Poise and Presence

Here’s a delicious and light salad, a mouthful of summer, and so refreshing. I wasn’t too sure about the watermelon/tomato combo when the plate arrived at the table, but was won over with the first bite. Mike and I were staying at The White Oak Inn, following his completion of Saturday’s 100-mile Pelotonia bicycle tour.

Ingredients: watermelon, tomatoes, cucumber, basil, mint, feta cheese crumbles, vinaigrette, salad greens

Innkeeper, Yvonne, chopped up the watermelon, tomatoes, and cucumbers into good-sized cubes, adding chopped basil leaves, and just a hint of mint. She added the feta crumbles last. Toss with vinaigrette. Yvonne’s was balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and a little bit of lime juice. I’ll be using Brianna’s Blush Wine Vinaigrette Dressing this evening, served on a bed of greens.

In the study of the Alexander Technique, Thinking in Activity is a time-honored practice for integrating AT principles into daily life. Cooking and teaching are the two activities in which I can most readily apply the principles, experiencing ease and comfort in my body, and peace of mind to boot! In part it’s because in these two pursuits, I give myself permission to be fully present, and immersed in the task at hand, whether it be slicing watermelon or assisting a student in their exploration of a particular habit of use.

Wishing for you refreshment and presence this day—