In this series of posts, I explore skills that you can take from a mindful yoga class to use in your daily life to help you respond to stress.
3. Use your body as an anchor
Often when we
are stressed, we are so stuck in our thoughts that we lose touch with the body
altogether. Coming back to feel the body can bring us right back to what is
actually happening, and can be a really helpful tool when you feel stuck in
your head. During class we explore lots of different anchors for our attention
– the sense of weight, the movement of our breath, sensation in different areas
as we move. You will find some sensations more compelling than others, so in
daily life, try to come back to the ones that feel most helpful for you.
For some people
(especially those who experience panic attacks), your breath might not feel
like a safe thing to focus on at certain times. If you are very anxious and
your breath is too scary to focus on, can you take your attention elsewhere?
Can you feel sensation in the palms of your hands? For some people, the feeling
of their feet on the ground can be useful. If standing, you might shift your
weight from foot to foot slowly. If sitting or lying, can you do anything to
allow your weight to drop more fully into the ground?
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