Mind Tools & Inspirations: Costume
“Clothes make a statement, costumes tell a story.” In this 3-minute practice you wear a costume.
TRY THIS…
If you have time, let me guide you so you can focus on your experience.
HERE IS THE PRACTICE
Sit comfortably and close your eyes.
Invite a costume that you might enjoy come to mind.
Any costume is possible. It might be simple or elaborate. Perhaps you have just a glimmer of an idea.
There’s no hurry. Just wait and allow a costume that appeals to you to show up.
Keeping your eyes closed reach both arms straight out in front, and gently bend your wrists and hands so that your palms turn toward your body.
Exhale here.
As you inhale, raise your arms to about head level or a bit higher, your palms facing inward.
As you exhale, lower your arms down, your palms facing inward.
Inhaling and bringing your arms up from the front, palms facing your body.
Exhaling and lowering your arms down.
It’s as if you are scanning your body with your hands.
Continue moving and breathing like this at your own pace.
Each time your palms scan your body, let the sense your costume get a little bit stronger.
Now sit comfortably.
Have the sense that you are in your costume.
Notice how your costume makes you feel.
Stay with this feeling for as long as you like.
WHY DO THIS?
Why care about a costume?
We navigate many identities in daily life–parent, child, partner, sibling, friend, neighbor, caregiver, voter, citizen, employee, co-worker, driver, writer, reader, dog walker, runner, gardener, cook, accountant, decorator, consumer… We’re complicated.
A costume can encapsulate a single, simplified identity. A temporary, make believe identity you get to choose.
What costume shows up when you wait and allow is very interesting. It probably has roots in things happening in your life generally and the state of your human system. It probably provides an experience that is right for you in this moment.
Perhaps a feeling or quality of wearing that costume shows up, allowing you to connect with that quality.
Or perhaps it is simply fun.
Mind Tools & Inspirations are experiences for busy, smart, curious people to help you operate your human system.
The Mind Tools library (https://www.yogamindtools.com/mind-tools-inspirations ) is organized into three groups: Uplifting and Nourishing, Calming and Supportive, Discovery and Exploration.
I add a new experience every week.
Kindly,
Carrie
Carrie Heeter, PhD
Yoga Mind Tools
My costume was heavy in a good way. My daughter is a costumer/stage manager for music events. She brings them home here to clean. I have been babysitting the car-wash pastel costume for a few days - trying to get the moisture out after cleaning. I visualized myself in it (was worn by a fit 25 year old man at Hulaween). I could see myself wearing this 40 lb (dry) costume with no problem. I moved with good knees. People smiled when they saw me approaching. From a sensation point, the costume was so heavy it kept my shoulders from shrugging. Stress shrugging was wiped away because the weight was distributed everywhere; was colorful’ and all of the plastic pom pom strings were lifted by the wind.