Today I want to talk to you about body first -approach, also called bottom to up -methods. This approach has been found highly efficient in treating chronic stress, depression, PTSD and other disorders, and I think there is some wisdom in there for everybody.

 

So we can all relate to the feeling of being stressed, for one reason or another. Your body has picked up the signals of threat, and when your thinking brain finally catches up to the situation, you are already in a fully alarmed state. 

 

Has anyone ever told you “just to calm down”? Did it help? 

 

My guess is you didn’t instantly calm down when someone (or yourself) told you to "just relax".  We can tell ourselves any words we want, but often our body is not so easily convinced. This is because the part of our brain that reacts to stress is the oldest part, evolved before we were dealing with language and analytical thinking. So it doesn’t listen to our words very well. So why not start from the body? 

 

See what happens when you don’t tell your body how to feel, instead listen it. Can you tune into it? Can you feel what is happening in your body? 

 

Try to concentrate in one part of the body, for example your feet. Really feel your feet, standing firmly on the ground. Feel your connection to the ground underneath. 

 

Or can you feel your breath? Feel how inhalation enters your body, how it expands your chest. Feel the exhalation. Feel the spaciousness inside you. Let the breath move you. 

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Can you move in a way that feels calming? Can you move in a way that that gives you a sensation of being strong and in control? 

 

So it is up to you what do you want to create. Maybe you want to feel more at ease with yourself, more flowing, grounded or maybe little bit more free. Can you create that feeling in your body first? Your mind might just follow.

 

To think about: 

 

• What is your body telling you today? Really listen. Do you want to release that feeling, or express it more? Perhaps even first to express it, and then to release it?

 

• Can you move in a way that feels good for you, creating a good feeling in you? 

 

• Throughout your day take moments to tune in and check what your body is telling your mind. Is your jaw clenched and telling your mind that something is wrong? Are your shoulders relaxed and chest open, telling your mind that there is nothing to worry about?

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