October Newsletter: Fear

All Humanity Newsletter | October 2021

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Greetings...

Fear and the Body

Fear is a universal emotion and often mediates the connection between mind and body. Simply put, the body makes the mind feel vulnerable. It guarantees an ending. The mind typically abhors this kind of vulnerability like nature abhors a vacuum. In fact, almost every human belief system that gives a pre-eminent role to the mind – religious, philosophical, or otherwise – also tends to debase the body. Add to this, how profoundly unknown our bodies remain to most of us. Its inner working is like a dark cave, upon which life as we know it is profoundly dependent. This is one of those thoughts that is better not to think about too deeply…which is exactly my point.

In a yoga practice, this fear of the body finds many expressions, usually in the form of self-critical judgments: is my body capable enough, does it look right, are my poses as good as my neighbors? All of these judgments are ultimately expressions of fear. Add some trauma, loss, and disability to this fear and the judgments deepen. The body comes to represent entrapment, powerlessness, frustrations, becomes the source of separation, marginalization, and on and on.

Except, what if the body isn’t the problem? What if it is part of the solution? The body tempers the mind, grounds it and nourishes it. Practicing yoga poses transforms the body from an object of fear into an ally, from an adversary into a much-needed companion. In a yoga pose, the mind does not teach the body. Instead, experiences felt through the body deepen human potential. The integration of mind with body holds the promise of transforming this existential fear into a form of directed freedom.

We attempt to share this truth at Mind Body Solutions. We share it with people living with trauma, loss, and disability, but we know it is good for all of us.

Matthew Sanford

Founder, Mind Body Solutions

Pose of the month...

Prasarita variation

Although fear is universal, our experiences with it are highly individual. It can serve as a natural survival mechanism or a learned emotion and be rational or a phobia. While it is common, it is complex.

Treatments, techniques, and therapies are often prescribed to manage fear. At Mind Body Solutions, awareness of the mind-body relationship, gathering energy inward and expanding outward, and exploring the inner body experience bring relief. Yoga invites the mind to drop into the body without judgment. We sit with things just as they are. Grounding through the base and moving from the inside out allows for continuity and composure. By embracing the authority and boundary of the body’s container, we create safety.

Sit or stand with the feet directly under the knees - or with legs wide if that is available to you. Bring the arms to the side body, extending the fingers toward the floor. Lift under the collar bones without arching the lower back and extend down through the heels. Feel the breath and coordinate it with movement. From the center of the sternum take the arms wide, parallel to the floor with palms facing down. Pause and dwell in the body. Continue grounding through the base and shoulder blades. Lengthen from the center of the elbows through the wrists. Focus on the active places and the empty spaces. Like an inflating balloon, expand in every direction. Hold for several breaths and release, maintaining the length in the spine and the sensations of spaciousness and stability.

Options:

Bring the legs wide. Sense the connection between the wrists and the ankles; the elbows and the knees; the shoulders and the hips

Sit in a chair and point the feet straight ahead, feet under the knees, knees in front of the hips. Do the pose. Have partner briefly press the heel of their hands directly into the knees, then release and repeat

From behind, have partner lightly support the arms between the shoulders and the elbows

Benefits:

Hold the ends of a yoga strap in each hand while extending the arms wide

Rotate palms facing up, notice the effects; rotate palms down, notice the effects

Lie down face up. Take arms and legs wide, extending them away from the midline and getting bigger in space. Bring the limbs toward the body, and then away from the body as if making a “snow angel”

Embodies confidence, attentiveness, and purpose

The body teaches the mind

Strengthens the back, shoulders, and arms; creates space in the spine, side body, chest, and back

Fortitude cultivated by recognition and respect for the boundary of the body

Relief from anxiety and fatigue

Just in case ...prepares one to ward off encounters with bears, public speaking jitters, or extreme boredom

Going further...

Facing Fear in a Traumatized World ~ a video talk by Tara Brach

Facing Fear in a Traumatized World, with Tara Brach

Excerpt from Tara Brach's website:

"Unprocessed fear cuts us off from our full aliveness and spirit, and it separates us from others. This talk looks at how we bring healing to the trauma and deep fears that cause us to dissociate from our body. We focus on ways we increase safety, diminish shame and then, with a courageous, embodied and compassionate presence, learn to contact and integrate fear into our larger awareness."

Doing the work...

Intro to Adaptive Yoga II / Online Workshop Nov 9-11

Calling all MBS-trained yoga teachers and healthcare providers!

Prepare for more thought-provoking, sensation-based conversations, additional time to refine your teaching in breakout rooms, and journey with Matthew into activation of the inner body.

This workshop will give you the opportunity, under the guidance of Matthew and MBS staff, to work with other participants and an adaptive yoga student, exploring ways in which yoga is expressed in their body.

15 contact Yoga Alliance CE hours

Nov 9-11 / 9am-3pm Central Time

Pre Requisite: Intro to Adaptive Yoga I

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE