Deepening Your Mind/Body Connection
The human body is an amazing thing. Our bodies are like vast
memory storage areas for daily data to be absorbed. You
probably have heard the term muscle memory. Muscle memory
is when you learn how to ride a bike and never really forget
how to do it. Whatever you do each day is logged into your
muscle memory eventually becoming a behavior or habit.
James Allen said: Men imagine that thought can be kept
secret, but it cannot; it rapidly crystallizes into habit,
and habit solidifies into circumstances.
Both good and bad postures are remembered behaviors. Good
posture leads to better posture. Poor posture will just
get worse. The same goes for any body behavior we practice.
Stress accumulates in the body as muscle tension. If you
do not actively release this tension it is stored in your
muscles. Eventually the muscle has no choice but to incorporate
this tension into static positions. In other words, the
more tension stored the less flexible you become.
Your Physical Comfort Zone is the area between the extremes
at which you exert yourself (Mentally and Physically)
and the degree to which you intentionally relax each day.
Intentional relaxation is an art that requires you to actively
focus your attention into your body and relax it. This simple
procedure will help to reduce a great deal of stress and
inner tension in your life while creating space for health
and vitality. It can be practiced anywhere.
The following exercise will be outlined for your office
chair however; lying on your back in a quiet, comfortable
setting is the most ideal.
Begin by making sure the small of your back is firmly pressed
against the back of the chair and your feet are firmly on
the floor. Focus upon your body as it breathes. Where in
your body does your inhale begin? Focus upon this area and
as you focus breathe in and out through your nose. Allow
your breath to be natural. If your breathing is shallow
let it be shallow, if its deep, let it be deep. As you connect
to this area, begin relaxing the area around the inhale
allowing the inhale to travel deeper into your body. You
will notice your breathing is effortlessly getting deeper.
As you continue to exhale release all control over the rate
of your exhale. Each time you exhale relax your body. Let
go of your body and allow it to sink deeper into your chair.
Each released exhale is a direct experience and therefore
anchor of how "letting go" feels. Take several
minutes to breathe in this way (Try doing three sets of 10
breaths). Be aware that breathing in this way may make you
light headed. Please take care of your needs and do not continue
if you feel uncomfortable. .
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