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Heart
Slows Heartbeat
Lungs
Lungs io Dilates Bronchi
Constricts Bronchi
Stomach
x Inhibits Digestion
Liver
Glucose Release
CG Kidneys
Adrenaline Release
Stomach
Stimulates Digestion a
Liver
Bile Release
e
Intestines Cs
Peristalsis Secretion Intestines
Inhibits Peristalsis
Bladder
Contracts
QO
Bladder
Relaxes
Chain of
Sympathetic
Ganglia
Spinal Cord
Illustration How the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems affect the organs to prepare us for
either resting and digesting or fight or flight
The sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system revs up various organs Each of
these organs responds by overexerting itself differently Some people hold more trauma in the
stomach while others hold more in the face Each person has a different trauma setting for
each of dozens of modules and hundreds of muscles This gives everyone a unique pattern of
strengths and vulnerabilities Some of these modules correspond to functional structures such
as the swallowing apparatus the muscles of urinary control or the intestinal sphincters Some
modules may correspond to plexuses or clusters of nerves such as the pharyngeal plexus the
cardiac plexus or the solar plexus
These anatomical modules partially overlap with the ancient Hindu yogic structures called
chakras Chakras are thought to channel energy and correlate with both physical ailments and
emotional strengths Chakrabased practices are characterized as pseudoscience today because
they stem from an ancient philosophy that made some assertions that turned out not to be
true However the primary concept of the chakra has some validity Modern medicine
generally acknowledges that even the archaic descriptions of chakras bear a remarkable
resemblance to contemporary anatomical descriptions of nerve clusters
For example consider the throat chakra All of us hold some degree of tension in the
muscles that control the vocal tract This traumatizes our voice boxes and manifests as a painful
lump in the throat which worsens as stress increases It causes us to feel choked up
diminishes vocal range and makes the voice weaker and hoarser with age However we can
Chapter Persistent Adaptation to Chronic Stress
retrain our vocal apparatus using a series of exercises designed to relax and strengthen the
muscles restoring a broader vocal range and effectively healing this chakralike module This is
the subject of Chapter
illustration A Spinal nerve plexuses B Meditating yogi with chakras represented by circles C Internal organs
The extent to which our chakras have been impacted by stress and trauma determines the
extent of our submissive displays and our aptitude for composure In other words chronic
stress disfigures organs through developmental plasticity This includes tensing the muscles
behind the face nasopharynx retracting the genitals and contracting the smooth muscle of
the gut The people most afflicted are more susceptible to sensations like the jitters a
bleeding heart butterflies in the stomach the sensation of a heavy weight on the chest
and shortness of breath These forms of chakra discomfort are the primary causes of anger
pain shyness introversion and the background hum of persistent anxiety
Most of the time we dont notice our compromised displays the physiological dysfunction
or even the pain they cause Neither angry nor shy people understand that their behaviors are
dictated by the discomfort that comes from unbalanced organs Instead and quite
unfortunately they often attribute their responses to aspects of their environment They use
violence or submission to try to change the environment instead of using selfcare to change
themselves This lack of awareness allows their pain to control their behavior all the more
effectively
Each chakralike module has its own mini nervous system and each sends and receives
messages to both conscious and unconscious areas of our brain Our mind is continually
receiving updates from these modules and has the opportunity to send instructions back to
them However if you neglect to guide attention to the sensations the brain develops a blind
spot or scotoma for them making them almost impossible to selfregulate Program Peace will
help you develop an awareness of and control over these different modules We will focus on
sensing where the modules are whether you are straining them and by how much The
program will also help you learn how to hold them optimally while breathing diaphragmatically
so that you can combine them into healthful ways of being
Often when an individual attempts to withhold submissive displays other signs of
submission spill out despite their best efforts When someone unintentionally emits signals that
betray nervousness psychologists call this phenomenon tension leakage Examples of tension
PROGRAM PEACE Self Care Exercises to Reprogram Your Mind and Body
leakage include a cracking voice swallowing at inopportune times body sway increased
blinking trembling fidgeting stammering and startling People who show such leakage early in
a confrontation are sometimes thought of as weak or soft Unfortunately most people
socialize by default in a state of moderate physiological distress just below their threshold for
tension leakage This book will also help you become aware of your tension leakage and try to
persuade you not to be afraid or ashamed of it
Stress Adaptation Activity Accepting Tension Leakage
Our bodies often betray us by showing others that we are anxious We know that other
people perceive this nonverbal tension leakage and make judgments about us Because it is
embarrassing this can add an additional layer of stress and pain When we know that other
people can see that we are choked up or our hands are shaking we feel we have been
humbled and fear this as a type of demotion
The next time you find yourself nervous in a social situation dont allow other peoples
perceptions of your composure to throw you off or make things worse Be a legendary
warrior like Gilgamesh Shaka Zulu Athena or Hattori Hanzo who has the focus and
gumption to continue unphased Instead of being crushed by your bodys demonstration of
its weaknesses let your heart shine right through them Push through the instability without
denying it covering it up compensating for it with anger or being defeated by it Learning to