I finally got it. Sensory distractions are the root of my evil !
I have always pride myself to be a sensual person - "sensual" defined as "relating to or affecting any of the senses or sense organ". Besides the usual sexual connotation we commonly associate this word with, it just means someone who is keenly aware of and affected by sensory stimulations.
By senses basically we are refering to our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch which normal people possess (but of course!). Let's look at them individually.
Sense of Sight
This is said to be our most powerful sensory organ. Our eyes open us up to see the colours of the beautiful rainbow, lead us to first cast sight on our partners (for most of us I would say!), and a huge array of attractively designed merchandise which we cannot resist buying! They also expose us to ugliness - of people's behaviour, of society's uncaring, scheming, mercenary ways, of our treatment of one another, our environment and our universe.
Sense of Hearing
With our ears we hear wonderful music to relax, sing or dance to. We hear sweet voices and songs, wise and wonderful words of encouragement, or demeaning criticisms in our faces (sometimes behind our backs through the grapevine).
Sense of Taste
Without this how would we be able to enjoy our yummy food?! If you have a very keen sense of taste, you would be able to make out the different ingredients used in preparing a dish simply by tasting it. These people would end up as chefs, food critics or gastronomical experts.
Sense of Smell
I must say not everyone has a keen sense of smell due to perhaps physical condition like a stuffed nose. Those who are extremely good in detecting different scents can become the Noses in perfumeries!
Sense of Touch
This one is tricky ... let's just say some of us are more easily tickled than others!
Let me explain to you my dilemma.
I love to admire beautiful objects and people. They are such pleasant sights I often cannot resist the temptation to want to buy them, own them or just drool over them in cases where I cannot have them...(hmm... both animate and inanimate objects included!) It's a situation where money is never enough, no matter how hard I work or how much I make! Or the cute guy that just walked by, or the young lady with immaculate taste! Greed, envy, lust, jealousy... you name it.
I can drown myself in music - soft sweet ones, sad ones, upbeat ones, uplifting ones. To sing along or dance to them. To hear the endless news broadcast over the radio or TV. To listen to the voice that resonates with warmth and love, or the screechy annoying one that drives me nuts. The inconsiderate neighbour upstairs walking around in stilettos at 2 a.m.! They cause my emotional upheaval.
I have a keen sense of taste which explains why I love to eat yummy delicious food and want to learn to cook them. I believe I am capable of cooking some delicious tasting food too ... This is certainly not helping my waistline and pocket! Did someone say gluttony is a sin?
My sense of smell is so keen I need to hold my breath while opening the rubbish chute, or while standing in a crowded lift or train - gosh I'm breathless! This change in breathing pattern will activate the sympathetic nervous system in our bodies which in the long run is bad for our physiology and health, so my yoga teacher explained. Neither can I withstand over-powering perfume even though they're suppose to smell great! And what is this thing about pheromones?!
My skin is so sensitive it can only be in contact with really smooth, clean bedsheets, clothing, someone's smooth skin etc etc... Hence I can only lie on high threadcount bedlinen, even when I travel. And if you touch me in the right way ... we'll both be glad!
So in summary, I love beauty, am musically-inclined, cook well, smell great and have soft smooth skin (wow!!). But why do I feel miserable?
Today I learned something new. Meditation in yoga.
If you have read my earlier articles, I came to learn yoga to calm my mind. Because my senses are so keen I'm easily distracted, to my own detriment and hence suffer the bad consequences of sleeplessness, restlessness, weight gain and a really cluttered mind. I also love to multi-task since I can employ my different senses at the same time. I can be listening to the news on TV, typing this article, keeping an eye out on stock prices at the top of my computer screen, and chatting with my girl all at the same time. It's really a desired skill in our fast-paced society, bosses love that of their employees! But it leads to what is called sensory overload, hence stress.
Today I learned Mindfulness (meditation) as against multi-tasking. I personally think it is the most difficult aspect of learning yoga, more so than physically achieving advanced asanas. It is the technique of clearing and calming your mind of chattering thoughts. Even the most practised meditators have only rare moments of complete inner quiet and stillness. It is a process of self-exploration, self-discovery, and self-transformation. It is the seed that blossoms into the thousand petal lotus flower of happiness, wellness, and fullness as an awakened human being. (Mark Stephens - Teaching Yoga) It can be practised by simply focusing on one's breathing, if chanting mantras or counting malas are not your style. Practised with eyes closed in an upright seated posture (lotus pose, if you can), it is learning to cut off all other sensory distractions like noise, scent, thoughts, tactile feelings etc such that these do not affect you (pratyahara), and think of nothing else except your breathing pattern (dharana). To be in the world but not of the world.
I'm sure my experience is not peculiar to me. So, cut out the sensory overload, clear your mind, get in tune with yourself and start to breathe!
Julianne Lee
