Restoring Relaxation to the Body by Teri J. Dluznieski

Have you ever put in a hard workout, or done something strenuous, only to feel an old familiar twinge? It might be an old football or skiing injury. Maybe you twisted an ankle or knee, jumping off of a high wall, in your immortal youth. As we get a little older, we come to a profound insight. Our minds may have long forgotten our youthful follies. But the body remembers- with perfect clarity and recall. And takes these moments to fondly remind us, like leafing through old photos.

When I am working with clients, I often describe the body as an "Etcher Sketch," those toys of old that you could draw all sorts of designs and shapes on. The body is very similar. It records, in the muscles, bones and cells, all of our past experiences: both physical and emotional. It is simple biological sense. It is essential for survival to have a "memory" of dangers and hazards.

Further, to ensure optimal chances for survival, the body has evolved the "fight or flight" mechanism to react to these threats. Before modern civilization, if a lion were to come into the village, it was imperative to react instantaneously! The body goes into over-drive: run, climb, hide, grab a weapon. All other functions, such as thinking, digesting, or healing- become extremely secondary to stress-fed survival mode. This is the work of the sympathetic nervous system.

Following an event, when the lion is gone or dead, there is a release of this stress-induced adrenalin rush. The brain now tells the body, it is okay, it is safe now. Relax. This is the parasympathetic nervous system.

This is an elegant and dynamic feedback loop. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, we no longer live with those sorts of imminent dangers. However, we still have a biological function that is capable of carrying and holding inordinate amounts of stress. Stress that stores. Builds up. Stress that stays in the body. Further, the brain makes no distinction between physical stress and mental-emotional stress. A hard day at the office creates the same stress as the lion in the village.

The magnetic fields around the Earth beat at what a frequency of 7.4 cps (cycles per second), which, coincidentally, is in the exact middle of the brain's "relaxation range." Coincidence?

Prior to modern culture, there were 2 basic sources of electromagnetic influence, or stressors. The first was the Van Allen belts ( radiation belts that surround the Earth, high-energy particles, mainly protons and electrons, held captive by the magnetic influence of the Earth. some of these, when hit the upper atmosphere, cause the northern lights), which creates that 7.4; the second, is lightning. Currently, there are over 200,000 competing frequencies with which our bodies are bombarded, daily.

Trying to hone in on that single beacon that informs the body into relaxation is somewhat akin to trying to hear someone whisper to you... whilst standing in front of a speaker at a rock concert. That one important message, of peace and well-being, cannot compete. It is drowned out by all the competing input.

As a result of our modern culture, and our loss of contact with the natural environment, our bodies are inundated by colossal stressors, with no counter-intelligence message of peace and relaxation.

The responsibility then comes back to us, to remedy that as best we can. Relocating to remote mountain locations such as India or Peru, is probably not feasible for the majority of people. However, there are several things that can be done to minimize stress- from large life changes, to smaller things that can be incorporated into daily life.

Minimizing exposure to stressors is a good place to start. Spend less time at the computer, and turn it OFF, not sleep mode, when not in use. Even if you are not right at the computer- it is still putting out electromagnetic signals. Additionally, turn off the television (especially if you are not watching it!). It is another huge source of stressors: both from physical stressors and from its content. Compared to television of 30-50 years ago, when a movie camera lingered on a scene for an average of 30 seconds, today's camera shot is an average of 3 seconds! Test it yourself. Count the seconds in scenes, how quickly the camera shots bounce back and forth. This is very hard on the brain. In fact, it was proven several years ago, when a cartoon had too many frames per second, which caused over stimulation of the brain, sending normal healthy children into seizures. Above and beyond the physics of television, is the emotional overload. The content of modern television is loaded with fear based programming. This is its hook; keeping a viewer in stress mode, perpetually waiting for the "emergency over" message, that never comes. It is a perfect paradox, since the television also sends the brain into a deep relaxed, gamma mode, which makes the mind receptive to the input.

So, in short, remove as many stressors from daily life and sleeping areas as possible. Further, there are things you can include in your environment to help in the elimination of stress. Add plants to the house, studies have shown they have a calming, soothing effect. Set up a water fountain for background noise that is soothing. Acclimate to the quietude of stillness. Rearrange furniture. Ask yourself- is this room creating peace and relaxation? Do I feel drawn to settle down and read a book here, or sit in the window and enjoy the sun for a moment?

Additionally to the "passive changes" that can be made, there are more active things that can be done on an ongoing basis. Again, most of these start with an inner awareness, a "wake-up call."

Diet can play a huge factor in stress. Items such as caffeine, sugar, artificial sweeteners are very hard on the body, particularly since they jolt it into readiness for elevated levels of activity. Things like sugar, or caffeine, are the "quick-fixes our bodies crave as the cheap substitute for good, whole-food nutrition. The body will crave and seek/ substitute sugar, when it is in need of protein. Often these dietary changes are easier to make without the wisdom of the television to advise us against our better senses.

Exercise is vital for allowing the body to reduce and release stress. There is a huge range of options there that many people are already familiar with. Ideally, engage in activities with the intention of having fun. Playing a sport aggressively, with the intention of obliterating your opponent, might not be an optimal strategy for defusing stress... especially if we don't win.

Above our regular sporting activities, there are many activities available today that are grounded in the concept of relaxation. Martial arts, tai-chi, meditation programs, drumming, dance, yoga -- which can be as easy or as hard as your preference desires. Some classes are not for the faint-hearted. There are magnetic therapies designed to help bring the body back into alignment. Massage therapy or acupuncture are an excellent ways to help the body relax. Take a walk outside- without the Ipod. Get close to the Earth- it can recalibrate the body's relaxation rhythm.

Even if it is not every day, perhaps only weekly, or sporadically. Treat yourself to some form of relaxation. Incorporate it into daily life. More than anything else, coming into balance entails a perceptual shift. An awareness. An awakening. Knowing what questions to ask, and having the courage to act on the answers. At first it is hard. Change is hard. Familiarity is easy, it requires less thought/ energy, and it is safe. We know it works, because we have already done it. Even if it doesn't work optimally, it works better than something unknown, untried, untested, unfamiliar. Old patterns are usually deeply embedded, it is the old saying- stuck in a rut. Old patterns are well worn, broken in, comfortable. But the body knows what well-being looks and feels like, the same way a young child still knows and reaches for healthy food. It is a biological imperative, right down to the cellular level. Homeostasis. And the body deeply wants to return to that garden.

Copyright 2007 Teri J. Dluznieski M.Ed. aka Teri D. is a healer with several modalities, focusing on Ancient Peruvian Shamanic Energy healing. She incorporates herbs and Bowen bodywork into her practice in order to tailor each clients unique needs on their path to wholeness. She works with clients to help them rewrite their maps with a healed state that moves them forward towards their soul's purpose. She works with all ages, liking work with the younger generation, and works with chronic conditions as a trained chronic care mentor. She is a writer and a poet who dance the dream of tomorrow into being. She lives in Poultney Vermont USA where she offers healing sessions and teaching workshops. She offers first 30 minute free phone consultation to discuss your situation to determine if this work will suit your needs. Yaguarcita Healing and Bodywork (802)287-2312