WORKING WITH YOUR BODY [MENTAL HEALTH]ARTICLE 1

There are many ways we can work with the body to balance our emotions , but one way is to try and deliberately stimulate more positive emotion systems. We notice that lying in bed and thinking erotic thoughts will stimulate an activating system – sometimes that is helpful you develop feelings of connectedness.

Practising breathing is a good way to do this because slowing and deepening the breath helps to stimulate the soothing system (well actually it stimulates a part of us called the MYELINATED PARASYMPATHETIC system, but we don’t need to know that in any detail). Here’s what you do.

First, stand up straight with your feet close together. Imagine what would happen if somebody pushed you from the side. You would topple over. This is because this standing position is unstable. So now, stand with your feet slightly apart and really feel your weight going through your hips, with your knees very slightly bent (not locked ) ; get a sense of being grounded and stable.

Imagine now that somebody pushes you from the side-you will be secure. So finding the point of inner stability in the body is important . We are going to focus on that now ; don’t worry if it takes time.

I will complete in article 2 soon.