Moving Slowly

This morning I took 10 minutes to lift my arms overhead and lower them back down to my lap.  Moving continuously, but very slowly, I have time to notice tiny changes in the muscles working.  It creates an incredible feeling of spaciousness.

Last Tuesday I taught a group of advanced students.  A man was there who I didn't know, making up for another class.  I led them through a similar - but not quite so long - slow arm raise and lower.  After class he remarked about that exercise.  He said he had Parkinson's disease, a kind - or stage - that caused tremors when he was still.  When he moved, he could control the tremor.  He had never tried moving that slowly, and was surprised to find that, even with that small amount of movement, he could control the tremor.

I find it interesting that the slower my movement is, the larger and more expansive it seems to be.  Like watching a film in ultra slow motion, I can see and feel so much more by stretching out the time.