RELEASE
HOLDING & RELEASE
As women we are constantly walking the tight rope of balance. Holding on to what matters and working to let go of what doesn’t.
It is well known that holding on to mental or physical tension isn’t good for us. The trouble is most of us don’t know what we’re holding on to. So, before we can let anything go we need to know it’s there.
Do the things you want to hold on to keep changing? At this time in our lives we may be holding on to things we haven’t previously, our looks, our roles as mothers, our relationships? Pause for a moment and ask yourself ‘What do I know I’m holding on to?’ and stay present to physical sensation in the body as thoughts and feelings arise. Now ask yourself ‘What do I want to let go of?’
No matter what stage of life we are at there are two things we usually would like to release, physical and mental tension. We all know how good it feels to let go of physical tension, to feel that relief as the body finds more space and ease. We probably all know the similar feeling of letting go of mental tension too. The flexibility of mind that follows letting go of habitual thinking or rumination.
It’s also important recognise that some tension is needed. The pyhsical body needs tension in order to have structure and if we think about tension in the mind as effortful thought, we can see that need that too in order to get things don’t.
This week I will be inviting you to explore, with great kindness, what your body and mind are holding onto and what movements, breaths and imagingations might help you to find some release. Although we know too much tension in the body creates limited movement and too much mental tension creates distress, we also need to remember that tension has a place, it can offer protection and a sense safety. Working with kindness is as always key.
REFLECTIONS
This week you might enjoy taking some time to reflect or inquire into your relationship with release. Here are some ways you would bring it alive this week.
Breathe to release. Be comfortable. Tune into your breathing. As you breathe out notice how it feels in the body. Call to mind words, images and thoughts or physical sensations you would like to let go of. As you breathe out imagine these leaving your body on your breath one by one.
Tense and release. Lie down and be comfortable. Tense and release parts of the body in turn, starting with the head and working your way down to your feet. Notice how the body feels when you hold the tension and how it feels when you let it go.
Release the mind. Be comfortable. Tune into your breathing. Let your mind roam freely from one thought to another. Don’t try to restrain it but don’t let it get stuck either. When you notice you are attaching to a thought move the mind on. Keep unhooking the mind from conversation, narrative, just let it float, roam, roll from one thing to another. Notice what there is to notice when we release our grip on our thoughts.