MAN AND MACHINES

We each have our own rhythm, - a moving, feeling, thinking speed at which we are most comfortable.

To maintain one's own rhythm is becoming difficult, if not impossible.

Could this be due to the impact of the machine? Where can one escape a whirring, pounding, sounding vibration from some kind of machine. Airplanes, trucks and pile drivers are only the most noticeable. What about furnaces, refrigerators, air conditioners? Even at a cottage in the woods there is usually a refrigerator and a pressure tank, to say nothing of motor boats and seaplanes.

Man responds to his environment; his survival depends on it - up to a point. By that, I mean responding to the machine may be his undoing. It seems that in adapting to the vibrations of the machine, we may lose our own. We become uncomfortable, we know not why. We struggle and flounder trying to resolve our discomfort. We take drugs or alcoholic drinks to seek comfort - our own rhythm perhaps? but in vain. The bar has air-conditioning, there's that infernal whirring again.

It seems to me my heart beats faster and my breathing is shallow because of noise. When running a vacuum cleaner I can hardly wait to finish the job so I can shut off the noise. How do you feel about lawn movers? electric saws? Maybe people have great big motor boats so they can get where they are going faster and then douse the din. Maybe the kids with the terrific intensity of sound in a rock band feel if they can't beat it they'll join it, so they practically raise the roof with the rock roar.

I remember walking on the seashore at Stanley Park in Vancouver and the waves were far from quite, but a pleasing sound. Then a ship passed by and we could hear the throb of the motors. This was a disturbance to me amidst the sounds of the sea. The vibrations of the machines in the ship were different and alien.

What can we do about these noises that are so much a part of ourlives? We need to discover our own rhythm and then work at retraining and retaining it. To discover your own rhythm you lie down on your back with your arms at your sides in a quiet room where you will not be disturbed. You let go and become more and more relaxed and limp. Then pretend you are standing and looking down at yourself and watch and listen to your breathing. Try not to change it. Just let it happen. You will notice that breathing is not just in and out. It is in - out - rest, in - out - rest. As you become relaxed the rest period lengthens. There is a longer period between breaths. As relaxation becomes complete and you give up trying to control your breathing, voluntarily you will discover your own rhythm. If your rest periods between breaths are brief you are a person who likes to move quickly and vice versa.

We tend to consider people who move quickly as superior to slower movers. Of course this isn't true. The main thing is that you will not only feel better working at your own speed, you will also accomplish more.

Perhaps an easy way to understand the difference in rhythms is to think of a time when you went walking with some one who, say, walked more slowly than you wanted to. Do you remember how tiring you found this?

It seems we must join battle with the machines. Only by determination and concentration can we hope to hold onto our own comfortable rhythm. We surely need at least two periods a day, when for half an hour or so we can give it our full attention. This will eventually lead to an automatic awarens of tension discomfort. Then we change our breathing voluntarily and get back on our rhythm beam.

MARY EPP

DON SAYS: Mary was on staff at the Donwood Instute in the 70's in a physical health position.