Short story:
I have been working out of my new office at 4616 Santa Fe for almost a month now, and I’m feeling grateful for the abundance of natural light. Even when I have the blinds shut, the room is filled with a soft, comforting glow. The afternoon sun bounces off the train when it rolls by across the street, golden reflections dance on the wall in rhythm with the low rumble of the tracks. What a place to share the joy of Rolfing!
Long story:
It’s been a good month for me and San Diego Rolfing. The new space has allowed me to create the kind of welcoming environment that makes me feel happy, excited, and grateful to come to work. That’s how it should be, I think. I’m slowly getting used to the dimensions of the room, and my table, rolling stool, and even my furniture are starting to feel like extensions of my body. I never would have guessed that a wooden bookshelf would start to nudge its way into my extended body map!
I have also become attached to the kitchen and the electric kettle that now lives there. I can offer hot tea when I have visitors, and have a tea myself when there’s a pause between sessions. Having a dedicated bathroom is also convenient, and even the bathroom has a little window with natural light. The other tenants in the building are quiet and respectful, and have welcomed me easily into the space. I do not feel like moving again anytime soon!
Last of all, I’ve been spending more time floating around on my surfboard. After small but fun summer surf, it’s refreshing to feel the pulse and power of mother nature again. We are lucky to live in this beautiful corner of the world.
And… Happy Halloween!
Warmly, Nick
Jim Houliston, ambidexterity, and symmetry:
There’s an idea that creating better alignment in the body is about creating perfect left/right symmetry in the body. While this is a nice idea, it’s generally not practical or achievable. And—we can get better balance in our bodies and relieve a lot of discomfort and pain without things being perfectly symmetrical.
That said, it can be helpful when we notice habitual and asymmetrical patterns of movement in our life, and spend some time doing the opposite movement. I recently met a man who has devoted a lot of time to this practice. Jim Houliston grew up skateboarding, and developed a lot of aches and pains due to the asymmetrical nature of the sport. In order to feel better, he taught himself to skateboard switch, riding with the opposite foot forward.
Jim then went further by following historical figures like Leonardo Da Vinci and Benjamin Franklin by regularly practicing mirror reading: reading text that is flipped on a vertical axis, like what we see when we look in a mirror. Now, practicing ambidextrous movment has become an integral part of Jim’s life. He even shakes hands lefty!
Though Jim has received positive feedback from at least one neurosurgeon, he believes science has yet to fully reveal the benefits of mirror movement and mirror reading. He is working to promote the practice of mirror movement development. If you are curious to learn more, have a look at his website here: https://ambilife.org/
Jim is currently exhibiting his ideas at an art show at OB Beans, 4879 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107. Check it out before the exhibition closes on Sunday, November 10th! This blog post has been reproduced from my Substack page. Originally published on October 30, 2024. View original post via Substack.
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