Ever Noticed How Much We Don’t Notice?

Have you ever noticed how much we don’t notice? We don’t notice when we hoist a shoulder to an earlobe when reaching for an object. We don’t notice when we clamp our arms to our sides when we walk, or that we lead with our heads (maybe the mind can’t wait for the rest of the body to get to its destination.) How can we care about, let alone change, something we don’t notice?

We move on automatic pilot, relying on unconscious habit patterns that are programmed and maintained through neural signals. To make a difference in these unconscious patterns of movement, or lack of movement, we go back to our first three steps described in earlier blogs. We make a conscious decision to do so (Step 1) and then set an intention (Step 2). To change these patterns we need to begin to discern how we move or where we don’t move. To create such awareness (Step 3) we use movement.

Step 4:  Movement

Movement – subtle, mindful and rhythmical – can begin to ‘speak’ to, or access, the central nervous system, a non-intellectual part of the brain that affects neural signals – like those that help keep self-limiting patterns in place. We want to create new neural signals that support our intention to, say, loosen tight muscles and ease joint mobility.

We perform mindful (you could say meditative) movements, in a particular manner, on one side of the body. We notice how that side feels in contrast to how the other side feels. This allows the non-intellectual brain to begin to notice the difference between the two sides. The effect is similar to inputting data into a computer. Once the data ‘registers’, it becomes the basis for the brain, nervous system etc. to begin to help us create new neural signals that help reprogram old patterns.

Simultaneously, we kinesthetically begin to feel how we actually (vs what we assumed) use our bodies and the effect of that usage. That kinesthetic awareness informs subsequent movement, which increases awareness, which guides further movement, which expands awareness . . . a spiral of symbiotic relationships emerge, working from within and without.

The nature of the movement is important, but not conveniently described here. Among the essential tools are attitudes of healing as well as visualization, breathing, self-massage and a lot of repetition. In my opinion and experience these mindbody methods, combined with Intention, Awareness, Movement (I AM) create a powerful process that supports transformation of self-limiting patterns, whether physical, emotional or behavioral.

The resources are inside us. We just need a road map to find and use what we already have; once we do, it’s ours for life. For we boomers, it makes for graceful aging with ease. This doesn’t mean we won’t ever need to seek help from other professionals. I receive therapeutic massage and chiropractic in addition to my personal movement practice.

Share your comments; they are appreciated. This is a huge topic and I am only glancing the surface. To learn more about the fascinating internal communication network click on Articles (on the right). I also recommend the book Molecules of Emotion by the brilliant researcher Candace Pert, PhD.  See you next week.

Question for You:  How do you address unwanted patterns?

Feeling like the Rope in Tug o’ War

My big sister has been visiting for almost two weeks. We only get to visit every few years, so I’ve  chosen to spend as much quality time with her as possible. I wish I’d made that decision last week when my heart said to do so. Unfortunately, my mind said:  Complete the blog post and publish it on Monday; be responsible.

I didn’t get the blog post completed in spite of spending days on it. And it really wasn’t about being responsible. It was a family-of-origin, self-limiting pattern of emotions and behaviors.

One of my intentions is to honor my gut instincts, my heart’s direction. Last week, when I didn’t go out with my sister and others but stayed back writing (poorly) and editing (badly) the post, I was aware that something was very off:  I wasn’t in synch with myself, I felt at odds. I felt like the rope in a game of tug of war. But I didn’t heed what my instincts were telling me – which always leads to some form of unhappiness or regret.

The good news is it’s never too late to move forward, and to let go of attachment to self-blame (a common reaction.) I accept that my choice last week came from an old habit. Without judgment I can move on, feeling the rightness of this choice in my body and my being – my proving rods. It leaves me with a feeling of lightness, joy and harmony. The tug o’ war is over.

So today I’m not writing the more complex post I’d intended for last week. Today, I’m honoring my self – not self in the selfish sense, self in a deeper sense, not elevated enough to use an upper case S, but higher than the self of wants and self-centeredness. And I’m honoring my sister and the ties we have:  love, cellular connection, history.  Our time together gives my life richness.

In making this decision I used the same principles I’ve been writing about. I was aware of being off, out of synch with my intention. I moved internally:  changed my angle of perception to realize there is a simple and loving solution that goes beyond black and white considerations of responsible or not responsible. I chose that solution and am acting on it.

This is a small example of adding movement to intention and awareness for transformational purposes, the subject of my un-post last week. Here it’s been used to change a self-limiting behavioral and emotional pattern.  The same principles help transform self-limiting physical patterns to increase mobility and relieve pain.  There’s much more to it, of course, but this is the scent of the essence.

Have a great week and please share your comments.

Coming soon: Part III of an interview with Naturopathic Physician and Homeopath, Dr. Ananda Kramer, on Digestive Harmony and Transformational Healing.

Question for you:  What happens when you change your angle of perception?

Your Ancestral Diet and Digestive Harmony with Dr. Ananda Kramer

Today we begin Part I of a series of interviews with Dr. Ananda Kramer of Portland, Oregon and Chicago, Illinois on Transformational Healing and Digestive Harmony. I have had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Ananda professionally and personally for many years.

MMS: Welcome, Dr. Ananda. Please tell us about you.

AK: I am both a Naturopathic Physician as well as a classical homeopath. I have been licensed in Oregon as a Naturopathic Physician since 2001 and have been studying and practicing homeopathy for over 20 years. I chose to become a doctor to further my education in medicine and chose Naturopathy because it has a philosophy compatible with homeopathy. They share the understanding that the human body has an innate ability to heal itself.

I see myself more as a healer than as a doctor; there’s a difference for me.  As a doctor I am, of course, interested in relieving pain, for example, but as a healer, I’m concerned with more than that.  I am interested in individuals reaching their true potential.  This would include living a creative, joyful and purposeful life.

MMS: How do you work with the body’s innate ability to heal itself?

AK: From the naturopathic side, I reduce stress on the body so it is freer to heal itself. I consider improper diet as creating stress – just like overwork would, or lack of sleep. Stress blocks the body’s ability to heal itself.

MMS:  There is an abundance of information on what foods to eat and not eat in the media. What’s your perspective on it?

AK:  We need to discover the foods that create disharmony in the body in order to have digestive health. I’ve come to understand that people have an individual diet that is right for them.

MMS:  Can you explain?

AK:  As a homeopath I select one medicine that fits each person and I have found that it works best to do this with diet also.   I call this finding our Ancestral Diet, looking for the diet that is consistent with our particular genetic background.  Digestive problems are a problem today because:  [1] we have migrated from where our ancestors came from; [2] we also have, for generations, intermarried with those from different genetic backgrounds;  [3] we eat foods flown in from around the world, not local food; and [4] foods are processed with many additives. So in the modern world it is a challenge to know what diet is right for us.

MMS:  If we look at the diets of people native to, say, Asia, Europe, Africa, they are very different. Are you saying people have a genetic predisposition to digest certain foods rather than other foods, the foods their ancestors ate for centuries?

AK:  That’s right.

MMS: Thank you, Dr. Ananda. This is valuable information. So many of us are looking for the foods that will make and keep us healthy, especially we aging boomers.

We’ll continue in Part II as Dr. Ananda explains the mystery of digestive harmony and how to find the foods that suit our own nature. Dr. Ananda can also be found at http://www.doctorananda.com   See you next week, meantime share your questions and comments.