11-Oct-2009

Whirled Peace

Do as the Dervishes

“Sufi Grind,” a simple exercise named for a peaceful, mystic sect of Islam, is a quick and easy way to bring your mind into focus, increase energy, and work out some of those kinks.

Sit comfortably in your chair or cross-legged on the floor and grasp either your thighs or knees. Close your eyes and sit up tall. Take a few deep breaths and relax. Then, beginning at the bottom, focus on your spine. Rotate the backbone in one direction, keeping the head relatively still. Imagine the tailbone and the head are the opposite ends of a jump-rope as your spine swivels. Breathe as you move, drawing in a breath as your rotate forward, exhaling as you rotate backward. Keep the heart lifted and open. Feel the spine’s relationship to the hips and shoulders, allowing these joints to remain relatively still.

Keep up for 1-3 minutes, then repeat, moving the spine in the opposite direction. When finished, sit up tall and inhale. Exhale as you open the eyes. Resume your activities with a sense of stillness.

Recommended: Sufi Soul: The Mystic Music of Islam