Listen to Your Body, Ease Your Stress
The body is anchored in the here and now while the mind travels into the past and future. ~ Buddha
By Steve Sisgold
You have an ally--it holds a map to your deepest desires and dreams; is your best friend and counselor—the ultimate success coach; supplies you with key insights; and eases fear and doubt in a heartbeat. All this and on-call 24-7. Who is this perfect friend? It's your beautiful, brilliant, often overlooked and under-appreciated body! So often we ignore this incredible resource, or numb out because it's uncomfortable or hurts. You can easily learn to tune in, though, and ease stress, enhance intuition, and make better decisions.
Commit
Commit to place all of your attention on yourself for the next few minutes. Point or imagine pointing at your chest and say out loud or silently: “I am willing and ready to focus my attention on my body and feel what it is feeling right now.”
Scan
Notice what is happening in your body. Are you gripping your mouse tightly or are your hands relaxed? Are you squinting or straining in any way? Are you tensing up while you read? Are your shoulders and neck and jaw relaxed? Do you feel any emotion? Notice, don’t analyze. Close your eyes and scan your body. Open your eyes when you are ready.
Breathe
Take three slow, deep, full breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Relax and fill your belly on each inhalation, then release the breath slowly and let your jaw drop open as you exhale. Keep the out-breath natural like a soft sigh. Release the breath out through your throat, careful not to force it through your lips by blowing or pushing your exhale out. Breathe in and out rhythmically and let whatever wants to happen in your body happen. If your head wants to lean forward, let it. If your hand tightens, let it.
Declare
State aloud what you notice; declare the truth of your body. For instance, you might say: “I am noticing that my breath is shallow and my fingers are tingly.” Or, “I am noticing how relaxed my belly and chest feel.” Go ahead and say whatever comes up when you look within: “I am noticing _____________.” while releasing tension.
Witness
Sometimes when you declare your truth, body sensations begin to change. If this happens, simply observe and witness the change. If you said, “I notice that my jaw is tight,” this acknowledgement may actually stimulate relaxation or increased energy flow in the jaw. Or another sensation may suddenly arise in a completely different part of your body. For instance, your fist may be tight and when you declare this an emotion of anger could erupt and cause you to grit your teeth.
Act
Now, take an action that benefits you right now. For instance, if you aren’t breathing deeply, take some deep breaths. If you notice that your shoulders are raised, relax them and let them drop.
Move
You have established a link with your body and its inherent brilliance. Keep the energy flowing with some kind of gentle or vigorous exercise. Walking, yoga, jogging, pole-vaulting, dancing in your living room to 80s hits--any form of movement will circulate energy throughout your body giving you a break from obsessive mental activity.
Nurture
Your body is a living, breathing organism--not a thought-mobile! Treat it like you would a beloved pet--nurturing, grooming, and loving it. Baths, massages, even snuggling with a super-soft blanket will remind your body that you listening to its ultimate, cell-deep truths--encouraging it to share wisdom with your conscious mind.
From beliefnet.com