Pain can be a great teacher. Pain can also be viewed as just an indicator of resistance to movement. Pain can be a knee-jerk reaction to conditions, a tendency to brace, stiffen, tense, breath hold.
Of course this and educational blog, and the context of this discussion is referring to someone who already has sought medical attention and has chronic pain.
Ray unpacks a pain management mindfulness strategy that first uses finding the path of least resistance. The path of least resistance is the path to the most allowing of well-being.
“It is much easier to remove resistance at 5 mph than 100 mph. Really, we want to go 100 mph with no resistance moving and on the most allowing path. Get the trees out of the way of the path.” -Abraham.
Turn inward is the first step.
The strategy starts by collecting data, slowing down, and become aware of thoughts, feelings, patterns of movement and breathing or not breathing. Find positions or movement of the least resistance. When in distress, move away from the “hot” areas.
“You have to begin to do what is unnatural-give in during the midst of a crisis” -Joe Dispenza, DC.
You may have a hard time wrapping your head around this. The path of least resistance here is indirect. We are used to doing things directly like stretching tight muscles, mobilize stiff joints tight, strengthen what is weak.
Self-soothing priority #1 when in pain.
When in distress no physical energy is required, just more deliberate focus. Relax into the pain, avoid tensing. I know, not always easy.
Evidence-based pain science is now questioning being in a state of fight/flight/fright activity and increased electrical activity in the brain. If most pain meds slow the electrical activity it would make sense to try to do that naturally.
Joe Dispenza, DC talks about in his meditation books EEG brain wave activity, (Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta brain activity). When you step from the medical model into neuroplasticity and quantum, Joe points out the impossible becomes possible when you train your brain to move up and down the scale of brain waves. Ray's pain management mindfulness strategy also uses buzzwords and affirmations-similar to what Joe says- to help execute your true intention of moving comfortable and easier.
Most of our population in a state of fight/flight/fright activity- using high frequency beta wave brain activities resulting in pain, insomnia, etc. We are gifted by nature in Beta waves for quick focus, protection from threats, and to get out of danger. However, we become overfocused. Our perception, behaviors attitudes and emotions are altered. You don’t want to be in a frequent state of fight/flight/fright activity.
By turning inward, you change your physiology. You move away from fight/flight/fright into a more relaxed, ordered, alpha wave state.
Worth noting, Joe Dispenza’s meditation about moving into alpha wave uses almost the same instructions as one of Moshe Feldenkrais movement lessons. The theme was aware of space around you and distances between body parts.
References
The teachings of Anat Baniel and Moshe Feldenkrais.
The Teachings of Abraham. Audio recordings.
You are the placebo. Making your mind matter. By Joe Dispenza, DC.
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