Hi There,
While practicing the principles shared by Ralston in Zen Body-Being, and particularly ‘Relaxation’, I come to some strange stuff!
I notice, that often when I relax, the body actually tenses even more (for a while at least). Then, it can have a tendency to move in spontaneous ways, as if to unwire the tension. Or unhook itself from it.
I relax more and more into the tension, and at some point, it very natural wants to move, bend, and almost dance (I’m being a little poetic here) in some really weird and even creepy ways. Feels great, because as I said, it seems like the most natural course of action and when it is allowed to happen to tension seems to release (until the next one comes, that is).
I wonder if anyone practicing body-being has had similar experiences? This ‘relaxation -> tension ( -> spontaneous movement) -> relaxation’ pattern. Does it seem familiar? If so, what’s your take on it? Do you agree that it seems to be an unwiring/unhooking of the tension?
Glad to have the place to start this topic,
Vojtech
I haven't found anything exactly like the body tensing up more once relaxation has begun, however I have found that sometimes, when attempting to relax, the signal I send to relax the body isn't actually relaxing, but a signal of tension that i'm doing thinking it's relaxation. I describe actual relaxation as "the overlooked feeling of actually being able to relax," where it actually feels relaxed without having to think too much about it.
The spontaneousness seems to come from a feeling of freed "energy" and the natural impulses towards movement.
Everything just does it's job uninterrupted and is so unimpeded and there isn't a demand to have to first think it, then decide to do it, then do it. It is just doing it without all that process, which is what spontaneity seems to be.
No part has to compensate for any other part, and each fulfills it's role completely.
From there, for me, the body begins to feel at rest and, well, relaxed. The only sources of tension that come about are just bumps in the road and being tense again. One could be tense & not calm about trying to relax, in which case, relax.
That's my perspective. To me it doesn't seem like an un-wiring of tension, but more like a tendency to tense up again instead of deeply relax, (although at times I've had surges of a feeling of pain as well as somehow relief at the same time as if life returned to a dead limb.) The rewiring for me seems to be the dawning of new and more sophistocated feelings, as well as a more full and relaxed body.
Anyway, hat's all I've got for now. Best of luck, and thanks for reminding me of how useful of a forum this could be. I may return here in the near future. Seeya