Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Partnering Practice in Breathing and Relaxation

Find a nearby friend or loved one.  Kindly ask them to lie down on the floor.  Gently talk them through some deep breathing.  Allow the body to relax.  Feel the breath circulate and move deep into the organs, tissues and bones of your body.  Allow your exhale to seep out through your whole body, as if your pores could pore out breath.

Slowly walk over to your partner.  Gently, place your hands on their ankles.  Lift both legs slightly off the floor and lengthen.  You partner may even get pulled slightly along the floor, if they are on a slippery surface.   Let them feel the length created in the lumbar spine, pelvis and hip joints.

Move towards their upper body and over their head.  Gently hold each wrist in your hands and lengthen their arms over head.  Pull them gently toward you, if you like.  Slowly and gently release their arms to the floor.  Let them breath and relax.  Take some time here to let them feel the length in the whole spine, imagining that each disc is fluffing up like a little pillow or cloud.

Change partners.

Some benefits of relaxation and deep breathing exercises such as the one above include:
  • Stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing the sympathetic nervous system to relax.  This increases relaxation and helps to decrease anxiety and depression.
  • Stimulates the lymphatic system and helps detoxify the body
  • Empowers you--you have control over your body and your thoughts
  • Muscles and joints can relax and open more.
  • Tractioning the spine can help relieve disc pressure and back pain
Yours in motion,
Laura