Starfish

Are you feeling “strong on the inside” today? Grounded, centered, and confident in your abilities to handle what life presents? If so – fantastic.

If not, I have one word for you: Starfish.

 Not the kind you see in tide pools (though those are beautiful and amazing creatures) but a “power posture” named after the starfish.

Power postures refer to various ways you can position and hold your body for a few moments to change your mood.

 We often think our mental/emotional states are, well, mental and emotional rather than physical. Not so. Your emotions are biochemical (Check out Candace Pert’s book Molecules of Emotions).

 And your biochemistry can be influenced by the “shapes” you make with your body.

This is why you can change your emotions by changing your physical posture, and by smiling, laughing, exercising, etc.

Next time you need to lift your mood or boost your self-confidence, try this: stand with your feet more than hip-width apart, and reach your arms up and out, making yourself look a bit like a starfish. Breathe softly yet deeply as you do. Hold for 30 seconds to one minute. Repeat several times throughout the day.

Simple yet effective. My favorite kind of health remedy.

This is not to say I don’t love ongoing deep-diving into the intricacies of Wild Goose Qigong, or Yoga, or Pilates or Mindfulness Meditation. Long-term study of any form of mind-body exercise has fantastic benefits.

But when you are stressed or feeling ungrounded, you need an easy-to-remember and simple antidote.

Next time you need a shift, try Starfish.

Shapes matter,
Kirstin Lindquist