Relaxing In Difficult Times. Plus Practices To Help!
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"I don't want to alarm anyone," I said calmly. "But I'm awake."
No one answered.
I added, "I'm fine. I am just going to relax here while you finish."
Still no answer. I began to wonder if I was actually awake.
I tried one more time, "I just don't want you to be freaked out that I'm up. Because I'm really okay. I'm relaxed."
"Okay," the anesthesiologist reluctantly responded.
My doctor, the nurse, and two attendants talked among themselves but didn't say anything to me. I think they didn't want to engage me should I be able to 'fall back asleep'.
But I didn't.
I could feel every bit of the last 10 minutes or so of my colonoscopy.
Truth be told, I put off this procedure for a while. I didn't want to get it done - at all. The part that made me most nervous was going under anesthesia, even though a few friends were excited for me to get the 'twilight'. Personally, I don't like to be out of control - LOL. I'd rather be in charge of my own relaxation. And, I swear, a few days before this procedure, I had visions of myself waking up during the colonoscopy. So between me and you - I think I willed myself up.
Now, even though I am an "expert" at relaxation, I have never been in such a precarious situation in which I had to relax. Thankfully, I can confirm that my skills were there for me!
As I woke up, my first thoughts (after feeling the strangest, most uncomfortable and awkward feelings inside my body) were literally, "Oh, I knew I'd wake up! Okay, I got this. Relax. Keep breathing. Keep relaxing on purpose."
So, I followed my breath. I softened my jaw. I relaxed my shoulders. I kept extremely still, but I did not stiffen. Instead, I softened more, releasing into stillness rather than holding myself still.
As I relaxed on purpose, the sensations progressively became tolerable, the light in the room less offensive, and I even began to tune into the song on the radio that filled the surgery room - no joke it was Bad Moon Rising.
The only thing that made me a little anxious at this point was that I didn't want them to give me more anesthesia to go back to sleep, as I worried about getting too much. Even though I was awake, I was at peace.
When my doctor finished, I thanked them for not administering more anesthesia. Interestingly, the anesthesiologist told me that they did, in fact, give me more, but for some reason, I didn't go back under. "We never had someone so alert during the procedure," she shared.
Now, I don't wish this for anyone, but the upside of this situation is that I could measure the benefit of my daily practice. And I felt like, if I can do this, then I can remember to return to relaxation during other challenges too. I even wondered if I could add this to my credentials along with Certified Yoga Therapists and Mindfulness Teacher. Conscious Colonoscopy Patient.
To be clear, I'm not recommending you should ever do any particular procedure without anesthesia. I'm simply saying that what we practice on purpose can really be there for us in the daily moments of our life when we need them most.
Right now, as the whole world is dealing with the challenge of Covid-19, the pandemic of stress is possibly spreading with more virulence than the virus itself. There are so many things we cannot control, so much uncertainty.
What is certain is that we will experience a wide range of emotions as we navigate through this unknown. And that while many of us are "making the best of it" we will also, inevitably, experience great challenges; our thoughts and emotions will surely swing from high to low throughout the week – or the day, or the hour. I know this because even being the "Relaxation Expert" that I am (LOL), I too find myself experiencing waves of fear, sadness, loneliness, anger, and confusion. I too can feel irritation, frustration, and angst.
Sometimes, these feelings are hard to name. Instead, they just show up in the form of tension: physical tension, emotional sensation, or pent up energy. Many friends and students have shared that they, too, are swinging high and low and that the times of struggle can be really difficult.
So how do we relax with our difficult moments? How do we practice when we are feeling challenged?
First, it is important to consider that how we meet our discomfort can either leave us feeling more tight and closed, or more open and malleable. More alarmed or more at ease.
We practice meeting ourselves, our discomfort, in a way that helps us feel supported, and creates space for some calm energy to come in.
Here's how we can do it:
We can pause, even if only for a few breaths.
And feel our body on the ground.
Allow our breath to move fully through us.
And we relax on purpose.
We can land, and remember that the ground, the support, is there underneath us.
Holding us.
We can breathe, and allow our breath to flow fully through us.
We can relax, and release our obvious bodily tension and habitual gripping.
Our jaw. Our shoulders. Our belly.
Then we go in deeper.
We can listen inward, and begin to notice our discomfort. Our dis-ease. Our pain.
We may experience sensations in our body or a rush of difficult emotions or thoughts...seemingly unbearable.
So we breathe more deeply.
We can practice Allowing.
Allowing whatever we find to just be ‘whatever we find’.
We can practice not judging.
We can practice staying... practice being kind to ourselves.
And then we can Repeat this process... again... and again.
Land. Breathe. Relax. Listen. Allow. Repeat again and again.
We can make space for our most difficult feelings as we allow the ground to support us, the breath to calm us, and our own kind attention to soften and to hold us. This very process of visiting with ourselves, in a compassionate way, is what will support us. It is what will help us heal and recover.
Practicing in this way changes us neurologically. It sets conditions to switch off the Stress Response and switch on the Relaxation Response, releasing the chemistry and the hormones needed to help lift our energy, spirit, and ability to emotionally bond. We feel more connected to ourselves and to others (so essential right now).
As we expand our capacity to meet ourselves in this way, we set the conditions to allow ourselves, our emotions, our pain, and our lives to continue to evolve and transform. This is not only good for us, but it's also good for everyone. The kindness and compassion we show ourselves changes every interaction we have – even interactions at a “safe distance.”
So, however, you are feeling and in whatever conditions you find yourself during this crisis…
May you be safe, may you be well and at ease.
May you know that you are loved.
And may you feel the presence of your own loving attention.
And, may you remember to return to your practice, even if only for three mindful, healing breaths every time you wash your hands.
With Love and Wishes for Wellbeing,
Jillian
PS. For extra support during this time, I have included several simple Free practices below and information for my new LIVE Classes on Zoom below.
LIVE YOGA WITH JILLIAN ON ZOOM
Slow Flow Yoga and Deep Relaxation
Friday, April 10: 10:00 AM EDT
A class designed to leave you feeling calm, clear, and connected.
Evening Unwind: Release and Restore.
Sunday, April 12 8:00 PM EDT
Unwind with a soothing practice designed to release stress and tension from the body and mind (and prepare you for a recuperative night’s sleep).
I will be sending out emails announcing Upcoming Live Zoom classes as well as posting updates and more practices on Facebook and Instagram - be sure to follow me there.
Interested in diving deep into course work? Yoga Journal is extending a savings of 50% off my Online Courses Restorative 101 and Everyday Restorative with the code JILLIAN50. Savings and code expire on 5/15/20. Details below.
Lastly, while I can't travel, I've still been enjoying sharing workshops and classes through Zoom in several communities on their Online Studios. For bookings please email Julie at info@jillianpransky.com.
But mostly, please keep in touch and let me know how you are!
“...getting the knack of relaxing in the midst of chaos, learning not to panic - this is the spiritual path.” - Pema Chodron
FREE ONLINE PRACTICES:
Gift Practices.
I have a library of FREE online classes that I recorded, which you can access anytime on my website.
Hand Washing Meditations.
3 Breaths, 20-30 seconds, several times a day to practice! Join me with these techniques. Watch Now.
1-Minute SOS Practices for Anytime Anywhere.
For On-the-spot calm try these FREE 1-minute SOS practices, which I created for YogaAnytime.
