March/April 2011 This I Believe
Rid Yourself of ANTs
by Wendy Oden
Even if your house is spotless, you may have an ANT problem. Not the little black ones, but automatic negative thoughts (ANTs). Like the real-life insects, these brain bugs are just as invasive and even more destructive. They infest our outlook on life and eat away at our peace of mind.
ANTs take a toll on our health. Stress and anxiety have been proven to kill neurons in the brain and even prevent the creation of new ones. When you are extremely stressed, the dendrites in the brain can actually shrink, causing your mind to go blank.
A simple mind body balancing technique called brain wave vibration stops my ANTs in their tracks. It combines ancient healing practices and energy training methods from Korea with modern scientific understanding of the brain.
It incorporates three distinct elements: deliberately making vibrations in your body, allowing your body to ride the rhythm, and following the flow of energy to reach states of deep relaxation similar to that achieved through traditional forms of sitting mediation.
Try the head nod method: Sit-up straight with your arms at your sides. Close your eyes and breathe comfortably, relaxing your body completely. Begin to gently shake your head from side to side. Breathe naturally and fully, emphasizing the exhalation, as you envision all tension draining from your body.
Focus on your brain stem at the base of your neck. You may hear slight noises or popping sounds at the base of your skull. This is normal. Allow your head to move up and down, side to side, or even in the shape of an infinity symbol as you go deeper into the motion. After a few minutes, slow to a stop, take a deep breath and return to your external awareness.
Wendy Oden, a freelance writer based in Sedona, can be reached at woden9@commspeed.net. Learn more about Brain Wave Vibration at www.brainwavevibration.com.
