It's Prime Time for Recovery from Stress!

By Karen Pearle

Now is a particularly stressful time. As economic recovery is beginning in our country we also need to heal on an internal level. It's going to take a while to wind down as our deepest inner resources have been overused to cope with the difficulties of our everyday lives. How can we find the way to slow down and feel calm and satisfied again?

When we are under stress our bodies respond as if we are in a continual emergency. In "fight or flight mode," our breathing and heart rate accelerate and our digestive functions slow down. The normal, regular maintenance and repair of the body is disrupted. We may feel tired and sluggish or agitated. Or we may not be aware of stress until some part of our body begins to break down and we have a symptom, i.e., a digestive disorder, depression, headache or sleep disturbance. Symptoms are signals the body uses to tell us to pay attention and to seek healing.

My Chi Nei Tsang healing practice began from my interest in the internal organs of the body. Most healing modalities don't pay attention to these vital organs and I was very curious to learn more about them. To my amazement I found that our internal organs— stomach, liver, intestines, gall bladder, etc.-—are the center from which we experience life. The brain is where we interpret our experience, but first we "feel" on a gut level. The organs of the abdomen influence our whole body experience.

There's a deep intelligence within us, and during and after stressful events our organs "remember" and "clench" to protect us from further harm. With Chi Nei Tsang I use a gentle massage on the abdomen to help people to relax the grip they have on internal reactions to past events. It's not only what has happened to us that is challenging, but that our feelings often were not validated at the time. We didn't have enough support. So a fundamental part of healing is getting the validation and support we need when we are feeling painful emotions. With stress, the energy tends to be concentrated in the upper body: shoulders, head, and chest. As energy moves down to include the lower body we feel more calm and focused and grounded

What can we do on our own to promote self-healing? Right now, most of us need more sleep. Rest and sleep are central to healing. When we sleep the nervous system unwinds and we replenish our resources for the challenges that lie ahead. That's why after a good sleep we feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle the world.

Sleep as much as you can. Drink plenty of water and eat well at regular times. Find invigorating exercise which is enjoyable, i.e., walking and swimming. Here is a simple exercise that will prevent winter depression and uplift our spirits:

Sunning exercise: For a few minutes, twice a day, stand or sit completely still facing the sun and close and relax your eyes. (Move your eyes slowly beneath your closed lids and never look directly at the sun). Now let the soothing rays of the sun penetrate your eyes, your brain and all the nerves in your body. This revitalizes your entire nervous system. Slowly open your eyes – you will feel like you are wearing sunglasses for a moment. The body has produced serotonin, which uplifts your feelings and will then produce melatonin, which naturally promotes deep sleep. During dark winter days or if you have to stay inside, you can do this exercise by imagining the sun on your eyes.

Seek out supportive friends who listen to you without trying to fix or change you. And simplify your life, getting rid of activities and things you don't need.

Put your concerns on hold and go outside and breathe some fresh air! Outside, feel you feet on the ground and soak up the greenness of the trees and colors of flowers. The good news is that we have a tremendous capacity to heal and unwind from stress. With rest and care we can rejuvenate and heal, regain our vitality and optimism, so life can be more fun again!

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