Creative Edge Focusing E-Newsletter

Relaxation #3: The Forest.

 Real Raindrops Lead To Relaxation 
 
 Dr. Kathy McGuire, Director                     Week Three
Kathy's Experience: Real Raindrops Lead To Relaxation
 
"I went out on my deck this evening, in the dark. Steady rain pouring, pattering on the leaves. I decided to do The Forest guided imagery, sitting there in my real forest, with my real deer.
 
Listening to the rain pattering was so peaceful. Whenever I found my thoughts had drifted into worries, angers of the day, I brought my attention back to just listening to the raindrops, imagining the forest.
 
The image came of me lying in the grass, rain pattering upon me, me dissolving into the landscape, into the rain. How peaceful.
 
Theoretically, every moment of this peace in the midst of stress is life-giving, the "relaxation response"  a reprieve for the body from carrying toxic stress.
From Creative Edge Focusing: This month's Relaxation Exercise : 
 
Week Three ---"Ahhhhh....pause with me for ten minutes....and just relax!!!
 I will send this exercise each week as a reminder to pause... 
 
Some people find it easy to drop all their stress and enter into an interior Focusing space.  But, many people need easy first steps of practice for "going quietly inside." And even experienced Focusers get caught up in stress and business and welcome a reminder to take a moment to....pause.....(sigh!)...pay attention to their breathing.......(ahhhhhh!)......and...relax...

The quiet time between instructions is an important time for just breathing---and relaxing.

 

You can lie on the floor or, for most exercises, sit in a chair. If you fall asleep, it's okay! Means you need more rest! But you may also want to practice sitting up to avoid sleeping.

 
Especially at the beginning, time those "1 minute" pauses and enjoy relaxing in the imagery. You will be amazed at how long a minute is, how seldom we ever pause for a whole minute!!!
 
Any of the Relaxation Exercises can be used at the beginning of a longer Focusing session, as a way of "clearing a space" inside, so notice which are your favorites you could call upon.

  Guided Imagery: The Forest-Allow 10-15 minutes

 

These four weeks, we are doing our Relaxation Exercise in the guided imagery of The Forest. A change from The Beach, we will sink into the soft pine needles, listen to the bubbling brook and the scurrying animals.

 

---Lie down or sit down and get comfortable---Loosen any clothing that is too tight---10 seconds

 

---Stretch---and relax---stretch---and relax---stretch---and relax---10 seconds

 

---Notice your breathing without trying to change it---just noticing the breath, going in---and out---in---and out---in---and out---

1 minute

---Now, imagine yourself in a cool, dark, forest---10 seconds

 

---Walk along a path by a bubbling spring---noticing the ferns and wildflowers---the shy, small forest animals---10 seconds.

 

---Come upon a clearing with a soft cushion of silent pine needles---10 seconds

 

---Lie down and listen to the wind whistling through the pine trees---10 seconds

 

---Hear the spring bubbling beside you---10 seconds

 

---Feel the soft cushion of pine needles beneath you---10 seconds

 

--- Listen to the breeze blowing the branches---back and forth---back and forth---10 seconds

 

---The spring bubbling---10 seconds

 

--- The breeze blowing the branches---10 seconds

 

---Hear the birds calling in the trees---10 seconds

 

---Birds calling back and forth---10 seconds

 

---Hear the rustle of small animals around you---curious rabbits---and mice---10 seconds

 

---Stay here as long as you like---

3-5 minutes

---And, when you are ready, stretch, and massage any tension in your face, neck, shoulders, or feet, if you like---

1 minute

Newcomers: Catch up at E-Newsletter Archive
 
If you are just joining this e-newsletter this week, you can catch up on the first two weeks of this four week cycle in the archives below:
 
 
Anyone Can Always Access the e-Archive
 
 At the Creative Edge Focusing website, Free Resources section, in the submenu, right sidebar.
 

You can catch up on daily blogs for this week or you can search by Category, for instance finding all blogs on "food" or "collaboration"
Print and Practice!!!!! Visit The Forest
 
Here is your relaxation exercise for this month. Print it out, keep it handy, and take those few moments to relax every day, if you can, or as often as possible. Or, you can just open this weekly reminder and walk through the exercise online. Relaxing is one way to "clear a space" inside for a longer-term Focusing Problem Solving session.
 
You will also find this in the Complete Focusing Instructions download at Creative Edge Focusing, p.5: Pre-Focusing Practice A. Relaxation Suggestions #3: The Forest. You get it by joining our e-support group for further support in practicing Listening and Focusing.
 
And, if you order our Self-Help Package, also in the sidebar icons of our website, you can listen on audio CD Intuitive Focusing: Disk one, Track 4, with Dr, McGuire's peaceful voice to keep you company -- and help you stay on track!!

Disclaimer:Creative Edge e-newsletters are offered purely as self-help skills. In providing them, Dr. McGuire is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

About Creative Edge Focusing
Located by Beaver Lake in Rogers, AR, our goal is to support people in the practice of listening/focusing skills, throughout the world, and for personal growth, interpersonal conflict resolution, and creative individual and group problem solving.
 
Creative Edge Focusing (TM)
Dr. Kathy McGuire
Director