The L A Hug

Essential Practice #3

The L A Hug?

You might be wondering, what the heck is the L A Hug?? Is it some ridiculous, frilly trend out of Hollywood?? No, no, that is not it.? It is connecting consciously with the body and a way to establish heart-brain coherence.?

The L stands for Love, and the A stands for Acceptance.?

In our modern, fast paced world we have lost touch with touch. It is vital to connect consciously with the body.? Do you acknowledge this phenomenal physical body of yours with gratitude and appreciation each day? How often do you thank your body for carrying you around each day??

For many people, the body is an afterthought.? We pay attention only when something hurts or when we look in the mirror and don't like what we see.? We tend to push our bodies too hard or dismiss the body altogether.? When it comes to soothing and comforting our bodies, we may look to our partners for loving touch and reassurance, which may or may not be delivered.? We may look to our masseuse for caring touch and connection.?

It is important to have reverence for ourselves and our physical bodies.? We get to Value ourselves. As adults, we can show up for ourselves now. While touch from another is wonderful, we don't have to wait for someone else to show up for us; in fact, it is imperative to not be waiting for this primary need to be met.???

Instructions:

Cross your arms over your chest, with each hand contacting the opposite arm.? Pause, bring awareness to the sensation of the surface of your skin, notice the musculature of each arm. Acknowledge these marvelous appendages,” Wow, these are my arms, these are my hands.”? Bring attention to the energy in your body. Allow the hands to wander a bit, perhaps they move upward to gently stroke the neck and face. They can move to the shoulders, the heart area and slowly down to the belly or other parts of the body.? Allow some time to explore and really sense into all parts of your body. Your own touch can be very pleasurable and healing. ? You may notice how your body is responding, there may be a deepening of the breath and the heart beat slowing down. You may realize your shoulders, chest area and belly have melted a bit. ?

Our physiology is always reacting to our environment.? As we start to practice being present and providing a healthy, supportive, safe touch, the body can begin to resonate with what is truly nourishing.?????

There is a lot of talk these days about the Vagus nerve, and various ways to activate or tone the vagus nerve. I am very glad that science and research are now providing evidence of how our nervous system works and how it can be reconditioned.? At the same time, as we slow down, pause and stop, our own intuition will put us in alignment with what the ancient wisdom practices have been teaching us forever.?By turning inward, you will know.

All over the world native people?have carried their babies in a papoose or strapped to the body with long cloth wraps. In this way, the baby can feel it's mothers heartbeat and mothers physical energy.? A sense of safety and security is transmitted to the nervous system through this physical rhythm and proximity. With the development of the stroller and baby carriers, although more convenient at times, our children have less and less experience of being close to a body.

In the book, Radical Acceptance, by Tara Brach, she tells a story of a children's hospital where the very sickest little children went.? When the most expert treatment was administered to these little children, those that still did not respond, were ordered a special prescription. This special prescription was Old Anna, sitting in her rocking chair; here the children could be held close and rocked. After all of the medical expertise, resonance with a safe human being was the best medicine. This is a most fundamental, healing modality.

You can give yourself permission to touch, stroke, comfort and soothe yourself lovingly.? ?The intention here is to calm and settle the nervous system.?By practicing the L A Hug, you will learn your body's own healing language.? You get to Love and Accept yourself just as you are, unconditionally!?

For more on the health benefits of self-touch:

https://www.theurbanalchemist.com.au/the-psychology-behind-self-touch/