Taking Care of Your Nervous System
Taking Care of Your Nervous System
Listen to the audio: http://tiny.cc/0825101
Many of us have been conditioned to push against resistance, which is very useful, but just not all the time. That’s what happens: you begin to accustom yourself to the sensations of pushing and forcing, doing your repetitions and sets diligently, all with good intentions, or maybe it’s just trying to complete a task to get it done after you feel fatigued. It’s best to recognize these subtle yet significant sensations that are often overlooked. Ignoring them when you feel fatigued depletes you even more and takes longer to restore and renew you, whereas noticing an improved sensation from these activities seems to be when the feel-good hormones kick in during and upon completion. Learning how to make comparisons, taking a pause, and rescheduling when to complete the task so you can begin to discover when too much is creating havoc in both your biology and neurology. This is your body, brain, and nervous system that regulates everything, and it’s trying to get your attention. Remember that everything is connected. Become aware of this and begin listening at a higher level of awareness, so that instead of pushing and forcing, you listen when the timing is right.
Here’s a strategy to explore that I often share with my students and clients. It’s good to recognize when you are feeling less than optimal. Notice those sensations and instead of not doing something, begin, and if after 20 minutes or so you feel the same, no real improvement, let it go and come back to it another time. This is not procrastination; rather, listening at a higher level, after comparing whether taking the action at that moment serves you best. The action taken can be exercising, which is very beneficial, exploring an Awareness Through Movement (ATM)® lesson, writing, or attending to tasks. Listening internally when you are pushing without any significant benefit probably means there’s a better time to return to these activities, at which point you will notice a better outcome. Timing is everything, and learning how to listen to make better choices is a process to awaken to, as it might simply mean your internal battery needs to recharge.
“Success consists of a series of little daily victories.”– John Templeton
Often, I refer to these signals as body language, that’s our body and mind speaking to us. It’s telling us there’s something to attend to. Also, notice others’ body language; there are signs and indications in their expressions, gestures, and actions that tell us whether the timing is right to engage, start a conversation to connect, or pause and wait for a better time, which will lead to better results.
“The aim is a body that is organized to move with minimum effort & maximum efficiency, not through muscular strength but through increased consciousness of how it works.” – Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais
I will be taking a little time off this coming week and pausing my newsletter to be fully present during my restorative time away. I will return to my weekly newsletter at the end of the month. As food for thought, I’m sharing a link below that really caught my attention, as it presents another concept of body language from a different angle.
Here’s a clever, short essay on how human communication has migrated from the throat to the hand to the pinkie finger…
https://www.terrygodier.com/body-language
I hope I’ve earned the privilege of your time and attention this week, and will share more at the end of the month.
Wishing all a lovely time while I am away, and I look forward to sharing more soon.
Warmest,
Peggi
