Thursday kicked off the Holiday Season for many, and with it, stress that can show up in the form of tight shoulders and stiff necks that can result in tension headaches and/or overall fatigue. I want to help anyone who might show signs of these symptoms with my offering of weekly videos.
This week’s Somatic Movement Flow® is called ‘Nodding Yes with Self Massage variations’. It will guide you into innovative ways to dissolve tension in this part of your body. You’ll notice I modified this Flow for the chair with hopes that you can practice this anywhere: on the plane, at your desk, or while watching a movie on the couch 😊.
As mentioned above, this Flow can be especially helpful to prevent or manage headaches. Be sure not to “overdo it” by pressing too hard with your fingers, or staying in a stretch too long (not more than 3 seconds!). Move in a way that feels good and nourishing to your body!
For more self-help videos like this, please visit Somatic Wellness TV gentlesomaticyoga.com/somatic-wellness-tv/
Did you know…
Tension headaches affect about 1.6 billion people (21.8% of the population) followed by migraine headaches, which affect about 848 million people worldwide every year!
Although there can be many causes of headaches and migraines, Gentle Somatic Yoga® may be able to help prevent, diminish, or abort this unpleasant experience.
From a body (soma) level, anything you can do to lessen muscle tension in the face, scalp, neck, shoulders, and upper back, can significantly help headaches and promote overall relaxation. Included in this blog is a self-care video above that you can try on your own and experience the benefits.
More things to ponder:
If you would enjoy learning more about this subject, I thought it could be helpful to review the human nervous system, specifically alpha brainwaves and the parasympathetic nervous system because understanding this might inspire more ways to learn for self-correction. In Gentle Somatic Yoga®, the practitioner is not only repatterning muscles to a more optimum length (flexibility), he/she is also mindfully retraining the nervous system. This is done specifically through the art of interoception, breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation.
In review of the brainwave states:
Beta brainwave dominant: happens during our normal waking state when attention is directed towards cognitive tasks like engaging in problem solving, judgment, decision making, or focused mental activity. Emotionally this state can be provoked by worrying and/or, feeling defensive.
Alpha brainwave dominant: happens when one is more in a calm, neutral, and receptive state of acceptance. This is more of a “witness” state where one can observe without reacting…. Emotionally, this state can be enhanced by being relaxed, trusting, and peaceful…
Theta brainwave dominant: happens when one is daydreaming… or just about to fall asleep and there is a vague awareness of images and symbols within the mind’s eye… this is the intriguing space between the conscious and the subconscious worlds… Emotionally, this state is achieved when one is not “trying”… it happens when we are super relaxed and drifting with our consciousness… allowing enjoyable/pleasant feelings to arise without thinking about anything in particular…
Delta brainwave dominant: happens when one has entered deep sleep. Most people are not aware of this state. However, there are practices/skills that one can foster to enter this state consciously. Those include: Gentle Somatic Yoga® when we are in longer Body Scans/Savasana, biofeedback, and yoga nidra.
In review of the nervous system:
When we are in a Sympathetic Nervous System dominant state, we are triggered into the stressful reflex to fight, freeze, or flee. This is due to the perception that our life is in danger (real or not).
When we are in a Parasympathetic Nervous System dominant state, we feel safe, calm, and receptive to learn something new. Also, when in this state, we avoid overworking/overdoing, and by doing so we restore the body (soma) into optimal states of health and wellbeing. This is the preferable state, and a natural byproduct, when practicing Gentle Somatic Yoga®. It ensures long-lasting beneficial results!
Remember, the beneficial effects are cumulative; the more you practice.
See our Tips and Guidelines to enhance your success.
Enjoy!
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Click HERE.
Wishing you a joy-filled and stress-free holiday season!
James Knight, Founder of Gentle Somatic Yoga & Wellness
Please join us in real-time to practice Gentle Somatic Yoga® and connect with our international Somatic Wellness community. Somatic Sanctuary™ is an ongoing monthly 2-hour LIVESTREAM Somatic Movement Workshop Series
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