Today I’m passing along a few resources I’ve found helpful — and others have too — on the quest to live a little lighter. Some people have no time for this hocus pocus, but I say bring on the wild&crazy (haha)…
Therapy
Of course, this is the go-to. I moderated an interview for So Cal Science Writers and the awesome science writer Kate Gammon said she believes all freelancers should see a therapist regularly because it’s such a roller coaster career. I’m sure she’s right. And plenty of my friends say everyone should see one. I’ve seen therapists once in a while over the years but never long term. I once went to therapy as part of an assignment even (I know, this is a bit questionable). I reviewed Cerebral online therapy for Forbes Health. If you find a therapist you like, this is a solid investment — and the good news is that online works too (though maybe in-person is still better) and more insurance companies are paying for it. My friend Paulette has been a therapist for a very long time and she also owned the yoga studio I went to for many years. She told me that she ended up believing for some people yoga was more helpful. So that’s kind of been the route I’ve gone.
Kundalini
Yes, everyone knows that I LOVE yoga and meditation. Lately I’ve become interested in kundalini yoga too. I tried it years ago when some friends were very into Golden Bridge yoga in L.A. But for some reason now I get it! It’s really out there compared to a usual yoga class — lots of repetitive motions and chanting. So be forewarned. But I do recommend trying it!
Breathing Classes
Speaking of out there stuff… now that everyone knows about yoga and meditation, I think the next frontier has to be all the different breathing techniques that are cropping up. At my yoga studio, Jodi Joy teaches a holotropic breathing class that I try to attend once a week. Jodi also teaches workshops and private sessions and she’s a ray of light. Also —my friend Linda swears by the Amba Method, a very different type of breathing. I will try this soon!
Books
Last night we watched a two-part doc on the comedian/writer Steve Martin. You may remember him as the “I’m a wild and crazy guy!” guy, but my son only knows him as that guy who costars with Selena Gomez in Only Murders In The Building. Anyhow, Steve Martin mentioned that at one point he started reading a lot of self-help books. It’s popular to make fun of self-help books but, hey, Steve Martin takes them seriously. So I say don’t scoff. And I say start with Oprah Winfrey’s What Happened to You, coauthored with Northwestern’s Dr. Bruce Perry, an expert on the connection between trauma, neuroscience and addiction. I listened to the book on a road trip through the Northwoods of Minnesota and was so pleasantly surprised to hear my novelist friend Cynthia Bond (author of the incredible Ruby) featured. So that makes it even better. It’s a fascinating listen/read and I promise you’ll learn lots.
Of course, there’s so much out there to try. If dance and movement are more your thing… check out Nia. Maybe I’ll talk about that a different day, though.
One last note: I don’t approach anything as the thing that’s going to “fix” me — I don’t think I’m broken and I don’t think you are, either! But we all have room to grow and learn. And we all have tough times in our lives where it’s helpful to try something like movement, meditation, breathing or reading a really insightful book! Life is a wild and crazy ride. The goal is to be a wild and crazy person — but in the best sense!
Well, the Amba breathing person that Linda told me about teaches a technique called waterfall breathing. She says that people with a lot of anxiety often don't do well with holotropic. As far as the class environment goes, it's definitely much milder and more low key than what you're describing. Jodi even leads the class through laughing during one part of the class and then yelling. So it's usually a fun experience. I think she probably does the one-on-ones with people who want/need more. I've never heard of Reichien but will look into it. You're right that it sounds similar.
In my 20’s I had severe panic attacks. My therapist specialized in Reichien Therapy which is the grand daddy of all breath work. After reading about this Holotropic breathing, it sounds kinda similar. At least with the goal of breathing yourself into hyperventilation in order to open the healing channels.
The Reichien method various per trauma. In my case, I would lay on the floor in butterfly pose and breathe in while my arms would raise up and over my head while simultaneously arching my back. Then breathe out, hips would drop, knees sandwich up and arms back overhead to the ground in front of me. Over and over until I was hyperventilating and my arms would vibrate and hum. My pinky fingers would go numb. My upper lip always went numb. Then she would stop me and urge me to talk about whatever came up. I practiced this religiously 2 days a week for months until the panic began to subside and it was noted the humming was less and less and different parts of my body would get numb as the trauma was being filtered out. I then went once a week for a couple of years just to rid myself of all the crud that was inside me. I credit this therapy for my complete healing from terrifying panic attacks and all forms of flight or flight anxiety. It healed me from the trauma I carried from childhood. I was always in flight or flight mode as a kid with a scary step dad plus a few other negative experiences. I don’t know if I could do that sort of breath work in a group setting. I had some intense emotional response that I know I wouldn’t have released in a group setting. I’m just not built that way.
Also, Reichien is often associated with practitioners who also study Kundalini. I took a few Kundalini classes in that era. Trippy times for me. I haven’t thought about it in years. Also, I referred Vanessa to my shrink for Reichien therapy as well. She got a lot out of it, too. We often lament on how Deborah was the best thing that ever happened to our mental health.
Cool read! Thanks for the share!!