A breath token is a breathing exploration that I develop for friends & clients and send out as a gift.
Clasping the shoulder to become alert
I read more and more about breathing techniques and how they‘re supposed to help with regulating ourselves, usually calming down or being alert.
We don‘t need a breathing technique for either. I‘d like to propose a simple touch that has a “waking-up” effect without unneccessarily interfering with the self-regulatory breathing mechanism. (This is just one example, there are countless other possibilities)
In the last breath token of August 2019, we cupped and held the shoulder for a calming down effect. We can use the same touch, just carried out very differently to have the opposite effect.
Let‘s grasp one of our shoulders with one hand, squeeze and let go. Again we feel the structure of the shoulder clearly but we do it with a vigorous and quick touch, as opposed to a gentle, long hold.. Let’s relax the other shoulder, the lower jaw, the eyes and tell ourselves what we‘re doing „I‘m grasping my shoulder, I‘m squeezing my shoulder“… whatever comes to mind and sounds good, whatever helps us to stay in touch with ourselves in this exploration.
As always, we do this as long as it feels good. What is the effect, physically, mentally, emotionally? How does the breathing change? And when we‘ve found an ending to the exploration, what does the side of the body where my hand was feel like, where is the breath movement most present, what‘s the overall quality of the sensation…?
Let‘s repeat on the other side.
Benefits I experienced were:
– deep reflexive inhale, followed by released exhale
– presence, readiness
– sensation of the bone structure of the shoulders
– sensation of strength and uprightness
– awareness of the upper chest and back
– awareness of the difference between the two shoulders
There are surely other benefits for you to discover. If you have any questions or feedback please contact me.