Restorative Practise

Listening to our bodies

The body speaks to us through the language of emotions and through metaphor. It uses this language to attract our attention, to communicate with us and to let us know our level of wellbeing or discomfort. The word emotion comes from motion or movement. If something moves us at the mental level we express it or 'emote' it on a physical level as well. Have you ever noticed a happy person is light and relaxed with a face that easily breaks into a smile. On the other hand a sad person seems heavy and corresponding muscles of the face and body posture reflect this.

Practitioners of alternative or complimentary healing modalities see pain or discomfort in the body as simply a messenger asking us to take notice of something that needs addressing. Often this is emotional pain and certain beliefs that are asking to be heard and healed or changed. Negative emotions are an indicator that the path we are on is no longer serving us and requires change.

In the Western world we learn from a young age that the intellect is more important than the body. And so we live in a society that has 'checked out' of our precious bodies and we ignore the messages that our body constantly wants to tell us. This can result firstly in pain and if ignored in disease. There are two very distinct messages that we receive from the universe. One of comfort, and one of discomfort. One benefit of a daily spiritual practise is to bring awareness back into the body. By hearing the subtle messages always present we can begin to make changes before the message turns into a problem.

Meditation

Use a daily practice to maintain the vitality of the bodies physical and energetic systems and support health and connection between mind, body and spirit.

From 14 years of age I have had a daily practise and I can not recommend it highly enough to bring balance and health to the mind/ body. This has been the most single important thing I have done for myself. I first learn learned Transcendental Meditation, practised it daily and witnessed instant changes in my life. In my early 30's I learned Qi Gong from a Chinese master. She spoke no English and we had a translator for the course. At the end of the course I experienced an instant physical healing and Qi Gong became my new daily practise. It is an ancient practise and came before Tai Chai and is a complete healing system for the body and you can literally feel the energy and the changes taking place if practised daily. I also incorporate Pranayama (diaphragmatic breathing) into my practise.

According to Research on Transcendental Meditation, those who meditate regularly 15-20 minutes twice a day can reduce their biological age 12-15 years in 5 years. Similar results have been demonstrated among those practising Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Yoga. If a certain percentage of a society meditates then the crime rate goes down.

I recommend you find a daily practise that resonates with you. The reasons why this is so important are numerous. The first though is that it calms the mind and puts the body into a place where it can heal. It enables you to check into your internal guidance system or intuition. This is important because as you move through life no one but you can know what is 'right' for you. It dissolves stress and if you are constantly in a stressed state (anxious) then your body is producing hormones that are damaging to your health.

Meditating benefits:

• Enhances your intuitive knowing (the link between body and soul)
• Helps the brain function optimally
• Opens the gateway to the freedom and richness of inner peace
• Puts the body in a state of relaxation and healing
• Creates a healthy mind/ body
• Helps gain clarity, insight and inspiration
• Nurtures that part of you that is spirit and connected to divine presence
• Learn to quiet the mind and be an observer versus reactive
• Helps manifestation of what you want in your life.... And much more

Meditation takes you to deeper realms of consciousness, that allows you to access your subconscious mind. In normal waking consciousness, our brain is functioning in a ‘beta’ brain wave pattern. This state is associated with alertness, but also with stress, anger and anxiety. In meditation, your brain patterns slow down and move first to alpha and then to theta and, in deep meditation, delta patterns. When in a theta state you can plant suggestions to manifest what you desire.

Qi Gong

By collecting and exchanging Qi (Chi) with nature, your meridian system is opened. Years are added to the lives of those whose Qi flows uninterrupted. After practising for a relatively short length of time you will feel Qi. Your illnesses will disappear and your energy level is increased. After practising for a while you develop softness and sensitivity, and your mind becomes aware of natural things such as flowers, trees, lakes, rain, thunder storms the sun, moon and stars. In our practise we become one with all of nature and the universe, and embark on a journey of self discovery. The emphasis is on being respectful while calming the mind. When the mind has become quiet and clear, it will be like the smooth surface of a pond reflecting yourself. As you show respect to Qi Gong your appearance will be humble your mind will have no thoughts and your mind and body are in infinity. As your mind becomes infused with Qi, you enter into a blissful state of Qi Gong.

Qi Gong benefits:

• A complete healing system for the body
• Removes stagnant energy replacing it with clean energy
• Strengthens the life force energy of the internal organs
• Strengths the physical systems and energetic systems of the body
• Has a calming effect on the body
• Calms the mind and uses it in a focused way
• Releases feel good healing chemicals
• Adds years to your life
• Stops weight gain, enables you to stay at a constant weight over a life time
• Heals the physical body of ailments
• Balances the mind body
• Clear blockages and promote the flow of energy in the body

Breathing

Most people are unaware of the importance of the breath and breathing correctly, not to mention the benefits. Breathing is a science in other cultures and when done consciously has untold benefits. We can use it to oxygenate the body for wonderful health. It is the quickest and easiest way to take the body from the state of flight or fight into a state of calm letting our body know we are 'safe'. Much has been written of the fight, flight or freeze response. It is a very necessary one especially in caveman days when we had to flee in a hurry from a dangerous predator. Unfortunately today the stress of modern day living has replaced the dangerous predator and some of us live in that state of hyper arousal, we call it stress. This has a very destructive effect on the body as the corresponding chemical reaction ages the body and keeps adrenaline and cortisol up and running. This can lead to a variety of physical problems later in life (e.g not being able to loose weight easily) not to mention mental and emotional issues.

For many people breathing is no longer a conscious experience. Due to stress and tension the breath becomes short and shallow. Without sufficient inhalation and exhalation the body becomes deprived of oxygen. There is retention of waste products and excess carbon dioxide is left in the lower lungs. This turns on the bodies stress response and makes the body agitated. Having a conscious breathing practise of a few minutes a day is a fast and effective way to bring a deep sense of calm and equanimity to the body. After a while you will find it effortless to take this practise into your day and instead of experiencing tension under stress your body will start to breathe instead. You begin a new life affirming habit and can feel centred in the most challenging situations.

If you could give yourself one MASSIVE gift in life it would be to start a daily practise. Make it easy so that you can win. Start with just five minutes a day and gradually increase it. Your body will love you for it and you WILL notice the difference.

I can teach you how to counter the stress response with practises to elicit the relaxation response moving you towards wellbeing and health on all levels.

Email me for a complimentary Meditation PDF called 'Meditation Made Easy!'