Mind Body Health Monday

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What is the essence of health and healing through self healthcare?
 Using the science of the body mind connection to your advantage. 


A colleague highlighted my point of view during a conversation the other day. We were talking about losing formerly easy activities, activities the brought joy and sometimes income to life, due to pain. I'll ask you what he asked me...have you seen the movie "The Martian"? My answer was yes, if your answer is also yes, then you'll recognize this quote he repeated to me:

 "In the face of overwhelming odds, I'm left with only one option: I'm going to have to science the s#!t out of this."  

Sometimes our health reaches a state of such imbalance that "normal" becomes living in some degree of pain, on all or most levels of our being (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual). When this happens to you, you will know it because you will feel it head to toe inside and out. You will feel there is no escaping the pain you are in and the odds of you feeling at peace in your own skin again are overwhelmingly against you...This is when you know for sure that it's time to science the hell our of your self care habits. Start by using the science of the body mind connection to your advantage...just walk or sit, and breath. 

Give yourself a chance: Starting today, with only a few minutes each day, DO something, DO anything, with the specific intention of restoring a habit of caring for yourself!

You are alive...so start enjoying what ever movement you are capable of and enjoy your breath

1) Walking Meditation: Walking mindfully, deliberately, slowly... feeling each foot as it touches the ground, softening your foot so it sinks deeply into its place on the earth, every step you take visualizing your connection to the earth, feeling the sensations of your left foot, then right foot touching the earth and repeating with every step you take; An additional imagery during heavy mental/emotional times: visualizing sending your stress thoughts, pain sensations etc...deeply into the core of the earth.

2) Breathing mindfully...With each inhalation, quiet your mind & think only of your breath. Acknowledge that life giving action of your inhalation with, "I'm breathing in". With every exhalation acknowledge your ability to choose letting go with, "I'm breathing out". The simple action of consciously following your in and out breath creates and strengthens a bridge between your body and mind. Consciously following your breath also creates a practice of tuning your body/mind into the power of observing/noticing & moving through stressful times rather than becoming stuck and ruminating on thoughts, feelings or beliefs that feed into the stress or pain. 

*Learning to breath with awareness throughout the breath, is the first step toward healing and calming your nervous system*

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