ethereal concepts. And to be poised also describes an emotional state where we are composed and have freedom from affectation. Poise also suggests a moment of clarity or a state of being ready for anything – “poised for action.”
So, poise manifests in our inner state, our outward appearance and in our relationship to the world. Once again here we are, poised between Heaven and Earth – receiving, transmuting, translating and balancing different qualities of energy.
So I share this image as a reminder to myself that this natural poise is really our human birthright. It is the same type of relationship of head to body you will see in small children before they have had a chance to begin to interfere with their innate coordination; and you will also see it in the movement patterns of healthy animals. The good news is that we can learn to allow this quality of ease to manifest in ourselves -- not by trying to create it or feel it or recreate it, but by noticing its possibility and particularly by remembering that it originates in the poise of our heads on top of our spines.
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