Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/97768
TaBLe LeSSONS "When you search through the archives of your experiences, we interpret meaning so we know how to respond appropriately. As an example, let's imagine you have an increased respiration and pulse rate. Are you excited or are you fearful? When you think about it, the physical experiences of excitement and fear are almost identical. The mind must decide which emotion it is based on in the context of the experience. "The same can be true for a bad mood. I am sure you can remember being really tense some morning, just feeling completely out of sorts. If someone asked you why, you couldn't really point to any specific offense as the reason. Throughout the morning, however, little things that would normally go unnoticed now really bothered you. You looked for things that were wrong to confi rm what you were feeling. In essence, you created the emotional reason to explain your physical state." "I assume that the reverse is also true, correct?" "Exactly. This might indeed explain what you experience after a massage. You leave my office with a very different physiology than when you arrived. The normalization of muscle function after massage will be experienced as more efficient and effortless movement. The muscle tension in your shoulders is drastically reduced. Your breathing is slower and there is a much greater sense of awareness of your body. To your point about mood, think about how your brain must then interpret this new stream of physical information. When do you normally feel such lack of tension, such lightness and freedom?" "When I am extremely happy and contented; when the world seems like a wonderful place," she responded. "When you search through the archives of your experiences, the times you experienced such physical ease were also times of very pleasant emotional experiences. The experience of physical ease is then interpreted as emotional ease. Since attention is selective, your peaceful and positive emotional state predisposes you to notice lots of little blessings that you previously would have overlooked. This process becomes very self-reinforcing." "Cool," she said. "Another fascinating anatomy lesson. I'll call this one The Anatomy of Happiness." the times you experienced such physical ease were also times of very pleasant emotional experiences." Douglas Nelson douglas Nelson is the founder and principal instructor for Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars and president of the 16-therapist clinic BodyWork associates in Champaign, illinois. His clinic, seminars, and research endeavors explore the science behind this work. Visit www.nmtmidwest.com or email him at doug@nmtmidwest.com. www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 37