As a Biodynamic Craniosacral practitioner, I hold a resonance for the health of your system and an inherent trust in your body’s natural ability to heal. And there are ways to support this, as your body remembers its wholeness and health. One of the ways - is the exploration of resourcing for body, mind, heart and soul. Resourcing, if you’re not familiar, is the practice of inviting the mind and body to attune to a sense of safety or goodness - like a hug from a friend, being with family and loved ones, connecting to nature. This process of orienting to “okayness” begins the process of teaching your nervous system that it can experience stress, and then come back to a state of calm. While in a session this is something we explore together, here are a few self resourcing practices you could consider trying at home in between sessions:
Grounding exercises help you centre and anchor yourself to the present moment, and can be helpful when you experience a stressor or anxiety. Here are a few grounding techniques to try at home:
Run your hands under water. Start by running cold water over your hands, and then switch to warm water. Focus on how the temperature feels on each part of your hand, and how the sensations vary with the temperature change. Do this for a few minutes until you begin to feel a sense of calm.
Move your body in ways that feel most comfortable to you. Try a variety of movements - dancing, jogging in place, stretching, walking.
Try a focussed breathing exercise, such as the box breath. Start by inhaling to the count of 4, holding for a count of 4, exhaling for a count of 4, and then finally holding for another count of 4. Repeat for a total of 4 rounds.
Self-regulation is about guiding yourself through your emotions so you can shift gears when they’re leading you to feel distressed. You can try some of these easy at home techniques to help you self-regulate:
Hug yourself. This can help you feel contained, which may make you feel safe. Hold the hug for as long as you need.
Try tapping your body all over, from your feet to your head with cupped hands or finger beds. You can also try squeezing different parts of your body, instead of tapping them. This will help you with grounding, but also help your body recognize your boundaries — which can also give you a sense of being contained and safe.
Although these are just a few ways to begin the exploration of how to resource your body, mind, heart and soul, they are a great start. And as you move back into your day, there is an invitation for practice. Notice...what is it that brings you back to present?