Shell Picking - A Mind AND Body Exercise

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Shell Picking - a Mind AND Body Experience
I am a shell picking enthusiast.  Shells are very special to me - the color, shape, along with the thoughts of its journey to shore.  I am so thankful to live a short bike ride away from Clearwater Beach, FL. So, shell picking is at an arm's width away.  Recently,  we had a few storms. So, like any shell picker would....time to go to the beach!

Shell Picking Accessories/Gear

A few key a accessories and you'll be set.  This mind and body exercise is a low maintenance and low cost hobby .  I bring a special 'bag' so I have a place (aside from throwing them mindlessly in the bag) where they all travel together after I rinse them one last time in the salt water (or other bodies of water).  A hat and/or sunglass is highly recommend.  However, choose your head gear wisely - a floppy hat or a tight lipped visor may restrict or limit your peripheral vision of your 'playing field' (aka the beach).  If you're wearing sunglasses, make sure the lenses are clean as smudges may, too, block you from uniting from your perfect shell!


Mindful
Shell picking, to me, is meditative, relaxing, fun and surprising!  You never know what you're going to find and.... its a gift from Mother Earth.  So, I make sure there's enough for everyone to enjoy!  I allow my mind to drift and be mindless.  However, it's important to be mindful of your posture because shell picking, like cycling for example, may challenge your alignment if you're remiss about stretching or muscular balance (more on that in the 'body').  


Body
There's alot going on, physically, when shell picking.  It's a great way to work your core, legs, balance and agility.  Agility is the ability to move quickly and react.  If your shell picking with waves of any size, you'll need to react quickly to grab your desired shell. Therefore, agility is important to shell picking.   Ok, let's start from 'the top'!  There are a few different ways to position your head. Body awareness, flexibility and strength is so important in your every day life. It will reduce chronic pain.  As you're looking down scanning the playing field, be aware of the position of the head.  Instead of allowing the head to hang heavy down, use your muscles to pull the head 'back' in a more anatomically correct position.  The proper shell picking gaze should be a little something like this: tuck your chin slightly so you have length in the back of your neck and curl your upper body forward without allowing your shoulders to hang heavy forward.  Basically use your core (from the lower abs below the belly button all the way up to the chest) to flex the spine (look forward and down) enough to maintain the proper position of your head and shoulders.  Then, the legs and balance.  I squat numerous times.  Think of how many ways you squat when shell picking (as opposed to bending from the back).  Sometimes the heels are down, others they're up.  It may be a wide squat, squat in external roation, quick 'pop a squat', lunge forward, lunge diagonal, a 'take a knee' squat or even side lunge.  You may head into a backwards lunge if you almost pass up the opportunity of your eye catching shell!  You may also find yourself balancing on one (straight) leg or in a mini squat (slightly bent knee), hinging forward to collect your prize (shell).  This position in fitness is considered a single leg dead lift or in yoga similar to Warrior 3.  In this mindful exercise, be aware of your body and posture and change it up from time to time.  You'll last longer!




Play around with your shell picking technique and have fun!  You may even want to wear them. I do! I make shell earring, necklaces, shell-anklets, and even a waistlet.  When creating the jewelry, I select the earrings or pair of earrings energetically.

Body and Mind Enrichment. A unique way of exercising your body and mind!