The Body Keeps the Score
Self-awareness
Incorporate breath work and yoga to get in touch with your body.

Incorporate breath work and yoga to get in touch with your body.

from The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk

How to Apply This

  1. Breathe calmly and deeply to stay relaxed when remembering painful memories.
    Take slow, deliberate, and deep breaths if you’re dealing with painful or horrifying memories. Inflate your diaphragm as you inhale and hold your breath for 4 seconds before exhaling. Hold your breath for another 4 seconds before inhaling again. Notice the air moving in and out of your lungs as you repeat this process. After a while, you’ll calm down and regain control of your body.

  2. Start practicing yoga gradually to uncover hidden memories and feelings.
    Start with easy poses and feel wherever the tension is in your body. What is your body telling you? What images flash across your mind when you hold a particular pose? Tension in an area can indicate unreleased trauma affecting that part of the body. If you feel intense panic when doing hip openers or the Happy Baby pose, it may signify intimacy issues due to sexual abuse.

  3. Write down your thoughts and feelings after every yoga session.
    You can also share your thoughts with a therapist or someone you trust.

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