Balancing Emotional Energy
by Amanda Toomey
Emotion is the experience of energy moving through the body, according to social psychologist Barbara Frederickson, Ph.D. In its essence, energy is fluid and is meant to be felt and released; the same is true for emotions. Emotion is not inherently good or bad, rather it’s our physiological response to emotion that is perceived as positive or negative. Emotion is felt as a sensation that often manifests as contraction or expansion in both the physical and subtle bodies.
Contraction is associated with emotions that may be experienced as negative, such as fear, anger, shame, or guilt. In a heightened state of contraction, we may feel energetically suppressed which can encourage the physical body to respond with tension and rigidity. However, contraction is necessary in maintaining balance and offers a sense of safety. It provides a foundation by which our physical body can feel supported and our thoughts remain grounded in the present moment.
Expansion, on the other hand, is correlated with positively felt emotions, such as joy, compassion, and loving-kindness. Expansive energy is uplifting and provides the freedom to move beyond our self-imposed limitations. Expansion in excess, however, can lead us to live in our mind and disconnect from our body. To live in balance requires an intentional dance between contraction and expansion. Consider your breath in these terms - the inhale is a physical expansion of the belly, ribs and chest; the exhale is a physical contraction of the same system. We invite an energetic lift with every inhale, and the permission to take up space. Every exhale bears a powerful weight that inspires an energetic release. Each breath invites a new and different experience.
Through the practice of yoga, we cultivate a mindful attention to the breath. Our breath can tell us a lot about how we are feeling at any given moment. Consider the quality of your breath - does it feel restricted or shallow, or is it deep and unrushed? Notice if you are leaning into a contracted or expanded state and approach your practice with curiosity.
Join us for Mindful Movement where we bring awareness to how we experience and relate to sensations in the body using mindfulness techniques and adaptive yoga postures. You can join us online or in-person. Click here to sign up!
Tap into your creativity in our upcoming mindfulness retreat The Heart of Hope: Wisdom from the Garden. Join us on Saturday, October 29 at the NC Botanical Garden to explore the practices of gentle yoga, meditation, and creative journaling. Click here for more information!
Reach out to us with your questions at info@dogwoodstudioyoga.com. We are here to help.
Amanda Toomey is a 200 hour registered yoga teacher (RYT), a lifelong student, and lover of movement. She first discovered yoga as a form of mind-body medicine that cultivated a deeper state of self-awareness and personal growth. Using a trauma-informed approach, Amanda empowers her students to move freely and intentionally in celebration of body, mind, and soul. Email Amanda at amandadz.yoga@gmail.com with any questions.