As we work at the computer we often sit without much movement. The more we
sit immobilized the more it feels as if our energy drains out of us and
negative thoughts and emotions surface more quickly. On the other hand
our energy and positive thoughts increase when we sit up or perform a
GROUNDING STRETCH.*
HOW TO PERFORM A GROUNDING STRETCH:#
Stand up with your feet shoulder width apart and your arms hanging freely
at your sides (if you are wearing high heels, take them off). Feel how
your feet are standing on the floor. After observing and describing the
sensations of how your feet are in contract with the floor (e.g., the
weight is mainly on the ball of my feet, I feel my shoes holding my toes,
there is more weight on my left foot than my right), do the following:
- Bend your knees about 20 to 30 degrees while you keep standing upright
and gently shift all your weight to your right leg. Keep all your weight
on your flexed right leg and use your left leg for balance. Stand for
two or more minutes as you breathe slowly and then, gently straighten your
legs and shift your weight to both legs. You may observe that you leg is
quiveringthis is very normal. - Bend your knees about 20 to 30 degrees while you keep standing upright
and gently shift all your weight to your left leg. Keep all your weight
on your flexed left leg and use your right leg for balance. Stand for two
or more minutes breathing slowly and then, gently straighten your legs and
shift your weight to both legs. Again, you may observe that you leg is
quiveringthis is very normal. - Observe and describe how your feet are in contact with the floor (e.g.,
my legs feel heavier, a sense of streaming through my legs and my feet
are deeper into the floor). - Now imagine the floor coming up to your feet and observe how your
sensations of heaviness may change. - Now gently stamp your right foot down, so that the foot makes contact
with the floor (almost like a child who is stubborn). Repeat 5 times.
Then stamp your left foot down five times. Observe and describe what you
experience. (Most people will report that as they stamp their feet,
their bodies lengthenIn fact, the lengthening actually occurs because of
the reflex that is triggered when the foot stamps against a surface). - Notice the energizing and lengthening sensations. Continue to be aware
of them as you sit down and continue the computer work.
*For more information see: Wilson, V. & Peper, E. (2003). The effects of
upright and slumped postures on the generation of positive and negative
thoughts. Proceedings of the 34th Annual Meeting of the Association for
Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. Wheat Ridge, CO: AAPB.
#Adapted from the presentation by Merete Holm Brantbjerg, Taking caring
of yourself as you interact with others: A bodynamic lecture.
Copyright 2003 Erik Peper, Ph.D. and Katherine Hughes Gibney
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