If only I may grow: firmer, simpler, quieter, warmer.
--Dag Hammarskjold, Markings
The other day I was researching the topic of meditation and lo and behold, one of the things that came up was a no frills, straightforward, sans woo woo compilation of serenity producing ideas. Back in my college days I was at one time a pre-med major and science has always fascinated me, particularly the field of neuropsychology which back then was in its total infancy. It's exciting to realize that knowledge has advanced to the point where we now all have access to on-the-street information, personal power and tools to reach for a better experience of life. In other words, no matter who we are or what we're doing today we have the simple choice of whether or not to move ourselves closer to wisdom's edge or stay where we are. Activating the Parasympathetic Wing of Your Nervous System is reproduced here courtesy of WiseBrain.org, a site run by the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience & Contemplative Wisdom. Neuropsychologist Rick Hanson (www.RickHanson.net) author of Buddha's Brain, is one of the founders and he always has some great practical and useful things to say. I'm willing to bet we could all use a little more activation of the parasympathetic wing of our nervous systems today so take a look at what I found on the WiseBrain site:
PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
HISTORY
NOTES
If the parasympathetic system goes into overdrive, the individual may freeze up completely, unable to act at all. As in all things, care must be taken to balance neurological responses. Remember that stress and anxiety are natural and important.
METHOD
These
exercises stimulate the part of your nervous system that creates
positive feeling, thus reducing stress, enhancing positive emotion, and
strengthening the body's defenses. This part, the parasympathetic wing,
evolved along with the sympathetic wing (the part that responds to
threats and excitement) to relax you once anxiety-inducing situations
have passed. By purposefully activating the parasympathetic wing of
your nervous system (or PNS), you can take advantage of its natural
cool-down effects and stop the cycle of chronic stress.
HISTORY
The
parasympathetic wing of the nervous system has been with us long before
we were even human; it's a crucial part of every animal's brain.
However, it wasn't until very recently with modern advances in
neuroimaging that we could see how the PNS works for us.
If the parasympathetic system goes into overdrive, the individual may freeze up completely, unable to act at all. As in all things, care must be taken to balance neurological responses. Remember that stress and anxiety are natural and important.
METHOD
Eight different methods activate the PNS, increasing relaxation and providing a number of benefits.
Long Version
Exercise
#1: Take deep breaths. When inhaling, completely fill the lungs, hold
for a second, and then exhale slowly. Try doing this for a whole
minute. This relaxed method of breathing expand the branches in your
airways called bronchioles, activating the PNS that controls them,
causing them (and the rest of the body and mind) to relax.
Exercise #2: Relax your body. You can use progressive relaxation techniques or a basic relaxation meditation. You could do a comfortable yoga stretch or just close your eyes and imagine yourself in a comfortable setting, whether its a favorite armchair or a sunny beach. The parasympathetic nervous system causes you to relax, but by "actively" relaxing, you activate it, causing you to relax even more. Call it a non-vicious circle.
Exercise #3: Breathe so that your inhalation and exhalation last the same amount of time; for example, you might count slowly to five for each. While doing this, imagine this breath coming in and out of your heart center in your chest, radiating love, gratitude, and peace. Integrate this positive emotion into your own brain. This exercise is called "increasing heart rate variability"; it increases and harmonizing the variation in heart beats, activating the PNS to enhance physical and mental well-being.
Exercise #4: Become mindful of physical sensation. Listen to your body and feel with clarity and relaxed concentration--to your breath, to the feeling of your chest or your feet or your tongue in your mouth. By becoming mindful of the body, you are also activating the PNS.
Exercise #5: Yawning activates the PNS. Scientists are not sure why.
Exercise #6: Meditation also activates the PNS by pulling the attention away from stress and threats. Meditating even for a small amount every day is one of the most powerful ways to work with your PNS. Learn more about meditation by reading What Is Meditation?
Exercise #7: Focus on the positive. Positive feelings like gratitude, lovingkindness, contentment, and tranquility arouse the PNS. It's sometimes hard to make yourself think positive on demand. Some techniques for arousing positive emotion include Community Service / Charity, Gratitude Practice, and Lovingkindness. You can also try Taking In the Good and the Three Good Things Exercise.
Exercise #8: It may seem silly, but fiddling with your upper lip has been shown in anecdotal evidence to increase PNS activity. If nothing else, it sure is fun.
SEE ALSO
EXTERNAL LINKS
Exercise #2: Relax your body. You can use progressive relaxation techniques or a basic relaxation meditation. You could do a comfortable yoga stretch or just close your eyes and imagine yourself in a comfortable setting, whether its a favorite armchair or a sunny beach. The parasympathetic nervous system causes you to relax, but by "actively" relaxing, you activate it, causing you to relax even more. Call it a non-vicious circle.
Exercise #3: Breathe so that your inhalation and exhalation last the same amount of time; for example, you might count slowly to five for each. While doing this, imagine this breath coming in and out of your heart center in your chest, radiating love, gratitude, and peace. Integrate this positive emotion into your own brain. This exercise is called "increasing heart rate variability"; it increases and harmonizing the variation in heart beats, activating the PNS to enhance physical and mental well-being.
Exercise #4: Become mindful of physical sensation. Listen to your body and feel with clarity and relaxed concentration--to your breath, to the feeling of your chest or your feet or your tongue in your mouth. By becoming mindful of the body, you are also activating the PNS.
Exercise #5: Yawning activates the PNS. Scientists are not sure why.
Exercise #6: Meditation also activates the PNS by pulling the attention away from stress and threats. Meditating even for a small amount every day is one of the most powerful ways to work with your PNS. Learn more about meditation by reading What Is Meditation?
Exercise #7: Focus on the positive. Positive feelings like gratitude, lovingkindness, contentment, and tranquility arouse the PNS. It's sometimes hard to make yourself think positive on demand. Some techniques for arousing positive emotion include Community Service / Charity, Gratitude Practice, and Lovingkindness. You can also try Taking In the Good and the Three Good Things Exercise.
Exercise #8: It may seem silly, but fiddling with your upper lip has been shown in anecdotal evidence to increase PNS activity. If nothing else, it sure is fun.
SEE ALSO
EXTERNAL LINKS
The science of the parasympathetic nervous system
More information about heart rate variability
The parasympathetic nervous system on WiseBrain.org
More information about heart rate variability
The parasympathetic nervous system on WiseBrain.org
No comments:
Post a Comment