It can sound mysterious and there are many traditions of meditation.
Experiment with this simple JoyBoots Meditation for Clarity and Calm that uses a segmented breath to engage your relaxation response. Rumination is interrupted by the intentional breath practice, focus of the eyes (activates the frontal lobe which regulates clear thinking) and mudra (hand position).
If you give it a try, let me know your experience.
“How can you move your body to heal your mind?” Leading trauma researcher, Bessel Van der Kolk, began with this question at a workshop I attended many years ago.
And it’s a question I’ve experimented with my adult professional life in helping people with anxiety, depression, and trauma.
Are there particular practices that get you out of your head and quickly bring relief and comfort and even an integration of difficult experiences?
The answer is a resounding yes!
In modern psychology, body based practices are only becoming more influential as the research shows their benefits:
EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Trauma Conscious Yoga Therapy, Bioenergetics…just to name a few.
In JoyBoots practice, I’ve identified 5 ways to move the body, shift your nervous system and have a better ability to tolerate frustration, stress and discomfort:
Bilateral stimulation
Tension/release
Linking breath to movement
Getting grounded
Breathing into physical resistance
What’s the goal?
To interrupt your automatic ways of thinking and moving.
The interruption creates a space where you have a moment of freedom and neutrality to breathe deeply,
come into the present moment,
choose your responses
to what life brings,
and be open to possibilities.
DISCLAIMER
I’m a licensed clinical social worker and yoga teacher practicing in Austin, Texas. My writings and videos represent a combination of my own personal opinions and my professional training, but they do not reflect professional or medical advice. Interaction with me via the vlog or blog does not constitute a professional therapeutic relationship. For individualized professional advice, you should seek the services of a therapist who can dedicate the time necessary to get to know you and your physical and mental health needs. I do not assume liability for any portion or content of material on the vlog/blog and accept no liability for damage or injury resulting from your decision to interact with the website.
© 2024 Kelly Inselmann. All Rights Reserved.
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When I remember my Joy Boots… I feel grounded, connected to the earth and my place in it. I accept my body with its vulnerabilities and sensations. I am aware of my breathing and able to breathe deeply. I am connected to my own life force energy.