Walking Uphill

[LightLizard]

I was talking to Darth Vader in another thread about shamanism, and the fact that at one time I actually believed that I had some shamanic ability.
That may  or may not be true, but I have come to suspect that what was considered 'shamanic ability' is really just mind-tricks, 'psychological ploys', so to speak, that are employed to alter one's perception in order to assist healing or to make a physical task less stressful.
Here's a little trick I discovered while walking to teach a tai chi class, some years ago.
I was quite tired as I had been teaching about 20 classes per week. I looked ahead and I was at the bottom of a long and fairly steep hill.
At first, I dreaded walking up the hill. But as I plodded along, head down, looking at the sidewalk, I played with the idea of there being two wires, or strings at about hip level on each side of me.These wires extended from my home, behind me, all the way to my destination; the community center about three-quarters of a mile ahead of me. I imagined that I was using the strings to pull myself up the hill, one hand at a time.
It actually worked! By the time I reached the top of the hill I felt quite invigorated, instead of exhausted!

I realised that the reason for this was because the wires, combined with my imagining that I was pulling myself up the hill actually caused me to co-ordinate my entire body into the act of walking. I taught myself a tai chi lesson! heehee

Another trick some might find useful is for those of us who are still urinating.
If it wants to come out but is slow to start, simply scratch one of your butt-cheeks, gently. For some reason it stimulates the bladder and gets the urine flowing. At least, that's what it does for me. Maybe I just like scratching my butt.

Anyway. These are what I believe would pass for 'shamanic techniques' in times long past....
I have lots more but I think I may have alienated myself enough, for one post.


enjoy!

love

~LL~
 

[Jean]

Will let you know about the butt-scratching. Sounds interesting, or are you pulling our collective legs?

[willowtreewren]

Anyway. These are what I believe would pass for 'shamanic techniques' in times long past....
I have lots more but I think I may have alienated myself enough, for one post.

Not at all. I use those kinds of mind tricks for many things. Visualization can really be powerful. 

Aleta

[LightLizard]

thanks willowtreewren. i'm not surprised you feel that way, going by your name.


and no jean, i'm not kidding about the butt-scratching. at least, it works for me about 85 percent of the time. honest!
 

[paris]

I think visualization is my main tool in coping.  During procedures or stressful moments, I swim with the green sea turtles.  Slowly swimming beside them.  Feeling the water flowing over me as I move with these lovely creatures.  It works for me.  Now, about the scratching!  That is another whole subject      

[LightLizard]

man, i wish i could visualise that good! i'm just a simple man, really, when it comes to visualisation.
i practiced meditation for many years when i was into martial arts, but i could never get into visualising scenes or animals much.
i found that by relaxing totally when i was being given a needle or having an IV line inserted, that the pain was almost completely un-noticable. one nurse that poked me with a really huge gauge needle remarked; 'wow! you didn't even flinch!' i told her my secret and she said that i should teach that to new patients. not easy teaching relaxation. but really, it's mostly in the breath...

[willowtreewren]

it's mostly in the breath...

Oh, how true. Do you breathe with your arms, LL?

Lying on your back, head toward the raised arm other arm and alternating with the inward and outward breaths. VERY relaxing and opens the lungs more. Add the twist with the knees dropping from one side to the other to complete the picture. Ahhhh.

My granddaughters are named Willow and Wren. Thus my cyber name.

 

Aleta

[jbeany]

I also have to take a deep breath and "center" before I get my needles.

My favorite visual technique for getting to sleep on restless nights is to picture myself canoeing down an endless stream, alternating left and right strokes. 

Stuart Smalley jokes aside, visualization techniques and verbal affirmations can really work.

[LightLizard]

great technique, jbeany!

and yes, willowtreewren, i do breathe with my arms. legs and whatever else i can feel.
in fact, i made my living teaching those methods before
i began feeling the symptoms of my condition. i still practice some, but i don't teach much, anymore...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uGqBxwjFhg

[Jean]

You have convinced me, I am going to try it. Maybe I can get some sleep.

[YLGuy]

You have convinced me, I am going to try it. Maybe I can get some sleep.

The canoe, not the butt scratching! That would be a whole other problem in bed. 

Note: I do believe in these techniques and am not making fun of them.  I just could not resist.

[kitkatz]

For some reason when I am falling asleep I usually tell myself a story of some sort, usually about climbing a mountain. I only just get the characters in and get on the mountain and I am out like alight.

[LightLizard]

You have convinced me, I am going to try it. Maybe I can get some sleep.

actually, the practice of those exercises (if you're talking about my youtube instruction videos)
can make it difficult to get to sleep if you do them right before bedtime. they have a tendency to invigorate the system, and strangely enough, they also help one relax. but don't do them within an hour of trying to sleep, or you very likely won't sleep. start with the first three and stick with them until th ey are habitual. then, add the others if you want to. but, the first three are sufficient for  helping the lungs, the digestive system and easing back 'issues.' during the touching toes one, (#3) if you have problems with blood pressure, (high) don't bend over all the way. just touch your shins, or even just the knees. the benefit to the lungs, back and stomach will still be there...

the system is ancient and goes back thousands of years in china. it's called 'qigong' - which translates into  'qi' - breath  and 'gong' - effort, or work. so you could also call it 'breath work.'
altho, the term 'qi' (pronounced 'chee') has numerous connotations in the chinese language. it can mean the breath, energy,(the energy derived from breath) or even emotion, all depending on the context.

 

[LightLizard]

another method i found useful for falling asleep at night is to imagine, or visualise myself performing the qigong breathing exercises while laying there, doing the breathing. not only does it help you fall asleep, but it also reinforces your skill at performing the movements.
 

[Jean]

I forgot to mention to you that your little thing of touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth does produce more saliva. It really works. Thanks

[LightLizard]

thanks for the feedback jean. yes, it's an old 'tai chi' trick, but it is useful for many other reasons, too. to create even more saliva, use your tongue to 'wash' your teeth. moving the tongue around inside your mouth really stimulates the saliva gland under the tongue, so really, there's nothing mysterious or mystical about it at all.
i taught  that trick years ago to a friend of mine who ran marathons. he tried it during a marathon and he didn't win, but he came closer than ever before to winning, and he attributed it to t hat little trick. who knows?