As busy
modern women with jobs, homes, and families who are striving towards creating
the lives we desire, we spend a lot of time rushing from one activity to
another. It’s often all too easy in this situation to forget that the energy we
pour out to manage our homes, families
and careers, and even to accomplish goals we set for ourselves such as
maintaining a healthy lifestyle or making time to follow our passions needs to
be replenished from time to time.
Stress is
the great precursor to other problems in today’s world. Juggling the many
commitments we all seem to have- even those we love- can result in an insidious
kind of constant pressure that women in particular are prone to. Studies show
we find it difficult to draw boundaries and
that many of us are still dealing
with the ‘superwoman’ or ‘having it all’ mentality.
In addition to the stresses of daily life,
women also experience hormonal changes throughout their lunar cycle -and indeed
throughout their lives- which are still not really addressed or accepted by society in general. Many
issues that arise at these times are habitually suppressed or ignored.
Unfortunately
the result is that all too often these unacknowledged issues can bubble to the
surface in negative and extreme ways at times of great stress, for example
during pregnancy and/or it‘s related aspects such as fertility issues, after a
birth, mothering small children, in times of illness and during menopause. They
don’t just manifest as emotional trauma
either but can also cause physical problems.
So by
making a regular time to consciously work on releasing stress and replenishing
our reserves of soul energy and creative juices - the wellspring of what we
have to give to the world- we are not being selfish, but responsible.
Stress
actually changes the chemical make up of our bodies. In the same way, however,
so does relaxation. Certain music and sound has the ability to change our
brainwave patterns, for example, some Baroque and new age music (music of
around 60 beats per minute) is considered to enhance alertness and well being,
changing brainwaves from Beta to Alpha and music that drones or chants, such as
Gregorian chants, or even repeating “Om” has been shown to change brainwaves to
Theta level, which we normally experience when sleeping or mediating. Affirmations and visualizations can also
assist with this process.
Here’s a guided visualization/ relaxation
excersize created specifically for women that you may like to try. I would
recommend that it be done at least once a week. It works very well if you
record the words (speak slowly and leave spaces for yourself to do the visualisation.)
Or find something else that works for you. You’re worth the effort!
“Soft
Belly” exercise.
Whether
or not we choose to give birth our wombs and bellies are where creativity has
space, (whether for dreams, goals, ideas or physically growing a baby) to
nurture and grow beautiful expressions
of our lives.
Lay down
comfortably on your back. (If this isn’t possible due to pregnancy or injury
for example, on your side is fine.)
Close your eyes. Breathe deeply for a few
moments. Take your attention from your head to your toes, tightening each part
of your body as you breathe in, then relaxing it as you breathe out.
When you
have relaxed your toes, return your
awareness to your belly. Place your hands, fingers spread, over your belly.
Hold it tight for a moment, then allow it to soften. Feel it rise and fall with
your breath, Now, as you breathe out, repeat ‘soft belly soft belly’.
Visualise
yourself laying on warm sand, or soft green grass warmed by the sun above. You
are comfortable and calm.
Feel the warmth of the sun gather in your
pelvic area, allow this warmth to slowly
travel down your legs to your toes and then to return up your back, over the
top of your head and back down to your
belly, flowing over and through.
Feel the lusciousness of your whole being and
the delicious femaleness of having a soft and pliable, warm and comforting
belly for feelings to develop, ideas to gestate, for food to be absorbed and
digested, nourishing your body.
Allow
this process to occur for as long as you
need. When you are ready, allow the warmth to remain in your belly. Take a few
deep breaths, open your eyes and wiggle your fingers and toes. You should feel
relaxed, replenished and renewed.
This "soft belly" meditation was adapted from one originally created by Lara Owen author of "Her Blood is Gold"
