Yuko Okada
Driving a winding road was never my ‘forte’, but I reluctantly do it occasionally as it is better than sitting in a passenger seat as far as motion sickness is concerned. During our Thanksgiving break, my husband and I took our annual trip to Mendocino coast and drove on highway 128. After clearing some curves, I noticed a change in myself.
My arms and back felt quite wide and open, and I felt firmly connected not only to the steering wheel and the system, but to the tires and the road itself!
Instead of slamming on the breaks reactively and nervously, I was calm and confident, knowing exactly how much speed and steering is necessary for a particular curve. It felt as if the road was sharing its intimate secrets with me. My husband, who gave up teaching me to drive properly long time ago, was totally amazed. According to him, I was ‘wearing’ the car.
So, what had happened? The road condition was the same as the year before (if not worse), our car was a year older… The change must have something to do with the way I was using myself. What interests me the most is that my mental/emotional state (=less nervous) had a direct and positive effect on my physical activity(=driving a car) and also provided me with a better perception and judgment.
It makes sense in theory, of course, if one feels happy, one behaves well and sees better. When it happens in a winding road most unexpectedly, it truly is a ‘wao’ experience!
On my way back home to Sacramento, I was a bit overconfident and got a traffic ticket, but I would still say, “God bless California, and long live the Alexander Technique!!”
