Transformation Through Release

What do you think of when you think of transformation?

Think about it for a moment. What does transformation mean to you? By definition  transformation is a drastic change in form or appearance. What does that look like in practice though?

Are there areas in your life that could use a transformation? We are not just talking about emotional transformation either. It can be physical, such as a space makeover, cleaning out a closet, or overhauling your diet. You can make a transformation in your emotional state as well. Changing your emotions through dance, meditation, or journaling. You can even transform your lifestyle. Elevate your vibrational state by changing the music you listen to, the people you hang around, and the places you visit all have an impact on your sense of self.

What do every single one of these transformations have in common? Release! In every one of these examples you will find transformation through release. Release’s definition is to set free. A few of the examples from above are easy to see the release. In the  example of changing your living space, you release the clutter and excess material things that no longer serve you. That can be through donation, recycling, or tossing out what is broken or unusable. If you are transforming the way you nourish your body, releasing your reliance on convenience and processed foods may be a top priority for you.

Things that can sometimes be harder to release are people, addictions, and toxic relationships. These can be friends, jobs, addictions to substances and/or food, even family. For some people cutting ties is easy, others not so much. There is usually a mourning period for these types of releases. Sometimes the release is so difficult that it is necessary to find outside help, this can be a person who supports the changes you are trying to make in your life or medical intervention. Releasing people from your life can be the most difficult thing you will ever do, however, it can also be the most rewarding. Quite often we do not realize how detrimental people can be to our health, and our lives, until we have released them from it.

Releasing frustration, and other hard to deal with emotions, through dance is probably one of my favorite forms of transformation! Using any form of physical movement to find release and transform emotions is extremely beneficial to our well being. This could be as taxing as stretching while at the computer to relieve building tension in your shoulders, neck, and arms or 3 hours lifting weights at the gym!  Personally, I enjoy a whole host of different types of movement. I love yoga, weight lifting, and walking! Our muscles hold emotions and tensions more often than we think.

As a massage therapist, I see this a lot in my clients (All genders included in this). I have been working on legs, arms, backs, and all of a sudden the client breaks down into sobs. Trauma, life altering events, and strong emotions that they refused to deal with are stored in the muscles to deal with at another time. It’s the mind/body connection’s way of survival. That release of emotions from the muscles is one of the most powerful and humbling moments to witness, in yourself or another.

Here’s an exercise to try when you are feeling tension or stress building in your muscles:

Check in with yourself. Do you feel yourself starting to hold tension in your body? Relax muscles in odd places you normally wouldn’t think of, such as releasing your tongue from the roof of your mouth to relax the deep muscles in your jaw. Allow the space between your eyebrows to soften, which will bring awareness and release to the facial muscles in the forehead, around the eyes, and for some you will notice your ears will relax down a bit. Nod your head forward and back, side to side. Lean your left ear over your left shoulder and repeat on the other side. Clench your fist and open your fingers super wide a few times. Take 3-5 really deep breaths, feel your rib cage expand and release the tension in the muscles between each rib. Flex, point, and spread your toes. If you felt tension in any of these areas, return to them and do the exercises again, or even better, move in a way that makes your body feel good!

I do these movements no matter where I am. I can be sitting at the computer (like I am now, and yes, I did every one of these as I typed them out), in a car, the doctors office, the synagogue, or Mars (yes, the planet. My youngest was being helpful)!  The point I am making is that you can do them anywhere. Transformation can occur anywhere, at anytime. Sometimes it requires deep work. Other times it can be as simple as dancing to your favorite song to lift your mood.

This week is a great time to use the energy of transformation to release things that no longer serve you and embrace your own transformation!

If you can think of a transformation that happens without a release, please share it!