THE SELF-MANAGEMENT OF ANXIETY: THE POSTURE FOR THE
EXERCISES-ASSUME A POSITION THAT IS NOT TOO COMFORTABLE
The actual posture of the body has quite an influence on the effect of mental exercises. This applies particularly to our degree of comfort, the symmetry of our bodily position, and the movement of our body.
Assume a Position That Is Not Too Comfortable-Most people believe that the more comfortable we are, the more effective will be our relaxation. This idea is quite wrong. If we lie down comfortably on our bed, relaxation comes relatively easily. But as I mentioned previously, this type of relaxation has little effect in relieving our inner tension. When we relax in this way our relaxation is largely brought about by the physical comfort and warmth of our surroundings. Our body and limbs are supported comfortably by the soft bed. Nervous impulses arising in the skin, muscles, and joints report this state of affairs to the brain. As a result we feel relaxed. But this is not what we want. We aim for mental relaxation which comes from the mind itself. In order to achieve this we must not be too comfortable; if we are, our brain is swamped by comforting messages from our body and limbs, and there is little need for the mind to assert itself in this direction. In fact the most effective relaxation for releasing our inner tension comes when we achieve relaxation while we are slightly uncomfortable physically. In these circumstances the relaxation comes from the mind itself, and it is effective in permanently relieving inner tension.
A doctor came as a patient to see me, saying in a rather aggressive fashion that he had heard all about my relaxing methods. He had tried them; and they were not any good. When I asked him, he told me that he practised lying down comfortably on his bed. When I explained the necessity for a more uncomfortable position he tried again and immediately was more successful.
I first realized the very great importance of this a few years ago. At the time I was travelling in India seeing what I could learn from yogis. They of course all meditate in the familiar
cross-legged, squatting position known as the lotus posture. In all the books that I have read about Eastern religion and mysticism it is stated that this cross-legged, squatting position is comfortable for Asiatics. This is obviously true, as in India one sees people all around sitting comfortably in this position. But it is comfortable for the Indian only as long as he sits loosely in this position.
Yogis whom I questioned closely about their posture for meditation all told me that it was uncomfortable. I then learned that the meditating yogi keeps pulling his feet more and more tightly under his buttocks, so that in fact he is always slightly uncomfortable. My own experience, and my experience with patients, has taught me that some minor physical discomfort is very important in attaining effective mental relaxation.
A shrewd man who had had little formal education was running a large and successful business enterprise. Over the past few years he had become increasingly tense, and was compensating with alcohol. One day I asked him what he liked doing best in the world. His reply was, “Drinking beer.”
I taught him how to relax and he learned to maintain his relaxation in uncomfortable circumstances while I was there to supervise him. But at home he would practise only when lying on his bed. He just lacked the necessary self-discipline to do the exercise properly. He actually made a good recovery, but it necessitated more visits to me than he would have otherwise needed.
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