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By Marty Calliham, L.Ac.
Focused relaxation. My latest new phrase. Does it sound like
a contradiction in terms?
In some ways, it could be. Yet, I've found in my own experience
that relaxation by itself, in the way we usually define it,
often fails to achieve it's aim - that of restoring and renewing
us.
Relaxation, in the popular sense, can mean anything from reading,
to television watching, to napping, to eating out, to having
a conversation. There's nothing wrong with any of these activities.
But I can spend hours doing these things (even sleeping) and
feel just as tired in mind and body as I when I began.
So, for me, some method of focusing the mind, along with relaxing
the body, is a more effective approach to renewing myself.
What are some ways of focusing the mind? It helps to start
out by just taking inventory. Ask
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yourself, "How am I doing?" "How am I feeling?" "What do I
need right now?" If I'm hungry, I can eat; if tired, slow down;
or if irritable, breathe slowly and deeply or change the activity.
Getting out of "automatic pilot" and coming back to my senses
is the first step. I can do this between work shifts, before
and after driving my car, and throughout the day.
At the end of the day, it can be very helpful to take a few
minutes more to relax the body and focus the mind. I like to
review the day, remembering my successes as well as what didn't
go as well. I can accept myself as I am, and make a note of
ways to correct the things I can. I can ask myself, "How am
I moving forward on my path?" Or, "What strategies and actions
can I take toward my goals in the future?"
There's a noticeable difference for me when I do this. I have
found that my life works better, I have clarity in the morning
and throughout the day, and I sleep better at night. Focused
relaxation can be done in brief, frequent moments, while extended
sessions will create an even deeper sense of being-ness, purpose,
and joy.
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