Emotions, thoughts, and bodily tension
Tensions in different parts of the body can reflect various emotional states and blockages, but it requires a certain sensitivity and patience to recognise what the body is telling us. Sometimes, the body easily releases into deeper states of relaxation. Other times, we encounter resistance - in the muscles, organs, or breath.
It may be the emotions speaking, and they need to be heard, acknowledged, and accepted, which is often the biggest bottleneck or challenge for most people in making mindfulness exercises work. With time, the body will more willingly respond to the intention of releasing tension quickly and easily, just as we become more skilled at recognizing emotions, accepting them, and letting go in both body and mind.
For many people, it often happens that when they sit or lie down to relax or rest, thoughts come rushing in. The abundance of thoughts itself creates tension in the body, so one almost experiences the opposite of the intended purpose when they sat or lay down. Attention to the senses is an effective way to let go of thoughts because it is impossible to think and fully sense at the same time.
