Friday, March 11, 2011

All is Calm...


Did you know that just the thought of calm, of tranquility and serenity, can begin the process of refreshing the body and soul? Yet actually achieving a state of calm seems more and more difficult, if not impossible, given the stresses that weigh us down.

A good first step is to become aware of the breath. This simple, meditative exercise will bring about calm breathing and inner tranquility. Awareness of breathing is an excellent, first-aid technique that will help you to make your way through difficult emotional situations and produce many healthful benefits.

When under stress, we often breathe in a shallow manner or hold our breath, robbing our bodies of oxygen and creating more stress. The breath is very important to our well-being with its ability to relax the body and quiet the mind.

Hundreds of studies have shown that “just being quiet” evokes the ever-important relaxation response, which can lower blood pressure by 7–10 points, says Kathleen Hall, chief executive officer of the Atlanta-based Stress Institute. “It lowers your heart rate, and right away you get an immune system boost,” Hall says. “Considering the chaos in which we all live, it’s very important to have short intervals of relaxation. Research shows that even if you stop for three to five minutes, you change the lobes of the brain and you relax, producing serotonin and endorphins.” Serotonin tends to induce feelings of calm. Endorphins, often called the feel-good brain chemicals, reduce the perception of pain and produce feelings of euphoria.

In the philosophy of Jin Shin Jyutsu, we are invited observe the exhalation. This is where the breath begins. The exhale is what relaxes us and lets go of stress and tension. It is the key to clearing the body.  Moving out the old stale air and making room for the next new breath. Clear your clutter. Too many of us are hoarders of one kind or another. Many of us hoard our breath by not exhaling fully. We keep the old stuff in and don't make room for the new purified air, the abundant out-pouring of limitless life-power, our birth-right.

The breath is the simplest and most perfect of all the tools we have for health and balance. It can be used with awareness at any moment to balance the life energy and bring us into a place of harmony and healing flow. EXHALE long and deep, then you need not TAKE an inhalation but will RECEIVE one naturally, no effort necessary. Being aware of the breath assists us to dwell in the present moment, one breath at a time.

The Jin Shin Jyutsu breath practice, 36 Conscious Exhalations, is a great way to access this Limitless Life-Power and to establish a practice of mindful breathing. Begin by counting each exhalation. One, exhale, inhale. Two, exhale, inhale.......
Allow your breath to unfold naturally. If you lose count, just begin again. This exercise can be done all at once, or broken into 4 session of 9 breaths each. In time, your breathing will automatically become deeper and more rhythmic. As you EXHALE, unload all the dust dirt and greasy grime that is held in your body. Exhale from head to toes. Receive each breath with awareness and gratitude. Inhale from toes to head. RECEIVE the Cosmic Energy of Abundance. Connect to the Cosmic Energy Force.

Welcome to the effortless reality of your life.
“To keep the body in good health is a duty,
otherwise we shall not be able to keep
our mind strong and clear.” 
~Buddha

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