December 9
Why I had a break from Shiva Nata
It’s been quiet for a while
I haven’t had much to write about the last couple of weeks because I’ve had an extended break from Shiva Nata for a fortnight [Edit: actually, it's more like 3 weeks!]. It wasn’t just Dance of Shiva I was stopping either, it was a number of activities, because I’ve been feeling low on energy and tired and, frankly, Shiva Nata is very tiring as a regular practice!
Resting up
I will admit to totally underestimating how much work it would be. It’s not the physical effort, since that takes just a few hours physical rest to recover, nor the mental effort of working it all out, since that too requires just a short rest in order for me to feel alert and ready again. It seems that the brain building work involved however was having an intense effect.
Now my slump co-incides with Winter really kicking in here as well, so I’m not about to attribute it all to Shiva Nata, but I have found that it was one of the first things to go as it is so energy intensive to practice.
Building up slowly
Today was the first day that I felt like doing some again after having decided last Thursday to give myself permission to really cut back and recover from this funk I’ve been in for a few weeks. This time, I’m planning to go a little slower, just to see if I can be aware of the impact it has on my energy levels.
What are your experiences?
I’m wondering if this feeling of energy drain is something that others have experienced with Shiva Nata, and whether this means that others have reduced their practice or stopped altogether. What do you think?
james
for me the issue has been getting into a sustained groove. i have an extensive morning practice as it is, writing upon rising for 30 minutes, and then 15 minutes of heart meditation, and sometimes it’s hard to find that extra ten minutes to practice the dance…
not that i9 don’t have ten minutes to spare, which i do…it’s just not readily apparent right at that moment that ten minutes of flailing my arms is the absolute best use.
it is hard for me to imagine doing the dance much longer than 10 minutes a day, and i use the dvd so it’s not on my head to remember it right now…so my hat is off to you that you took it too far! some day i may be able to say the same.
peace,
chas
chas’s last blog post..monday morning motivator! 2, the grounding edition
Shiva Nata is powerful nervous system/hemispheric integration practice. I’ve taken several long breaks from it, and don’t really practice it currently due to other transformational practices I’m engaged with.
I think it’s totally reasonable to take a break now and then.
On the other hand, you might be in a dip, slump, or a dark night with the practice. If that’s the case, the only thing that works to get out of it is to commit to continuing to practice regularly, but not too intensely.
Best of luck!
Duff’s last blog post..Beat the Recession/Holiday Blues with Core Transformation
I really resonated with “to give myself permission to really cut back and recover” from the slump. I mean, Shiva Nata would totally be a great vehicle of guilting yourself into a burnout, since “it’s so good for me I can’t not do it”. I guess Havi might say something along the lines of “yes, yes, do take care of yourself and try to just be there for yourself”…
I don’t really have anything else relevant, except that I’m glad you posted something again – I love reading about your Shivanaut explorations. (Not to be taken as a “you have to post more often” kind of an obligation, though.)
Oh, and hang in there with the winter and the nasty darkness and slump.
Sari’s last blog post..Tidbit Insightings, December 9
@chas – just out of interest, are your shift keys broken, or do you avoid capitals as a style choice?
I’m not great with set routines like you describe, but rather have a set of flexible daily to do lists (that have been shelved recently as well as the Shiva Nata) and have Shiva Nata as one of my little jobs for the day. To be honest though, I’ve really just gone with my gut – if I feel like doing Shiva Nata, I do it – the simple fact that I enjoy it so much means that I get a regular practice that way! Except of course when I’m feeling so low.
@Duff – You make a good point with the slump thought. My normal default however would be to get more energy by doing something like Shiva Nata (it’s not uncommon to come away from a dance class with more energy than I went in, especially if I’ve been fairly stationary that day).
This route didn’t work this time around though. I went to a drop in choir for example, and did an all-day dance workshop one weekend, and was completely drained after each of these (I slept through my Pilates appointment the morning after the choir!) This led me to try the cut-back approach (definitely not my normal approach) rather than the change-is-as-good-as-a-rest approach. Results speak for themselves in this case.
@Sari – Yes, can’t you just sense Havi behind the words! Just thinking “What Would Havi Say?” is very powerful (that and asking her directly when you get really stuck).
And thank you for the guilt-free encouragement, much appreciated on both levels.
I have baked fresh bread rolls and mince pies today, and am feeling a lot less slumpy and a lot more awake now, thankfully. Giving myself permission to stop, and taking action to cut down my activities to a bare minimum, had an almost instant effect which has resulted in much more normalcy already. The next step is to stay mindful of my state and not jump straight back into the fast lane – sooo tempting!
Trust your intuition on this one. DoS might even be shifting up your pattern of getting more energy by doing Dos! Resting is great too.
Duff’s last blog post..Beat the Recession/Holiday Blues with Core Transformation