Cultural Teachings & Traditional Healing
Air (The Four Elements)
Air is essential for life, includes the ability to breathe, smell, hear sounds. Traditionally, air relates to the mind. Focus on the air we breathe. People who have experienced a traumatic event may feel tense, nervous, and anxious most of the time. This is a very hard way to live life. Anxiety can be overwhelming, and it can take a toll on both your emotional and physical health. Anxiety is a strong emotion, when you are feeling anxious if is difficult to participate in daily activities and almost impossible to enjoy life.
Breath is the bridge
which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts.
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Focus on Breath
Instructions:
If possible, choose a space where you feel safe.
Take a few regular breaths. You will probably notice that the hand on your chest moves up and down more than the one on your abdomen.
See if you can make the hand over your abdomen rise and fall.
You can keep your eyes open or closed, whichever is most comfortable for you.
Everyone’s mind wanders from time to time. Everyone feels the need to fidget.
Before and after deep breathing, rate your level of anxiety on a scale of 0-10, where zero (0) is no anxiety and ten (10) is overwhelming anxiety.
Level of Anxiety Before Deep Breathing:
On a scale of 0-10 with 10 being most stressed.
Body sensations before:
Level of Anxiety After Deep Breathing:
On a scale of 0-10 with 10 being most stressed.
Body sensations after:
Healing Feathers Take a Break
Focus and slow down by colouring the image below. Simply click a colour swatch and then click on the area you want to colour. You can print your finished artwork or choose to reset at any time if you’d like to start over.
Singing: Moving Energy Through Air Using Our Voices
What are your favourite songs?
Create a play list with your favourite songs
Put on your favourite song but pretend you’re listening to it for the first time. Focus on the melody and lyrics (if there are any).
Does the song give you chills or create any other physical sensations? Pay attention to the parts that stand out most to you.
Create a family playlist:
Play the songs for your family and friends and see if they have any of the same feelings you have when listening to these songs.
Music is a powerful healing tool, and people have different reactions and connections to different types of music. There is no right or wrong feeling, and the same song might not make you feel the same way depending on your mood or surroundings or what is going in your life when you listen to them.
Make Yourself Laugh
Make up a silly joke – the kind you’d find on a candy wrapper or popsicle stick.
You might also watch your favourite funny animal video, a clip from a comedian or TV show you enjoy, or anything else you know will make you laugh.
Laughing yoga is a popular movement and breathing exercise that aims to cultivate joy, bring out your inner child, and help you let go of daily life stressors.
Laughing is and always will be the best form of therapy.
— Dau Voire
