Work related stress and tension is hard to avoid particularly body tension if you sit at a computer most of the day. Sitting at a computer for extended periods is unnatural for the body and our bodies let us know.
Standing, moving around and stretching at every given opportunity is helpful but barely cuts the mustard.
I’d like to share with you a short meditation idea from Dr. Martin Hart and Skye Alexander that may help. Their book The Best Meditations on the Planet is a great addition to your library as it offers a plethora of ideas and subject matter in a simple and easily understood form.
At the onset of neck, shoulder and or back tension stay seated and straighten up your back keeping your shoulders down. Close your eyes and inhale slowly and deeply as you gently turn your head to the left, stretching your neck just to the point where you feel your muscles begin to resist.
Exhale slowly as you turn your head to the right in the same way.
Repeat the above and stretch a little further but not beyond the point of comfort. Ease all thought from your mind.
Pay attention to your movements and breathing. Move slowly and deliberately – no jerking- only stretch as far as comfortable.
Inhale deeply filling the bottom of the lungs first (as described in Meditation 101-link) and exhale slowly, emptying the air from the chest area first.
Continue gently turning your head left and right, inhaling left and exhaling right. Keep your mind clam and still. When thoughts arise bring you awareness back to the movements and breath.
Continue until you feel looser and more relaxed.
I always add imagery in the form of a healing white light because I find imagery helpful in overcoming the compulsion to think.
As you go through the motions explained here imagine breathing in pure white healing light on each in breath to the left. On the out breath to the right I see in my mind’s eye the white light taking with it all the stress and tightness I feel. I visualise it unknotting the trapped energy that is causing the tightness and see the energy swirling freely. I actually feel muscles twitching as they free up when I use this technique.
The beauty of using healing white light imagery is that it can be used anywhere and anytime a pocket of stress is felt in some part of the body.
Addressing your stress at its onset is optimum in order to keep your energy flowing freely. So if you start to feel uptight this week, give the above technique a go and see how much better you feel for it.
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