Often people find themselves feeling tense and in pain.
The interesting thing about pain is that because it is a teacher, it tells us not to overdo it or to pay attention to our experience. However, once the initial message is sent to the brain, it is important to remember not to store away that pain for good. Once it makes its home in the body, it decides to live there in the cells, often creating more pain or perhaps even illness. So after some rest for a day or two, it’s time to bring your awareness back to the injury. Hold the intention to “be” with and relieve your pain. Keep the body subtle and restful with motion and harmony
I like to encourage my clients to feel into the discomfort and pain in a way that they can trust their own body’s reactions. It’s one small step at a time. This is called, “engaging the soft pain.” This should be an experience where you feel deeply with release but not enough that it puts you back into a defensive mode. This is not an exercise to test your limits, but rather a place to explore your sensations and feelings in a safe and healing way.
Each person if different. Some people heal better with light touch, and others with deeper contact. Communication and boundaries must be respected and appreciated for the body to unravel the layers of protection and pain. Dialoguing throughout a session is important at first to learn to understand what helps and what does not.
It also takes commitment to stay with your process as you work with a therapist. Whether physically, emotionally or spiritually, layers will reveal themselves that may be uncomfortable. But it is with perseverance and resiliency that you will pass through the temporary pain until the deeper wound is unlatched. Allow your healing process to help you to grow as a whole person. It is in allowing all of our experience to open that we find true meaning in life.
Remember: Pain does not need to run your life. It is only meant to be an indicator to bring mindfulness to the Self. If you want more freedom, vitality and joy, it is necessary to stand in your strengths and feel into all that you are.
Moving through the soft pain…
