Tuesday, November 1, 2011

How Turtles, Dragons, Tigers & Ravens Reduce Stress Today


Where then, do we find all of these animal protectors today? They are all around us. Let’s start with a chair. A chair, believe it or not is a perfect example of being held in comfort and safety by the turtle, the dragon, the tiger and the raven. The back of the chair is the turtle that supports you from behind. The dragon and tiger are the arms of the chair.The raven comes in when the space in front of the chair is open so that one can observe everything in front.. This formula of positioning ourselves strategically can be observed in the old cowboy movies when the gunslingers always kept their backs to the wall or in military tactics forming lines of defense, the building of forts, and arrangements in executive offices. All of these situations consider that the position of power is always where your back is protected, you have the best view of your adversary and your flanks are defended.

How can we use these ideas in our daily lives? Let’s first look at a work environment. If you are positioned with your back to a door all day you may experience excessive fatigue and tension. Whether we realize this or not subconsciously our bodies go into defensive mode and the muscles in our back and neck tighten when we cannot see who is approaching us from behind. Medical studies have shown that over time our muscles can forget how to relax. The flight or fight response that is triggered by being startled or the possibility of being surprised from behind releases hormones and chemicals into the blood stream that can accumulate and remain in the body over a long period of time. This constant state of alarm can weaken the immune system causing a long list of chronic and acute illnesses and severe muscle pain. If at all possible position your desk or workstation so that you back is not to a door or even a window but against a solid wall facing the door. In addition if at all possible use a chair with a solid back and arms.  If you cannot reposition yourself the next best thing is to install a mirror or other reflective surface so that you are able to see anyone approaching from behind. Some of my clients have even found it helpful to hang a wind chime to prevent being taken by surprise. It is also important not to sit in a rigid position for long periods of time. If your work requires this try to take breaks where you can sit back and relax the muscles in your back against the back of a chair and your forearms on the arms of the chair. This passive support of the protective animals will allow your muscles to go into the relaxation mode and dispel the stress chemicals from your body. Following this ancient wisdom and honoring the turtle, dragon, tiger and raven can prevent much pain and stress of living today.

Thanks for stopping by.

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