Embodiment practices have been shown to be effective in promoting lasting transformation in the brain and mind. These practices involve using the body as a tool for creating change in the mind, and can include activities such as yoga, meditation, dance, and other forms of movement.
Here are 5 practices that can support you in reclaiming your body and transforming your mind:
1. Awareness practice
A few minutes a day to experience joy, appreciation, unity, consciousness, forgiveness and BREATH. What a world we would live in if only everyone had this priority!
We are not taught to breathe appropriately and effectively. But, as we get anxious, stressed, or frustrated, we often either hold our breath or shorten the length of our breath. This keeps our brains and bodies from oxygenating properly.
Studies have shown that breathing practices can help reduce symptoms associated with anxiety, insomnia, depression, PTSD, and attention deficit disorder. It elevates the mood and promotes calm and relaxation.
Deep Breathing
Deep breath work is a great way to quickly pull your body out of a stressed state. This is because, done correctly, it can activate the parasympathetic branch of your nervous system which is responsible for inducing a state of relaxation.
One common and effective way of doing this is to perform what is called the box breathing technique. This is a simple technique where you breath in, hold, breath out, hold, and repeat in increments of 5 seconds each. So breath in for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, etc.
Many people will notice that this technique is great for grounding during a time of stress and quickly reduces any anxiety they are feeling. You can also employ an active form of this technique when you are walking somewhere. Following the same pattern, breath in, hold, breath out, and hold in increments of every 5 steps. This can be a great mindfulness strategy when you don’t have time to sit and meditate.
Grounding
Also called “earthing” or “grounding,” the simple act of walking barefoot offers so many benefits that often get overlooked by mainstream society pushing the importance of wearing shoes at all times. According to Dr. Mercola, walking with your feet directly touching the soil allows your body to absorb negative electrons through the Earth, which helps to stabilize daily cortisol rhythm and create a balanced internal bioelectrical environment.
We have lost much of our connection with Mother Earth due to modern living. But making an effort to spend more time barefoot in nature can provide more benefits than you would think.
2. Self Love and Forgiveness
It's key part of our mental health and directly affects our stress levels.
We can all be incredibly self-critical and caught in the cycle of looking for what’s wrong (or expecting things to go wrong). And in that negative spiral we lose connection to the truth of who we are. Little, positive things really do add up over time and they gradually shift us into more resilient and happier ways of being. A minute here, a breath there, really does make a difference. Authentic self-care looks different for all of us, and it should look a little different every day for each of us - since we are constantly shifting and evolving. Making mistakes is an inevitable part of life. There’s no shame in making genuine mistakes and admitting our fault. What’s most important is how we choose to learn from our mistakes, how we make them right and the actions we choose to take afterwards to ensure we do better next time.
In studies, forgiveness has been shown to improve anxiety, sleep, depression, and stress. It also enhances your mood, vitality, and levels of positivity.
3. SLEEP!!!!!
We all want it and we all need it. It's one of the most important things we can give our bodies. It's when reparation and healing occurs. But, why can it be so elusive!! Let me just ask you one question. Do you make it a priority?
Well, let me help you get back on track. The last hour before bed is very important. Make yourself a routine and stick to it, even when you don't have to be up the next day. Your body will soon respond to a new pattern. The cortisol levels in your body will soon respond and everything else will follow. Just read some of the articles about stress, cortisol, and sleep.
It's time to make it a priority! Your health depends on it.
When your body is experiencing chronic stress, it thinks it’s in a state of perpetual danger and that it shouldn’t be sleeping! You might be able to fall asleep but not stay asleep and you might wake up frequently in the night.
You might find it hard to calm your thoughts and lay awake at night, worrying about your finances, relationship, work or whatever else is bothering you.
4. Unlocking Creativity
Allowing our passions to emerge leads us to our purpose!
Sometimes we need to let go to be able to flow. We often hold back thoughts and ideas because of fear of failure or that our ideas aren't good enough. Or, we are so busy with day to day stress and business that we never truly give ourselves enough time to relax and feel inspired.
There really are endless possibilities in this world to express ourselves and to find authentic purpose. The practices that I share with you here are meant to provide opportunities to open up any blockages that you may have in your mind and body. When we shift our focus to feelings of inspiration and openness, we can break down any perceived obstacles that stand in our way.
Mindful eating is important because it helps individuals appreciate food more and make better food choices. It involves using all of your physical and emotional senses to experience and enjoy the food choices you make. Practicing mindful eating can help rebuild your relationship with food, making eating less restrictive and judgmental, ultimately leading to more feelings of satisfaction and less guilt. Additionally, mindful eating can lead to smaller portions and still achieve satisfaction, which can be beneficial for weight loss goals. Mindfulness meditation used in mindful eating has also been shown to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which contributes to obesity, and lower blood pressure.
These things allow you to replace automatic thoughts and reactions with more conscious, healthier responses.
These changes can lead to improvements in a variety of cognitive and emotional functions, including increased attention and focus, decreased stress and anxiety, improved mood, and greater overall well-being. By engaging in embodiment practices on a regular basis, you can promote lasting transformation in your brain and mind, leading to greater health and happiness.
Ready for lasting transformation in these 5 areas?
Read more about my course Reclaim your Body, Transform your Mind by clicking here.
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