Mindfulness and Body Work
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How it can help…
When we are upset it’s likely we are thinking about something that happened in the past or something that might happen in the future. Unfortunately, we can’t go back to the past and we don’t really know what will happen in the future. If we cannot bring our awareness into the present moment we miss our lives. Mindfulness is purposely paying attention to the present moment, non judgmentally. It helps calm the nervous system and can give you the space in life to intentionally respond instead of reacting.
Our body is constantly taking in sensory information from the ticking clock in the room to what the surface of the chair feels like on our legs, but it is often not at the forefront of our awareness. Traumatic experiences and emotions associated with them are often held in certain parts of the body such as tension in the shoulders, heaviness in the chest etc. It is not until we can tap into the body that we can truly heal.
Mindfulness and Body Work at Affirming Life Therapy, Inc.
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Meditation
Research shows that daily meditation practices can change your brain structure. We first start my noticing our breath and our body and in time start to notice our thoughts as simply events in our consciousness. It is a practice, not a destination, but if practiced regularly can expand your window of tolerance in life and take you to a deeper level of peace and understanding.
Somatic Experiencing
One way to conceptualize trauma is an emotion that is not fully felt. Emotions, in a lot of ways, are a conglomeration of body sensations such as heaviness in the chest with grief, nausea in belly with fear etc. These emotions have a beginning, a middle, and an end. If we can move these stuck emotions through to their fruition we can release ourselves from trauma time and move into the present moment free of the weight and energy it took to keep them locked away.
Trauma Sensitive Yoga and Body Work
Trauma sensitive yoga is about matching the breath to body movements and learning to feel safe in one’s body again. There is never hands on instruction and all movement and positions are invitational. Being trauma sensitive also comes with the awareness around and avoidance of postures that may be triggering. Through movement and stillness we can reclaim space and listen to the wisdom within.
There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy.
-Friedrich Nietzsche
Call to Action
For questions or to schedule an appointment email Jill Terhune, Ed.S, LPC at jill@affirminglifetherapy.com