Curiosity reigns supreme! Having parked in another business' lot, I decided to pop into their open-warehouse space to ask if it was alright to remain parked in their lot [Chicago has trained me well]. Inside the warehouse was a climbing facility and some laid-back employees having some couch/climb time; free weights lay in the center of the climb area.
Some friendly exchanges, a brief remark on what a great city Chicago is why I'm visiting Atlanta, and a handshake later....
The handshake.
This is the topic of discussion--albeit a short one, because really, couldn't we remark about expressing oneself through the hands for days? We shook hands and immediately triggered by the strength of his handshake grip, I remembered a question I had for climbers:
"Do you find value in the grip trainers?"
His recommendation [and a great one] was to climb with tennis balls in your palms to limit the flexion to the ends of the fingers.
Brilliant self-limiting exercise!
Keep grippers in the car. I average approximately 10 lights per trip. One squeeze per light seems like a very attainable goal. The weirdness factor is low for passengers, and much quieter than my previous goal of practicing harmonica at each red light.
Take-aways and integration: Shake your students' hands. We are expressing ourselves constantly--through our voice, and so our breath, and through our hands.
I use the handshake/name introduction to assess these in each student. "How are you? What's your name? [Handshake]" It's a phenomenal thermostat for their quality of breath, resonance [openness/space] in the body, and strength--emotional strength and physical strength [hands are a continuation of the heart].
Carry on...with Strength!
Some friendly exchanges, a brief remark on what a great city Chicago is why I'm visiting Atlanta, and a handshake later....
The handshake.
This is the topic of discussion--albeit a short one, because really, couldn't we remark about expressing oneself through the hands for days? We shook hands and immediately triggered by the strength of his handshake grip, I remembered a question I had for climbers:
"Do you find value in the grip trainers?"
His recommendation [and a great one] was to climb with tennis balls in your palms to limit the flexion to the ends of the fingers.
Brilliant self-limiting exercise!
Keep grippers in the car. I average approximately 10 lights per trip. One squeeze per light seems like a very attainable goal. The weirdness factor is low for passengers, and much quieter than my previous goal of practicing harmonica at each red light.
Take-aways and integration: Shake your students' hands. We are expressing ourselves constantly--through our voice, and so our breath, and through our hands.
I use the handshake/name introduction to assess these in each student. "How are you? What's your name? [Handshake]" It's a phenomenal thermostat for their quality of breath, resonance [openness/space] in the body, and strength--emotional strength and physical strength [hands are a continuation of the heart].
Carry on...with Strength!
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