Arise

In  Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope , the anxious, excitable droid C3PO tells Luke, “Sir, if you won’t be needing me, I’ll close down for a while.”  If only my anxious, excitable mind had an “off” switch! Doing a puzzle or reading an engrossing book are terrific ways to divert the mind, but this is not the same as finding serenity.  Progressive relaxation (systematically tensing, then relaxing, muscle groups) is effective when practiced consistently.  I learned to teach progressive relaxation as a component of therapy for individuals striving to overcome fears.  Relaxing all the muscles from head to toe, one can achieve deep relaxation.  Or fall asleep! Hatha yoga practice taught me something new.  Only one pose, Shavasana, involves relaxing all the muscles. Holding the other poses requires keeping certain muscles active.  The trick is to isolate these muscles.  When I began, my instructors constantly told me to release my shoulders....

I began with Hatha Yoga practice at a Yoga studio. The mat delineated my space. The instructor led with words and demonstration. Listening was essential, as every class was different, impossible to predict what would come next. Focus was essential, for alignment and for balance.  There were no mirrors.  It was necessary to learn breath and posture from within. Soon I found myself closing my eyes, the better to feel my way. Eyes closed, holding a posture, breathing into it, maintaining stillness and focus...I felt my body transforming its inner landscape. Bones, muscles, nerves, breath made subtle movements, making small adjustments and opening inner space.  My body was a time-lapse video of budding flowers opening into blossoms. Opening silently, peacefully, gloriously.  Amid this peace, my mind receded into the background.  With physical peace filling my body, my mind stopped scanning for things to worry about.  On the mat, thinking just became — u...

In the fantasy culture portrayed in the movie Avatar,  Na’vi warriors face a dangerous a rite of passage.  The warrior confronts an ikran, a dragon-like creature, a fierce opponent.  The warrior struggles to master it, and then bonds with it.  The ikran is transformed into a powerful ally.  Now the warrior can soar in the sky. It is likely that you also have access to a powerful energy whose arrival appears to signal your undoing. Perhaps it is anger, or hopelessness, or distractibility, or fear.  Anxiety and sadness were at the entry to my path.  Needing comfort and encouragement, I went to a bookstore, seeking a book on angels.  I found the section and scanned the shelf.  One book stood out.  It was misplaced.  The title:   Worry This must be my book, I thought. I took it home. This book, and a therapist, suggested yoga.   I began. Note : Worry   is a book by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. (c) 1997 ...

The focus of this blog is how a practice of yoga, meditation, or kindred discipline is of benefit. The effectiveness of these practices is well-supported by research.  I also believe strongly in other resources strongly supported by research, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication prescribed by a competent psychiatrist.  I do not discuss these latter resources herein, but they are valid and valuable. I am a psychologist, after all. These are the three legs of a stable chair. Where one starts - spiritual practice, therapy, medication - depends on the individual and situation.