"We need to give ourselves time to allow the nervous and restless energy to settle in our bodies. When the body rests, the mind rests, and we feel a profound sense of contentment and relaxation. When the mind relaxes...it is available to us, to serve us or at least help us understand what's up. This space...means less vulnerability, so our thoughts and emotions cannot simply shove us around and rough us up as they usually do. All our fatigue falls away. The heart clears. The body lightens and feels as weightless as a feather."
-Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
One of the most helpful things we can do to reduce stress and foster well-being is to slow down, become aware of our bodies and our emotions, and access that part of our nervous system that supports healing. Enlisting the relaxation response and moving out of the stress response can promote positive emotions, reduce muscle tension, enhance learning and concentration, and quiet the mind. This can help us to connect with and move forward in the direction of our goals. There are numerous techniques and practices that foster peace, clarity, and well-being.
Meditation and mindfulness practices, in their various forms, are one way to access this state. With repetition and consistent practice they can in effect train the mind to find a place of calm and ease. Other practices include guided imagery, restorative yoga, and/or movement meditations such as qi gong and gentle yoga. People may meet with me once or over the course of several sessions to become familiar with techniques and develop an approach they can use regularly in their lives.