I listened to a thought-provoking interview with Krista Tippet, ONBeing as she interviewed psychiatrist, Bessel van de Kolk. He spoke of an experience
early in his career, which led him to his fascination and research in trauma
work. Years ago, a veteran needed help because he was having wartime nightmares
and could not sleep. Bessel prescribed some medication for the man to help
relieve his bad dreams. A couple of weeks later, the veteran returned
to see him and he asked him if the medication helped. The veteran said, “I could
not to take them. I need to honor the memories of my friends who died; I am a living
memorial to them”.
Interestingly, Bessel’s research has shown that human memory is a sensory experience, meaning that a person who has suffered a trauma will have a vivid memory of details such as the silhouette of a person, or the pattern of the wall paper, etc. Personally, I sometimes feel that I carry around some residual sensations from early life experiences in every cell of my body. Bessel's research shows that body work, such as yoga in which the mind holds a focused intention on breathing coordinated with movement has a very positive healing effect.
So many of us live in our heads and are cut off from paying attention to our bodies. How often do we ignore our body when we are tired but just keep pushing ourselves? Do we stay home to rest when we are ill? When fatigue grabs us, it is all too easy to let self-care fall away as inertia swoops in. Computers are alluring aren’t they? I don’t know about you, but I can wile away my time endlessly.
Well, I’ve been listening a little more to what my body has to say and it is telling me that it wants to move. I started taking yoga classes a couple of nights a week and although I find it challenging, my body loves the attention.
We can start really small. A walk outdoors can shift the minds endless thinking to soak up blessings from the sun or to catch our aliveness on a breeze. Today, experience the joy of movement, whether washing the car or walking your dog, enjoy the feel of your body in motion.
~liz Sorensen Wessel
Artwork by ~liz
