A growing new global movement to understand and reverse the why behind symptoms
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Daily reconnection and self care
Begin self healing by listening within
Living in our heads
We live in a culture where our emotions and instincts have been somewhat sidelined by knowledge and information. Regaining all of our emotions and building a relationship with our intuition is a path to a fuller and richer experience in the world – and to improving chronic digestive symptoms.
We live in a culture where our emotions and instincts have been somewhat sidelined by knowledge and information. Regaining all of our emotions and building a relationship with our intuition is a path to a fuller and richer experience in the world – and to improving chronic digestive symptoms.
When I first sat down to try breathing meditation something surprising happened. As I took my awareness into my torso my breath became very shallow, my throat tightened and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I was completely numb from the neck down on the inside – and my body was trying to protect me from feeling what had been stuffed down in there.
We live in a culture where our emotions and instincts have been somewhat sidelined by knowledge and information. Regaining all of our emotions and building a relationship with our intuition is a path to a fuller and richer experience in the world – and to improving chronic digestive symptoms.
When I first sat down to try breathing meditation something surprising happened. As I took my awareness into my torso my breath became very shallow, my throat tightened and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I was completely numb from the neck down on the inside – and my body was trying to protect me from feeling what had been stuffed down in there.
Our body's knowing
Your body is incredible. It is always listening and responding. It continually adapts to help you cope with whatever life throws at you. Mostly this happens beneath the radar of our conscious awareness.
When we experience stress and trauma, our body will adapt to protect us from overwhelm. Rather than feeling an experience fully, our body will tuck the emotions or stress away, in a safe place, to protect us. In the moment this can be a blessing. However, in the long run if this isn’t safely resolved it can be a challenge for our physical health. Emotions and stress can become stuck in our gut, we become unable to digest them or let them go.
Building a bridge to wholeness
When we are ready, we can gently explore and release these old stuck emotions. They can move through us and out. This is my experience and that of my clients. We are then free to live more fully, more deeply connected to ourselves, others and the world. We feel more at home and grounded in our body. Chronic digestive issues, such as IBS, can resolve.
If you would like support to release the root cause stress and emotions that underpin chronic IBS, please get in touch for a free call to discuss how we could work together.
Daily reconnection practice
There are changes you can begin today. This is free and takes very little time. This practice outlined below will help you to begin gently reconnecting to your body and emotions.
Choose a time of day where you regularly have peace and quiet. (The same time each day works well so you can remember easily. You can even set a reminder whilst you build a practice.)
Follow these steps:
- Get comfortable. Lie down or rest so that there is minimal need to use any effort or hold your body up. Close your eyes and take a few slow, deeper breaths. Drop your shoulders, relax your jaw, soften your belly.
- Begin noticing. Notice any sensation or emotion that is present. Start with just one. Name it. There is no right or wrong – all is welcome. Just be with it and feel it. Start with whatever is there. (Numbness is also a feeling.)
- Observe what arises. Breathe softly and be open to other feelings arising – or to any resistance to this process, this is a feeling too.
- Follow your flow. Go slowly and take your time. You may notice a second sensation or feeling arise. Just name it again, be with it. Allow them to arise, one-by-one, at their own pace. Follow the flow until you have named any that are present for you right now.
- Closing. Place your hands on your belly and take a few deep breaths and thank yourself for this loving attention.
There are changes you can begin today. This is free and takes very little time. This practice outlined below will help you to begin gently reconnecting to your body and emotions.
Choose a time of day where you regularly have peace and quiet. (The same time each day works well so you can remember easily. You can even set a reminder whilst you build a practice.)
Follow these steps:
- Get comfortable. Lie down or rest so that there is minimal need to use any effort or hold your body up. Close your eyes and take a few slow, deeper breaths. Drop your shoulders, relax your jaw, soften your belly.
- Begin noticing. Notice any sensation or emotion that is present. Start with just one. Name it. There is no right or wrong – all is welcome. Just be with it and feel it. Start with whatever is there. (Numbness is also a feeling.)
- Observe what arises. Breathe softly and be open to other feelings arising – or to any resistance to this process, this is a feeling too.
- Follow your flow. Go slowly and take your time. You may notice a second sensation or feeling arise. Just name it again, be with it. Allow them to arise, one-by-one, at their own pace. Follow the flow until you have named any that are present for you right now.
- Closing. Place your hands on your belly and take a few deep breaths and thank yourself for this loving attention.
It can be tempting to explain the feelings as they arise: “sadness… that’s because this morning this happened” etc. Please avoid getting into the ‘why’ or any stories about your feelings, once we do this we are back in our heads. Just be with them, feel them and acknowledge them. There is no need to judge them or change them in anyway – they are all part of you. You may like to use a feelings list as a guide to help you connect when you begin this practice.
Freedom from IBS
Connecting symptoms and emotions
A free guide to help you track your symptoms, emotions and/or any stress. Explore your IBS symptoms using simple steps and self care practices that can be used at home.
Join our next sharing circle
Sharing our feelings amongst others in a safe space is deeply nourishing and healing. Sign up below to join our small guided virtual group for anyone with IBS.
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