It’s all in your wrists? Perhaps. A nodding wrist in midair was the particular expression of my grandfather’s caring. It was his call to attention. Our wrists add finesse to movement and expression. Do you want to explore that? If so, we begin, looking for truth in the expression: It’s all in your wrists.
Partnering in practice
Bring your open hand to the back of a partner. (We’re assuming partnership in each of these explorations, but with some creativity you can do them on your own.) As you bring your hand on, let your feet know of your arms’ movement. Unlock your knees and your ankles, but fix your wrists, lock them into position. Feel how that stiffness is reflected in your ankles. It’s not going to feel so good, but do so for a moment. Now your fixed wrist and hand has come to the back of your partner. After a few moments let it return to your side. You may or may not wish to exchange views. Make it your game. Partner in practice.
Harmony in movement
Let your hand come back to your side and regroup. Secondly, repeat the exploration as before, your hand knowing your feet, your feet your hand and arm, a harmony of mind and body. This time, let your wrist be barely connected to your hand and arm, limp. barely hanging on. Bring your hand once more to the back of your partner.. Allow for feedback if you commonly agree.
Third, with your wrist free and fully engaged, your arm, wrist, and and hand knowing your feet and your feet, your wrist, hand, and arm, let that intelligenced appendage return to the back of your partner. What do you notice?
It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that fling
Finally, to the crux of the matter, pretend that on the tips of your fingers there was a foreign object, disgusting, a bit of organic matter of unknown origin. Fling it away. Fling it first with fingers alone, then with wrist and fingers, and finally involving the whole arm. Launch the whole of it to the horizon. If it’s truly launched it will recoil and continue to do so. Now, immediately bring that wrist, hand, and arm to the back of your partner. What do you notice? And now reverse roles.
Now, you’re both ready to bring this newly won freedom to your instrument, to the keyboard of your computer or your organ or piano, to the strings of your guitar, to your hand that lifts the bow or mallet. Now, please tell me what you’ve won. To me, it’s a wonder. Tell me what you think?
