The Power in Practicing Stillness of the Body
In today’s world, stillness can be hard to come by, as there’s so much going on, so much noise, both inside and outside of us. So many endless tasks on the to-do list and drawn in by screens all around us. Despite this, stillness is possible, and it is within our reach whenever we need it. And there’s a power in practicing stillness of the body as well as the mind.
You can cultivate stillness whilst walking through the chaos of a busy street. The key here is to create an intention of stillness. To have some intentionality about how you’re carrying yourself in any given moment and to focus on what is within your control is truly powerful.
And stillness is powerful, being still allows us time and space to self-reflect, actually hear our thoughts and replenish our energy stores.
Stillness also soothes our nervous system. It produces the anti-stress antidote by allowing us some peace. We can do this in a way of being present without totally checking out and being numb to our experience.
Stillness can look different at different times and in different situations. For me, my best still moments are when I turn off all man-made stimulus around me. I shut my eyes to calm my thoughts and I focus my attention on just one thing, making this moment as basic and simple as possible.
Stillness Breathwork Techniques
I start with my breath, taking slow, deep breaths. By doing this, I induce my parasympathetic system, which slows down my heart rate, allowing me to feel calm. And I practice this whenever I feel the need to, and anywhere, regardless of where I am, sat at my desk, in nature, in the supermarket, in my car (when parked up of course).
Sometimes I direct my thoughts to a soothing image in my mind’s eye that evokes a sense of stillness. Sometimes this is a forest, sometimes a beach, and sometimes the top of a high hill looking over the landscape of rolling countryside. I do this with the breath and really feel the stillness take over my body, through all of the organs and systems, right down to every cell of my being. It’s taken me a while to get to this point, it takes patience and practice. It wasn’t easy at first but now it’s as easy as flicking a switch.
There is no right or wrong to stillness, it’s whatever feels right for you.
Stillness of the Body
In our modern hectic lives, stress and overwork can wreak havoc on our bodies. Ongoing stress can cause issues in everything from the cardiovascular to nervous systems. By finding physical stillness, we allow ourselves to just be, and to be fully present in our lives.
A great way to get started is with my 3 Golden Gifts and Deeper Wisdom to help you practice stillness of the body.
Golden Gifts
1. Daily Solitude
Seek solitude and perspective, even as little as 20 minutes a day allows you to reset and refocus. A full-on morning of demands can leave your brain overfilled with tasks, deadlines, other people’s wants and needs of you. And this leaves your body drained of energy and fatigued. Solitude gives you time and space to sort through those thoughts and priorities to see what’s really important for you to do.
Deeper Wisdom:
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” — Albert Einstein
Daydreaming is not just for kids or considered a waste of time anymore! Scientists now agree that daydreaming is normal, healthy and a positive brain function. You tap into your subconscious mind, which is the source of creativity and problem solving.
2. Learn to sit
Learn to sit and do nothing when you feel called to do so. For some reason, we feel like we never have the time, or this is considered lazy or unproductive. The overlooked gift here is the act of not doing anything can reap many benefits. It’s a physical reminder to the mind and soul to just be and breathe into the moment.
Deeper Wisdom:
This can be difficult for most of us, as we are distracted by the idea there’s so much to do. We’ve learned to move, to do, to multitask. Give yourself permission to try it for just 5 minutes to start with, just 5 minutes a day, and see how you feel after a week of doing this. I can bet you will reap the benefits and will want to continue your practice.
3. Sleep
Get enough sleep and rein in your workaholism. There isn’t a set number of hours that works for everyone, but generally you should aim for at least 7 hours sleep per night. If you’re not rested, how can you possibly face the challenges that come with your daily life?
Deeper Wisdom:
Our body loves a routine and has an internal clock, so sometimes we have to give it a re-set. This involves going to bed at the same time each night and getting up at the same time every morning, even on the weekends. Like anything, this can be a challenge at first, but after 7 days it becomes easier, and after that, even easier.
So, let’s summarise those Golden Gifts again:
- Daily Solitude
- Learn to sit
- Sleep
Remember, just because the world around us is in full-blown chaos, it doesn’t mean that we need to join in. Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary you can retreat to at any time you choose.
Take care to pay attention to what you feel you need in your life. Seeking support from a coach could be the thing you do differently to finally find the peace you’ve been seeking.
I know how difficult it is to make changes or even consider making changes when you’re feeling anxious, depressed, burnt out and exhausted. This is where I can help, with my one-to-one coaching, I help women awaken their limitless higher potential, ignite their powerhouse, and move forward with divine soul-driven purpose.
To find out more, book a call with me: https://puravidayourlife.kartra.com/calendar/ThePuraVidaWayEnquiry
I help women replace fear with faith, replace weakness with strength, and replace internal struggle with confidence to effectively claim their life back in just 3 months. So, they can ‘be more’, ‘do more’, and ‘have more’, and fully embody their inner warrioress to breakthrough all that holds them back.
Are you ready to take your first step towards a happier, healthier, fulfilled and more conscious life?
Thank you for joining me and I look forward to seeing you again next week for Pura Vida Your Life Happenings for insight, inspiration and more Golden Gifts and Deeper Wisdom to help you live a happier, healthier and more conscious life.
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