Dear Walt,
After reading your book, I am TOTALLY convinced about the need for daily meditation for releasing stress.
I have read through the Stress Workbook you recommended. I love that book. I feel good just reading it! It does a wonderful job of explaining the different types of relaxation and meditation. I think it is wonderful that there are so many different options for people to choose from.
Anyway, last night I was relaxing and meditating and a strange feeling came over me. I felt like my body had melted away. I felt very 'light'. I could not hold that feeling long but it was there for a few minutes. Sometimes I will have this 'healing tingling' feeling go up and down my body like a powerful energy. Sometimes it gets so powerful that it is a little scary to me. I had the same feeling in a one session class I had with a teacher schooled in a form of Indian meditation. I think it was Kundalini. The energy was very powerful and I had to stop. I felt I did not know what to do with it. She did guide us through this so that was helpful. The teacher said it was unusual for someone to feel that strong energy in the first session. I think I need a teacher to guide me with that kind of meditation. Is there any benefit from it?
I also feel strongly attracted to Yoga. Stretching feels very good to me. Tai Chi seems like it would be good for me too to free up the tightness in my muscles and MOVE.
Any explanations for these feelings? Are these feelings indicators that I am in a good alpha/theta state to release stress?
What does it FEEL like to be in the optimum place you speak of? I will look for a biofeedback person to help me learn this. I would really like it if you could share what this feels like with us on the BB. Have you had any interesting experiences? What is the Silva technique you use?
Thanks for EVERYTHING,
pamela
In Reply to: Meditation posted by Pamela J. on April 03, 1998 at 19:43:42:
Dear Pam,
What you describe IS one of the common things described by someone being in the alpha/theta state after many years of being so tense they were numb. It sounds like Kundalini might be a shortcut for you.
What you want to focus on is whatever technique that most consistantly produces that feeling for you. The reason we cannot tell people to expect that feeling, & bypass the biofeedback substantiation, is that many people will have very different indications of that level.
Do not be afraid of the feeling. Unfortunately, at first, it will pass no matter what you do. Let is stay as long as it will. Eventually, you will start feeling that way all the time. However, by then, THAT will feel normal to you instead of how you have felt all your life.
Just remember the story of the cartoon character who was hitting himself in the head with the hammer. His friend asked him why he was doing it. He responded that he did it because it felt so good when he stopped! You have been living at the bottom of the barrel for a LONG time. In comparison with that, feeling normal for even a few seconds is a dramatic change!
As you go through this journey, you will have MANY new & wonderful experiences like this. I hope you will continue to share them with the BB participants. Others deserve to know that they, too, have a choice.
Call (512) 722-6391 for information about Silva. Depending on the size of your community, they may be listed in your phone book.
Namaste` Walt
In Reply to: Re: Meditation posted by Walt Stoll on April 05, 1998 at 12:20:34:
Thanks again. So THAT is why the energy surge is almost unbearable? I have been so tense that my body is numb and I wonder if this sort of 'froze' the natural flow of energy in my body. And this probably won't surprise you...when I feel this energy flow, it is really strong in my CHEST and it is hard to breathe! I have TMJ which you said is caused by CHEST bracing and body bracing. So that is what it is.
I hope that with daily meditation I can get the energy flowing properly again. I have lived with years of fear and anxiety. My life was in danger sometimes as a child and young adult. When I was finally living on my own, I realized that I had been so accustomed to feeling afraid that I could not relax. I knew there was no danger because those people were not there, but I still felt horribly tense and afraid. I can't seem to get rid of that feeling. There are still remnants of it.
I hope meditation will rid me of it for good. Prayer has always been helpful but I need to pray for several hours and on a daily basis for me to maintain a feeling of peace.
Thanks Dr. Stoll for the explanation!
Namaste,
pamela
(I asked an Indian what Namaste means and I recall he said it means "I honor the light within you" )
In Reply to: Re: Meditation posted by Pamela on April 05, 1998 at 13:54:06:
Pam,
Wow! Thank you for sharing that part of you. I hope you find the peace that you deserve.
Namaste,
Terrie
Dear Walt,
I am reading your book, the Mind As Healer, Mind As Slayer and the Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook but I still would like a more thorough description of what body bracing and chest bracing is. From what I gather it is the tightening and tensing of muscles due to stress. I have not found the term 'body bracing' in the other books yet. I am so very worried about my condition and trying so frantically to find healing that I am having trouble reading. I keep falling asleep and am having trouble concentrating.
Could you please explain more fully what body bracing is and how it effects the body? I assume that chest bracing effects the muscles in the neck area which then aggravate TMJ.
I don't know if I will ever be able to take the ginger root remedy for LGS (Leaky Gut Syndrome) I know that if I tried to drink it now I would choke.
Are there any risks with deep body massage? I know I should make sure that they do not massage to the point of pain.
Thanks.
Pamela
In Reply to: Re: Meditation posted by Pamela on April 05, 1998 at 13:54:06:
You remind me of myself. I was born in fear and my whole childhood and adolesence was very fearful. I only realized last year that I did not know how to fall asleep normal like my husband can. I have never fallen alseep peacefully,I always had to be very alert as a child for danger. Now that I am aware I am trying to replace my old beliefs of danger with ones of saftey. I read Sylva years ago, I will have to re read it. I send you good thoughts.
In Reply to: Re: Meditation posted by Pamela on April 05, 1998 at 13:54:06:
Dear Pam,
Prayer is one of the effective ways to produce the brain rhythms needed to do this. Prayer is a LOT more effective when it creates these rhythms. By combining the techniques we have been talking about WITH prayer-------
Once you are praying in the alphy/theta rhythm, you will only need 20 minutes twice a day to STAY in the feeling of bliss you now only experience briefly.
When you feel the kind of pressure in your chest as you do it tells me that you are blocked at the heart chakra. Kundalini and Brugh Joy, MD's classic "Joy's Way" would explain that to you AND help you open up that flow.
Let us know how you do as you progress.
Walt
In Reply to: Please Define Body Bracing posted by Pamela J. on April 05, 1998 at 20:04:38:
Dear Pam,
Bracing IS just the part of the fight or flight response that has to do with muscle tension. The whole body gets to the place that it is tense all the time (24 hours a day).
Rremember, massage is a "dance" between the masseur and the person being massaged.
Pain during massage is due to resistance to discomfort. If you experience any discomfort, the way to make it go away instantly is for you to "give in" to the pressure. Part of this responsibility has to do with the masseur's sensitivity to what you are experiencing. Do not be afraid to tell her/him if you DO experience discomfort. However, you will get more profound results if you can allow the masseur to do a deep massage by "going with the flow" rather than resisting it.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Meditation posted by Pamela on April 05, 1998 at 13:54:06:
I just wanted to add a few comments about relaxation/meditation. It is so important to practice several methods (that's where the workbook is so useful). Most people find one or two which are really great for reaching and staying in alpha to reap the benefit of discharging the negative effects of accumulated stress. Also, there are other techniques which people use very effectively in those "emergency" stress related (usually the psychosocial stressors) situations. These help to discharge feelings of low self-esteem, unrealistic expectations, anger, jealosy, frustration, etc. Yes, it is "scary" when one first experiences tingling, energy flow and visualizations with deep relaxation. I laugh at Walt's description of normal. I have been telling people in my relaxation workshops for years that " it is normal circulation returning!".
Just enjoy the peacefulness and learn to relax and "go with it". You are safe and no one can harm you. We are all on this road together. I hope these comments help someone.
Nemaste` Linda
In Reply to: Re: Meditation posted by Linda Hynds on April 08, 1998 at 11:51:44:
Dear Linda,
Thanks for the note. It warms my heart to get assistance for this BB from people like you!!!!!!!!!!
Namaste` Walt
In Reply to: Re: Meditation posted by Walt Stoll on April 10, 1998 at 09:41:36:
Dear Walt,
You are welcome. Likewise, I appreciate the support I get from you.
Nemaste` Linda
In Reply to: I apologize posted by Terrie Milligan on April 13, 1998 at 08:09:18:
Terrie,
My heart goes out to you, girl. I've been there and know how hard it can be to turn things around and begin taking care of yourself. I tried to learn to meditate, and experienced only frustration, for years. And it just became something else to beat myself up with. Recently I found something that works for me: I use ear plugs! The little squishy foam things that you compress and stuff into your ears. It's amazing how with those things in, I can quiet down and go inward, and do a simple breath awareness meditation, and the time flies! I'm experiencing deeper relaxation with this than I've ever known. Maybe it'll help you. Don't give up, but be gentle with yourself.
Blessings,
Jenny
In Reply to: Re: meditation/relaxation--a suggestion posted by Jenny on April 13, 1998 at 08:29:53:
Dear Jenny,
Thanks for the suggestion--a good one!
The rest of your note should help as much in a different way.
Namaste` Walt
In Reply to: Re: meditation/relaxation--a suggestion posted by Jenny on April 13, 1998 at 08:29:53:
Thanks for the ear plug suggestion. Both my wife and I have been struggling with meditation. This may help.
Peter
I am currently enrolled in a Stress Management class and we are studing different relaxation methods. Autogenic training is new to me, but I feel has excellent application to managing everyday stress. Are there sources available to purchase video tapes to assist in learing the proper techniques?
In Reply to: Re: Autogenic training posted by J Miller on April 15, 1998 at 20:06:49:
Dear J.,
Your instructor should be your best resource for these materials. Autogenics was first introduced in Germany in the 20s and is one of the best ways for people with "bracing" to get into the brain rhythms I have been describing for so many years here on the internet. STILL, I believe no one should do ANY approach for more than several weeks before checking its effectiveness with a biofeedback session.
THERE IS NO ONE WAY TO ACHIEVE WHAT WORKS FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL---NO MATTER HOW GOOD IT FEELS.
Walt
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