Using Muscle Memory for Mental Health
Mindfulness Talk:
If I have deodorant on, I know I’ve taken my morning allergy pill. lol I have paired these two activities together, so I always know if I have done one then I have also done the other. In other words, I use muscle memory to help me keep this part of my life in order.
Even if we don’t plan to do this, our lovely brains/bodies do it for us. And good thing, too! Muscle memory keeps us safer. Walking upstairs in the middle of the day feels fine, but walking upstairs at night feels weird if we haven’t done our evening check of locking the doors. Muscle memory!
When I was pregnant, I always used the same song when doing Savasana (that final resting pose in yoga). Playing this song became an invaluable tool to staying present but relaxed when I was in labor. My body remembered my daily yoga practice, and responded when I heard that song. Muscle memory!
After a busy day, I often go on a quick hike to shake off my thoughts . During extremely stressful moments in my life, my feet take off as if they have a mind of their own. I’m not walking away from the moment, I’m just walking. I have to. It’s my muscle-memory kicking in. It’s through walking that I come back to myself.
Being mentally healthy is as important to me as my allergy pill and wearing deodorant. I certainly don’t always get it right, but having a yoga and hiking routine gives me a much better chance. What brings you back to yourself? Is it familiar movement? a familiar song? a familiar place? Take a moment to think about this, because you never know when you are going to need that important muscle memory.
Until next time,
Laura
Meditation:
Finding Present Meditation: The purpose of this meditation is to create a muscle-memory routine. Find a movement to concentrate on. Maybe washing the dishes at a window or vacuuming slowly. It’s fine if there are other people in the room. Just find a task that requires slow, repetitive movement.
Slowly move and breathe. Play around with your breath and begin to match your movement to your breath. Find a rhythm with your breathing and your movement.
Continue with this mediation or begin the mindfulness meditation.
Mindfulness Meditation: Begin to put your awareness on the body the part that is doing the movement, maybe it’s your hands or your feet. Watch your body and notice how it looks. Notice each wrinkle on your hands, or each crinkle on your toes as if you are memorizing it. As you are noticing, a thought or feeling or image might arise. If it does, notice it. When it is ready to float away, let it. Return to your breath and movement.
Now notice the rhythm of your movement. Feel the slowness and the smoothness of it. Notice how it’s similar to swingling on a swing or swaying a baby, repetitive and smoothing. If a thought or feeling or image arises, notice it and then let it float away. Return to your breath and movement.
Now notice your breath as you do this movement. Notice how your breath feels coming out the nose, notice the sound of your breath. If a thought or feeling or image arises, notice it and then let it float away. Return to your breath and movement.
Closing Routine: When your movement task is done, commit to doing this meditation the next time you do this same movement. Commit to creating a muscle-memory routine.
