Body scanning is the practice of paying attention to your body. I prefer to start at my head and work my way down, but you could also start at your feet and work your way up. Pay attention to every muscle group as you go: forehead, eyes, cheeks, jaw, neck, shoulders, upper back, and so on and so on. As you pay focus on each muscle group, notice how it feels. Is it tense, relaxed, somewhere in the middle? Do you feel any pain there? If you want to relax the muscle group, take a deep breath and imagine the stress and tension leaving the area.
What can just paying attention do for you? Well, it's a matter of self-awareness and learning to relax more fully. For one, the time you spend paying attention to your body is time you aren't worrying about what you have to do for the rest of the day or that your socks didn't match today. Over time, if you continue to practice body scanning, you will more easily be able to identify stress in your body and when you might need some relaxation. Believe it or not, the benefits might eventually extend past relaxation. Becoming more knowledgeable about your body, you will be more aware of the things in your life that serve your body and those that don't.
If you want to go one step further with body scanning, you can engage in Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) where you intentionally relax every set of muscles as you are bringing awareness to them. If you find that you are easily distracted and can't complete a body scan, you can find recordings that will help guide you through the exercise. If you want to do it for free or like things a little more personalized, write up a script, put some soothing music on and record a friend reading your script.
If you are experiencing challenges, you can see a holistic health practitioner to help you through the process. Body scanning can help you relax the very first time you try it and can help you become more aware of yourself as you continue to practice regularly.
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What you're saying is completely true. I know that everybody must say the same thing, but I just think that you put it in a way that everyone can understand. I'm sure you'll reach so many people with what you've got to say.
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