Thursday, January 22, 2009

The Wet Noodle effect

Lynn gave away ten copies of a relaxation CD she made. The relaxation is fifteen minutes long. Lynn's voice is soft and soothing and when I listen to the CD I quickly go into a trance. The first time I listened I arose so full of energy I couldn't believe it.

I have listened to this sort of visualized meditation since the mid-eighties. For awhile, I worked for the state department of mental health. A very intense and stressful job. At the same time, my son was a teenager. A difficult transition for him. Then I discovered Shakti Gawain, her books and meditation tapes. My life began to change when practiced these visualizations. I have practiced many other visualizations through the years, including visualizing creative projects. For example you can descend a staircase to the slower mind, imagine oneself writing a novel, see an editor come and praise the novel and then come back up the staircase and feel energized and inspired to write.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am glad those practices work for you, Suki, I never have much luck with any of it, though there is one, a thing called Feeding your demons that really made me feel good. I forget the name of the author.

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

I have this CD also. I dont go into a trance but it does relax me. Enjoy.

marianne said...

Oh I always love these kind of relaxation tapes or cd´s. It is great when travelling.
How cool that Lynn made this herself! Must be special to hear her real voice as well!
A two times special cd!
Glad you can enjoy this!

Hug >M<

ArtistUnplugged said...

I've never tried a relaxation CD, sounds fascinating though. I need an energizing CD and a pain erasing one too!

Tess Kincaid said...

I had to get out Doctor Zhivago, the David Lean one, on Sunday night and watch it, too! I love to watch it when it's cold and snowy out, don't you? It one film I can watch again and again.

Love the young you pix on your sidebar. Got any more of those oatmeal raisins? It would taste incredibly good right now with my black tea. :P

studio lolo said...

I'd love her CD! I listen to them when I go to bed. I'm trying to listen to an abundance one but it puts me right to sleep! Hopefully I'm getting it subliminally :)

I love the old pics you've posted Suki.

soulbrush said...

i'm not too much of a fan of relaxation tapes, they make me tense just trying to relax. love the pic of you in the 70's. classic!

Blue Sky Dreaming said...

Shakti Gawain was an important factor in my life...both in art making and my more chaotic everyday life with family. We have travelled similar paths.
Your pictures in the sidebar are wonderful...you look like a very happy little girl in Boston!

Debbie in CA : ) said...

Today the gentle rain falling outside and the simple fire crackling inside has set me to rights in the relaxation department. I hear the teakettle signal, "Tis time to sip and ponder." Enjoy your day. May it be full of visualized delight. : D

sukipoet said...

Annie, I must just be very suggestible. I think such meditations are a mild form of hypnosis.

Cris, I too find it so relaxing.

Exactly, it is two times special. So fun to hear a fellow bloggers voice as of course we hear each others written voices but not actual voices.

Dear Artist Unplugged, well it is interesting for as I indicated the CD relaxed me but also energized me. There is an irony about these kinds of meditations. John Cabot Zinn has used a Buddhist like meditation practice for years with his patients who have pain. A way to work with pain you see. He does this in Worcester Mass hospital where there is an entire pain clinic program I believe. thanks for bringing up that aspect of relaxation meditations.

sukipoet said...

Willow, you are welcome to stop by and sip tea and eat oatmeal raisin cookies made with real butter no less. I havent watched Dr Zhivago in YEARS actually. I have just loved it so far and it is interesting to compare it to the recently watched Dr Z by the BBC.

Laurel, you should check with lynn as last week she said she still had some CD's left to give away. Maybe I should get the abundance one to put me to sleep!

sukipoet said...

BSD, that's so interesting that you know Shakti Gawain. In fact I vaguely recall she was from San Francisco at one time anyway. i relied on her quite a bit for a time.

Debbie, thank you so much. Your tea sipping by the fire sounds so lovely.

sukipoet said...

Soulbrush, I know this sort of thing isnt for everyone. This CD is pretty special given that Lynn made it. Not that I am trying to persuade you to try it or anything. My college boyfriend thought he was a hypnotist and was constantly wanting to hypnotize me and I constantly refused suspecting nefarious purposes.

Mim said...

I love Lynns cd's. If I listen at night I fall fast asleep which is wonderful

Teri said...

Now I wish I would have gotten one also. I can really get into a trance with this kind of meditation.

patti said...

I have never tried relaxation tapes, but maybe I should give them a try. Meditation is good, but it must be nice to just surrender completely.

Your pics as a child are lovely.

Lynn Cohen said...

Dear Suki,

Cris told me to get my tush over here as I was being spoken about!!! LOL

Here I am glowing with joy hearing all the wonderful testimonials about the Relaxation exercise CD I have been teaching my clients for many, many years now and used myself since my kids were small.

Guess what else? I went to a Shakti Guwain workshop with her as leader!
And her book: Creative Visualization was a life enhancing, changing "bible" for me too! (1970's)I used her positive affirmations to eradicate many old negative beliefs and tapes I had running in my head. I now encourage clients to get it. And teach them those tools.

I think I gave away five CDs. I would gladly send out five more to interested bloggers.
Tell them to send me their addresses at lyn_fred1@comcast.net

I am just so happy that many are enjoying the benefits. Yes, it energizes. And can be used for sleep too by tweaking the ending a bit. I explain this in paper I send with the CD. (didn't I?)It has also helped with pain control.

Helping people understand that "self-hypnosis" is safe and under their control may help them relax better too. ;-)

~Babs said...

Love the sidebar photos Suki!
What a wonderful headful of gorgeous hair,,,,your smile looks a bit 'impish' to me,,,I'll bet you were fun to have as a friend!

sukipoet said...

Mim, I listen to Lynn's CD before bed too and yes Lynn your enclosed letter instructed me to turn it off before coming up the numbers so I do.

Teri, as Lynn writes further down, you can still get a CD. Write to Lynn at lyn-fred1@comcast.net and send her your snail mail address.

Patti, read above comment to Teri C re: getting a tape for yourself. It is only 15 minutes long and worth a try for sure.

sukipoet said...

Lynn, that is so neat that you took the in person workshop with Shakti Gawain. I admire her early works especially. I'll add a note to the effect that you have 5 CD's left in my next post. Yes, you did send instructions on using the CD before sleep and I follow them. Thanks.

Babs the hair is why I posted that picture. It was bizzaare. Such BIG hair. :)

Jude said...

A copy ofLynn's CD has arrived today.... I can't wait to try it out. Also, it will be great to hear Lynn's voice.
Very special photos of you Suki,you look so content.

sukipoet said...

Jude, I think you will find the CD a great enhancement to your day. I like the idea Lynn puts forth of doing it 3 times a day which I have tried several times. I don't know if I've ever really been content but maybe I was and just didnt know it!

Andrea and Kim said...

Suki, I really love visualization techniques, too. It is wonderful to think of Lynn creating one of these CD's as a great technique. I will visit Lynn to see what this is all about. I am so happy it works well for you...I can also imagine Lynn's voice being so soothing.

Thanks Suki!

sukipoet said...

KIm, yes do visit Lynn. I think you would like this short visualization. Very relaxing. And energizing at the same time.

Dianne said...

Hi Suki, I love using visualization techniques for all sorts of things in my life. I used to teach relaxation and visualization to expectant mums when I was running antenatal classes.
Love Dianne x x

sukipoet said...

Dianne, seems like that would be a great time to use relaxation techniques, when pregnant. How lovely.

Anonymous said...

I have one of Lynn's CDs and I agree...her voice is soooo soothing.

sukipoet said...

Kelly, that's neat. I like to think we are both listening to Lynn for relaxation.!!! And energizing.