Friday 19 September 2008

Poetry In Motion - Moving Your Body


Our bodies love movement. When we stretch or dance, our bodies adjust, realign and start to become fluid with the rhythm of life. Our mood lifts and we feel more connected with the world around us. If you are feeling stuck, ready to release old energy or eager to feel more alive, try moving your body. By giving your muscles a chance to do what they were created for, you may find that all areas of your body and your life benefit as well.

Many times we can be so busy that we forget moving our body is even an option. Some of us remain seated at our computer for hours every day or rush from task to task with robotic precision. When we are caught up in crossing items off our to-do lists, we tend to neglect all the opportunities there are to enjoy our bodies in the process of living. If this is true for you, begin looking for opportunities to move. You might try dancing or moving about freely as you clean your home, tend your garden or care for your children. If you are able to devote a set amount of time to self-care, practices such as yoga, dance, tai chi and walking are all great ways to keep your body in motion.

Imagine how freeing it would feel to trust your body's movements completely; knowing it has a perfect strength and rhythm of its own. See if you can sense your bones providing graceful support, your muscles and tendons expanding and contracting in just the right measure, your lungs changing pace to fill deeply with fresh air. Movement is a vital celebration of life. It is a way to proclaim your own existence and relish in the joy of being alive. Today, and into the future, give yourself the gift of your body in motion.

Something to share:

How lucky we are working as planters that our job practically requires us to walk the fields. Planters are paid to walk everyday. That was the remarks of a senior planter to me in 1985 when I was transferred to Makassar Estate, Keratong, Pahang, in 1985. He was the Manager of Merchong Estate and we were neighbors.

In fact the basic work’s ethics for planters is none other than walking in the fields. No wonder someone had commented, “THE BEST PLANTATION PRACTICE IS THE PLANTER’S BOOTS AND NOTHING BEATS WALKING THROUGH THE FIELDS

By the way, walking is an excellent exercise. It is a gentle, low-impact and safe exercise; just moving our bodies in motion as we swing our hands. But when planters walk in the fields, they also turn their heads left and right as they are trained to be observant and sharp in vision.

The normal advice from our doctors is to take a minimum of 30 minutes brisk walking for at least five days a week. For planters, walking in the fields for hours is not a problem. Don’t be surprised that there are still many senior planters way pass the age of 60 and are still walking in plantations all over the world. Well, thank God that it’s just because of their daily walking life that has been keeping them in good health.

Swimming is also another great exercise to keep our bodies in motion, beside golfing, walking, dancing, yoga and tai chi.

I would like to suggest to you to put on your MP3 or walkman and listen to Johnny Tillotson singing “Poetry In Motion” while you are brisk walking. The song’s lyrics may lighten you to swing and move your whole body in motion.

When I see my baby
What do I see?
Poetry
Poetry in motion...

How nice !!!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this article. Just to add a few lines, I do remember way back in the 80s Datuk Foong Lai Chung used to say " A good planter need only to have a good pair of legs and a good pair of eyes " Well we knew what he meant by these, however one can extrapolate those pairs to be sexy legs and blue horny eyes. Rod Meckenzie used to walk with us from 6 am till 6 pm with only one break for quick lunch. On the way back to the club house he would tell everybody in the jeep with a big smile " Today you finally earned your living !!! What a blant statement from a 65 year old Senior VA. Yes it implied shame on us the younger planters.

Suggesting going around with MP3 for jogging may be all right but would certainly get a sack if its done in the palm fields.Ha ha.By the way your article is good and articulated ,would give a silent message to those Desk Planters to start walking their boots.Should have this published in The Planter.

Anonymous said...

AS a teenager, when you saw your baby, it meant your gal. Now when you see your baby, it's your grand child. Poetry, poetry in motion. The motion of joy and happiness. Woh..woh..yeh..yeh.. I love you more than I can say.

jmtan2007.blogspot.com said...

These boots are meant for walking, not for putting up on your desk while snoring away! If you boss catches you, you 'll start walking barefoot home. Bye. bye birdie. Bye, bye happiness.