Besides unending tension and stress, the physical field of activity goes awry in many other ways. A person manifests a great deal of unconscious movements that serve absolutely no purpose, go on without any attention, and drain energy. Some examples are fidgeting and nervous movements like toe tapping, scratching, or rubbing.

An especially pathological type of movement is rushing. Accidents are common when a person is in a hurry, but nearly impossible when there is focus. Being in a rush is always mechanical. Another form of this is the attempt to multi-task, the most inefficient form of work possible.

Movements are not as fast as the emotions, but are much quicker than thoughts. Runaway mechanical motions are easier to redirect than automatic emotions or thoughts. The leaks of unconscious movements drain a lot of energy away. The more you become aware of tension or repetitive fidgeting, the more you will move your system into a relaxed state.

Lack of adequate movement can set off depression and emotional despondency that becomes a vicious circle. The lack of movement lowers the emotions and motivation, the depression leads to less movement, which increases the depressed state. A regular walk or other activity can break the cycle.

Purposeful movements of the physical body, such as dressing, writing, digging, or dancing are initially learned with thought, then operate best without the interference of thinking. Instinctive movements that control the body’s primary and internal functions like breathing and hormonal levels, are meant to flow along without any conscious interference, and are best left alone. Altering the breathing pattern can cause chemical and other imbalances in the system.

Gaining the knowledge of what your body feels like in a truly relaxed state can help you to understand the depth of unnecessary tension you carry and make it easier to observe and remedy.

Progressive Relaxation is an effective practice of Hatha yoga for bringing the body into a relaxed default state. This can also be done to help fall asleep or to relax in the middle of the day. Lie on your back in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Clinch the muscles of your feet tightly together, then relax them completely. As you relax them, visualize your feet melting away and disappearing. Repeat this with your lower legs, then upper legs, and in slow progression, lower abdomen, back, chest, arms, upward through the main muscle groups, and finally the face. Sense how the body feels in a completely relaxed state.

Hatha yoga can help make movements more conscious by increasing relaxation, but it also helps build focus as the attention is drawn to one movement a time, then held there. Tai Chi is also a form of movement with attention that increases body awareness and thus better quality of life and well being.

Movements without attention are very different than those with attention. Self observing while working and working with all of your attention is much more fulfilling and productive than working while your mind is elsewhere.

The way to freedom and greatly increased energy parallels work in the other fields. Through self observation you will catch times you are completely identified with automatic movements and switch to intentional movement or another field of activity.

Physical Center Main Points

In a balanced person the body is in a state of relaxation all the time.

The main features of unconscious movements are that they serve absolutely no purpose, go on without any attention, and drain energy from your system.

Lack of adequate movement can set off depression and emotional despondency that becomes a vicious circle.

Physical Center Exercises

Find examples of when you are completely identified with unconscious movement.

Practice progressive relaxation before falling asleep.

Set a goal to eradicate the worst habits of your physical field of activity.

Catch yourself especially tense and return your body to the relaxed state it reaches with progressive relaxation.

Try one day without rushing, then evaluate how it affected your efficiency and feelings.

Physical Center Glossary

Hatha Yoga – Physical movements done slowly and with concentration to increase limberness

Physical Field of Activity – Human manifestations of movement

Progressive Relaxation – Tightening then relaxing sequentially each major muscle group of the body to achieve a deeply relaxed state

VIII. Setting Goals and Increasing Unity of Being