This weeks theme was sound. I tried out a new yoga class where the teacher was encouraging us to make noise as we moved through poses and let out our breath. There is something so therapeutic about opening your mouth to let out sounds and sighs when we have so much stored up inside.
Sometimes I wonder if our voices have a mind of their own and wonder why we only use them to talk or sing in the car. Our voices hold so much energy and most of the time, we monitor how that energy is set free.
Hearing is one of our senses that highly influences our body, mind, and emotions. Think about how you feel when you hear loud sounds, soft sounds or how different kinds of music completely change your mood. Well what if our sense of hearing actually feels relief when we allow ourselves to make some noise?
In 2013, I started working with my own psychotherapist. Lo and behold she brought to light for me that I had anger I wasn't aware of. Working with her, I realized that passive aggressive behaviors were a sign of pent up anger needing to be released. She taught me to purge my anger through an invaluable tool that I now share with my own clients.
Anger is an energetically charged emotion that needs to be discharged and the best way to do this is through:
Movement- run, walk, kickbox, punch a pillow, punch the air, just move the energy flow.
Sound- scream in your car or closet, let out a good sigh, sing, hum, cry like you mean it, laugh out loud.
Words- write in a journal without censoring, practice saying out loud what you want to say to someone else until you're ready to air it out, express yourself, communicate your boundaries, wants, and needs.
You can be creative on how you want to purge your anger as long as you get it out in these 3 ways. If not released, this is an emotion that becomes very toxic for your body and mind. There is nothing wrong with feeling anger as it is a natural emotion that arises to protect you. It's in the when and how you release it, that makes all the difference.
During sessions with clients, we often take breaks from talking to take deep breaths and connect with a feeling that may be needing attention. I encourage them to really let go during the exhales and to feel comfortable with letting out loud sighs in order to release the tension and suppression of emotions. At first, they seem too shy to vocalize how they feel through sound. Once they realize the huge release they experience from making some noise, they open up to the idea and I witness their letting go and see the relief on their faces and in their body.
This is an invitation for you to make some noise with no holds barred. Begin a new kind of relationship with your voice and the sounds it can make. Open your mouth, let something out, and notice how this helps to liberate you and lighten the load you carry inside.