Blog Post 73: Different Ways of Staying Connected to our Bodies
On our podcast this week, we spoke with integrative physician Dr. Bojana Janokoic Weatherly about how heightened levels of adrenaline and cortisol can build up in our bodies as we hold onto stress. She shared how this can lead to mental and physical issues like migraines, insomnia, stomach issues, and more. One interesting stress-relieving strategy she mentioned - which we had not heard of - is a “shaking meditation.” This type of meditation can be very effective as a way of releasing excess stress on the nervous system for people who have experienced trauma. Many Type C people have experienced trauma in one form or another - and have a difficult time being still in their bodies as a result.
The theory behind the shaking meditation is based on how mammals often react when stressed or emotional. For example, animals may shake after a life-threatening encounter, and humans shake during stressful situations, like shaking with anger during an argument or having trembling hands while public speaking. Humans, unlike our animal friends who can quite literally “shake it off”, learned to repress emotions, sometimes from an early age. Parenting has come a long way, but many parents still tell kids to stop crying or stop yelling - and sometimes dole out severe punishments to control behavior. And of course we have talked extensively about Type C people repressing emotions as a way to keep themselves safe in childhood. A shaking meditation can help to shake out bottled up feelings. For more on this fascinating technique, click here.
Type C people are frequently disconnected from our bodies; we are too often in our heads, worrying about disappointing other people. We ignore the signals our bodies give us and soldier on. Over time, this leads to a buildup of stress and emotions that can be associated with higher levels of stress hormones and inflammation. I (Anna) know this sounds bizarre, but I’ve had a lifelong issue with a nauseous stomach, and it’s only been within the last few years that I’ve become more aware of it and how it drives some of my decision-making, especially when it comes to food choices. For example, I feel much better physically when I limit carbs, but find myself reaching for crackers to settle my stomach - which works in the moment but then I feel worse later.
Physical activities that require focus and concentration can go a long way to helping us to be present in our bodies. If shaking meditation doesn’t sound appealing, other ideas are dance classes - Zumba, salsa, ballet, hip hop. Yoga is also a wonderful way to tune into what’s happening in our bodies. Sometimes it can feel like a lot to add something else to our routine. Instead of making a big commitment, you might try one of these suggestions one time to see if it’s worth putting time into or setting aside five or 10 minutes to try the shaking meditation or a dance workout on YouTube instead of committing to an entire class. Experiment until you find something that works for you.