Modified progressive muscle tension exercise

Beginning to get the brain and body communicating again

Back when VCRs were still the way people made video recordings I made the most hilarious yoga video called “punk yoga” where I set up a tripod and tried to record myself doing basic yoga moves with no relaxation or breathing. “You don’t have to relax or breathe to do yoga!” I said. This is not that, but is probably about the same production value.

But seriously, doing short, embodiment exercises without trying to force the body into relaxation, but rather focusing on helping the brain connect to the body and recognize the body is a key part of trauma healing. We hold so many trauma patterns in our body, in the bones, muscles, joints, skin. Bring conscious movement in a tolerable amount of time frame without dissociation really helps the unconscious, bracing patterns shift.

It is too hot today to really describe what I mean, but I’ll write more about it next time.