I also find that taking a deep, relaxing breathe the moment I notice tension in an area helps. I love Tai Chi, by the way. The combination of movement and meditation is invaluable. Pilates does the same thing for me.
Breathing, relaxing, meditation, stretching, focus on a specific area (ie. the tailbone in pilates, the quality of the movement in Tai Chi), all help.
I am always on the same quest of living a full, active lifestyle. It's not easy and many times I just make it happen and deal with the consequences later. Perhaps it's not the smartest way to deal with it, but sometimes it's the only way everything will get done. And I'm far too pig-headed to accept limitations. When my rheumy realized this about me, he looked at me, shook his head and said the two dreaded words, "Pace yourself."
So, I try to pace myself, space out my shows, try to keep relaxation techniques foremost, and rest when I need to. There are days, like yesterday, when that is flatly impossible. I didn't realize how very important that one hour at home between work and rehearsal is until yesterday, when my personal responsibilities, work schedule and rehearsal schedule colided. Had to move my shift from 8:30-4:30 to 10:00-6:00 due to personal responsibilities, rehearsal starts at 7:00 and I didn't get my one hour of rest between work and rehearsal. My sweetie picked me up at work at 6:00, I ate dinner from tupperware he brought me and changed into jeans in the car, dropped him at the house and arrived at rehearsal with only 5 minutes to spare. I was flat-out scattered (read "practically useless as a director") at rehearsal and came home in really rough shape at 10:15 last night. Didn't help that my period started yesterday and the resultant increase in lower back pain wasn't fun. I knew I needed a half hour of downtime at the very least and couldn't get it. Not even 5 minutes. Deep breathing helped only briefly, and you cannot do relaxation or meditation techniques when your cast, producer, wardrobe mistress and stage manager all want your attention at the same time.
Luckily, fiascos like yesterday are few and far between (and CERTAINLY will not be happening on this show again). Usually, I manage to maintain a balance of rest/relaxation and everything else. Of course, usually, 'everything else' doesn't land on top of me in one 24 hour period.
Thank goodness today is Enbrel day.
Warm hugs,
