So there I was, violently twitching on the couch while the tranquil voice from a guided Yoga Nidra video played across my headphones…
Stressed to the max from balancing a job that demanded every last drop of me while trying to care for a wife and 3-year-old daughter who were in and out of the hospital with undiagnosable symptoms1, someone suggested Yoga Nidra as a way to cope.
That night, after everyone was asleep, I put my headphones on and started the guided meditation. Suddenly, my muscles felt like they were embedded with blades. Flashes of pain burned deep in my muscles wherever I directed my attention.
Relax, and it will stop, I thought. I tried mentally probing for a sensation of tension to release, but I couldn’t distinguish tension from the pain.
Unable to remain still, I clenched every muscle in my arm and felt a hint of relief.
That felt good, so I scanned my body, extinguishing the sparks of pain as they arose with instinctive shivers, twitches, and sustained contractions in a spasmodic game of whack-a-mole.
It felt like I was wringing out the stress from the core of my muscles.
Thank goodness nobody is awake to see me spazzing like this, I thought self-consciously. I must look ridiculous.
Resist the urge to resist what my body wants to be doing.
Enduring and encouraging the intuitive convulsions dulled the pain, and a subtle sense of relief took its place. My muscles were tired and finally ready to rest, having exorcised the embedded stress they had contained.
It was intense and cathartic.
…and that’s when I experienced the power of shaking.
Since that night, I have continued to periodically use this method of body scanning and intuitive muscle twitching as a tool to manage tension during peak stress situations.
If you want to try it, this is how I do it:
Find a time and place you will have privacy.
Lay down and begin to scan your body as you would for Yoga Nidra. I recommend a large soft space like a bed, so you have room to move.
When you find muscles holding tension, contract them in whatever way feels right. My body likes rapid pulsing twitches and forceful, sustained contractions. Allow your body to move however it wants.
As self-conscious thoughts arise, notice them and let yourself be amused by how ridiculous you would look if someone saw you doing this. Let yourself laugh if the urge arises. Don’t let self-conscious thoughts restrict your movement in any way, and don’t let them distract you from the awareness of subtle tensions in your body. If tears flow, let them flow without resistance or judgment.
Linger on a body part until you feel compelled to continue your scan.
Randomly switch from one body part to another if it feels right.
Repeat body parts as many times as you are compelled to.
Search for ever more subtle held tension and see what movement it wants.
When your body feels calm enough, reflect on the experience. I find it helpful to ask myself what unmet needs may have led to the buildup of tension.
Expect to be sore within the next two days. You’ve just done a workout.
If you try this, I’d love to hear about your experience. Let me know in the comments or on Twitter (DMs are always open).
Later assumed to be severe long-covid. They have since recovered.