Why Slow Down?
The nervous system is constantly engaged in exchanging and interpreting the information between the body and its surrounding environment. If you’re leading a busy life then imagine how much work it is for your nervous system to keep everything going. Or if you’re bored and unstimulated in life, but having worried and anxious mind, your system still doesn’t have a proper break. You know that feeling of needing a break!
Feeling safe and comfortable is even the nervous system’s priority (that need doesn’t come out of nowhere). Most people don't feel safe and comfortable all the time, so in order to deal with the feeling of unease in situations, they override it with talking and movement. We are overcompensating a lot. There is not enough time to reflect so we try to get through adding even more tension to life. Naturally, to go to the other direction, we need to first decide to take time. With enough time we become aware of these patterns of extra doing.
Through this process, you will learn experientially that the body and mind always go together. If you’re not aware of your behavioural patterns, you don’t have a choice of response. When the nervous system calms down because you’re not asked to try to calm it down or do anything special about it, your body will gently let go of some holding. Your mind becomes less obsessive and the overthinking will subside. You haven't thought about changing your breath, but it has changed. You're easier with yourself, you're not achieving the state of being, you're not afraid to fail. Your nervous system is quieter.
For me this fills the gap between meditation and exercise. I’m brought to a place where I haven't tried to let go or get strong, but allowed the letting go happen - it is kind of a non-doing state in order to build resilience. Here I am staying awake and aware, while feeling easy and relaxed. I don’t breathe in and out deeply or hold my breath in between, my clarity of thinking is what brings on a better breathing: there is more oxygen in the brain, more ease in movements. This experience is why you’re coming to the lesson - the experience of healthy functioning of mind and body and new quality of the nervous system.
A beautiful thing about the nervous system is that it will remember. After repeated experiences it knows to go back to quiet by itself. We just need to become aware of and offer ourselves that option..
