Dooley Noted: 3/24/2014
This weekend, I listened to co-lead NKT instructor Dr. Perry Nickleston discuss the fetal position as a place of self-protection.
As he was showing a student’s lack of shoulder extension, he noted that the student rolled the shoulder forward to execute the movement.
Dr. Perry noted, “Extension leaves them vulnerable. They aren’t used to being there.”
This notion really made me look at everyone in the room. I searched for those who maintained global extension, and I found many people stuck in flexion.
We are protected in the fetal position. So, flexion is protection.
It closes us off to the outside world.
Since our development, we work to earn every ounce of extension. We have to open ourselves up to the outside world.
Extension is vulnerability. We may fall. We might be exposed to newness. We may get harmed.
While extension seems scary, it’s the state of getting good work done. To be vulnerable is to face all flaws and be open to change.
You can be closed, or you can be open.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley