the feeling in your body is a surprisingly influential determinant of your mental state. your thoughts, in turn, are a powerful determinant of the feeling in your body.
if you're constricting yourself to reality in your thoughts, your body constricts itself as well. if you open and relax your body, peace enters your mind.
constriction creates fearful thoughts and unpleasant feelings in the body. opening is an incredibly pleasurable experience in body and mind.
this is why through your body you can gain wisdom and through wisdom a beautiful, well-functioning body.
most people practice constriction most of the time and only open and relax during sleep or as occasional exceptions, even if a practice specifically aimed at opening - through meditation, massage therapy, yoga - forms part of their daily lives.
although it may seem counterintuitive, constricting is complicated and requires constant effort, while opening is simple and natural. what's initially difficult is learning to stop the habit of mental and bodily constriction, which in most people has gained a considerable amount of inertia.
