By: Adela Gorodzinsky, CBT, R.P.
“Whatever it is you’re seeking, won’t come in the way you expect it.” — Haruki Murakami
How many Mothers’ Days have you woken up expecting certain things to happen - either for yourself, or from you towards others?
How many times, while in relationship, have you expected your significant other to fulfill your certain needs, only to be disappointed because what you were expecting did not happen, or did not happen in the way you wanted it to happen?
My experience has been that when I have and think about an expectation, it usually does not work for me. However, when I take the time to notice what my body is feeling and listen to the messages it is giving me, I ‘ground’ in reality and I know that I can trust.
Yes, I can trust that whatever happens, in any way it may happen, and I am going to be OK. Once I can ground myself in trust, the miracle occurs; yet not at the time that I wanted it, but at the time that I needed it!
Bioenergetics has taught me to manage anxiety, fear, sadness and even excitement and joy. Doing my daily Bioenergetic exercise routine, including: stretching; grounding; and emotionally connected movement, it has trained me to feel at peace.
Exercise 1: Basic vibratory and grounding exercise
Stand with feet about 10” apart, toes slightly turned in so as to stretch some of the muscles of the buttocks. Bend forward and touch the floor with the fingers of both hands as in figure 2 above. The knees should be slightly bent. No weight should be on the hands; all the body weight is in the feet. Let the head drop as much as possible.
Breathe through your mouth easily and deeply. Make sure to keep breathing. (Forget about breathing through your nose for the time being.)
Let the weight of your body go forward so that it is on the balls of the feet. The heels can be slightly raised.
Straighten the knees slowly until the hamstring muscles at the back of the legs are stretched. However, the knees should not be fully straightened or locked.
Hold the position for about one minute.
Are you breathing easily or are you holding your breath? No vibrations will occur if you stop breathing.
Do you sense any vibratory activity in your legs? If not, try slowly bending the knee a little.
— Exercise from The Way to Vibrant Health: A Manual of Bioenergetic Exercises by Alexander Lowen, M.D., and Leslie Lowen,