Barefoot on the Beach. February (that’s right) 2012, Maine
So I’ve been clearing the energy at home, and practicing energetic bodywork with Marleigh at least once a day for the better part of a week. But an important part of healing is having some techniques that you can practice yourself, without the aid or necessity of someone else’s presence. I taught her a couple simple new tools to help rein herself in when her mind starts darting about in class or anywhere else.
1. The most simple thing to do is focus on your feet. It may sound odd to read that, but after a few energetic bodywork sessions, it made sense to Marleigh. Bring your attention to your feet, put the palms of your hands right on the soles of your feet if you can. But that’s certainly not always appropriate or possible in school. So:
2. Breathe. Breathe deeply. Focus on pulling the breath deeply into your stomach. Then push it all out as far as you can. Do that for a few cycles. Now pull the breath down in to your feet. All the way down to your toes. And then exhale as though you’re pushing the air out the soles of your feet into the ground. Repeat. Again. Again. This is a great technique for general calming, but it’s also good to rein in a chattering, scattered mind.
Over the weekend, I was driving Marleigh to a friend’s house. They were going to study for midterm exams which are later this month. It had been a busy morning and in the car I realized we hadn’t done any energy work. I was disappointed because I knew it would have been helpful prep for studying. We talked about that and I said maybe she could practice one of the new self-help techniques. “I know, Mom,” she said. “Breathe through my feet. I did it the other day in Social Studies and it really helped.” Enough said.
Mandy Meyer-Hill
Stairway Healing Arts Center 
It’s an interesting idea of breathing and connecting to our feet. I never would have thought of it but it makes sense.
I definately will try this when I can’t get to sleep b/c my mind is racing. Thanks!
I hope you don’t have trouble sleeping, Donna, but if you do please let me know how this works for you.