Quote of the Week 9/5/11

“You can translate anything, whether physical, mental, or spiritual, into muscular tension.”

This quote reminds us of just how much our everyday lives affect our physical well-being. Often times we forget to take time for our bodies when we’re busy, and may even forget we have a body at all. But everything you do, whether it’s working long hours to finish a project, stressing about a final exam, or going through a spiritual adjustment, is reflected in your physical self. Often times this manifests as holding tension in one or two very specific spots, usually spots that are overlooked in the natural course of daily life and frequently ones that are particular and consistent to you. It could be your jaw, your abdominals, your calves; just about any muscle group can be a “worry spot.” Finding out where your “worry spot” is can go a long way towards releasing your excess tension.

If your life’s gotten busy or stressful, it is all the more important to pay attention to how you use yourself. Notice where you want to hold onto tension, and see if you can let go, even for just a few minutes. The bigger and more complicated the action we attempt, the more exaggerated our habits become. So you may find that that little bit of tension in your lower back becomes a spasm when you’re working 80 hours a week, or your headaches get worse during a spiritual crisis. It’s just your body’s way of showing you how your actions have affected it. Take a few moments to sit back and release, and your body will thank you.

Note: I’m sorry this post is a day late; I was recovering from moving and sending my friends off on their return trip to Champaign. I could use some quiet reflection on this topic myself these days!