March 22, 2004
Napping with Belleruth Naparstek
I have never been a napper. In fact, until I was hit with Hormone Deficiency Insomia (I just made that up, but it's good), I had no need for one.
Actually, I have a bad association with naps, that has prevented me from partaking in the activity. On my third or fourth birthday, I fell asleep, and woke up after it was dark, with the dreadful realization that I had missed my entire birthday. It was awful. I decided, at that moment in time, that I would never miss something important again because I was napping. And I haven't. Yet.
Napping, however, since HDI (initals make it sound so official) has set in, has become a necessity. Because of my disturbing nap history, I alway awoke churlish, unrefreshed and petulant. This has all changed since I discovered that I can nap with Belleruth Naparstek.
Belleruth (that's her real name, bless her, not a made up frivolity, like Dakota, but almost as funny), makes these wonderful visualization tapes. She has something nice to say about everything that is happening in your body; the shiny red molecules coursing through your bloodstream, the tiny, sparkling particles of energy surrounding you, the stalwart enzymes escorting fat cells somewhere other than your thighs --you name it. (She has yet to speak to the unaroused, internal Native American animal totems, but I know she'll get to that. )
Actually Belleruth has a tape for every condition ; weight loss, high blood pressure, autoimmune disease, diabetes, chemotherapy, and they all begin with a delicous progressive relaxation visualization.
This is what I do for napping. I pop a Weight Loss (using my time efficiently, since it is something to which I should attend) in my walkman, and stretch out on the couch, only to awaken half an hour later, refreshed, alert and cheerful (but not thinner, oh well). No residual fuzziness, no grumpiness. Highly recommended.
Photo note: This is a piece of a New York City Restaurant Bouquet. There is nary a one that does not takes one's breath away. I chose this for it's soporific effect.
Posted by Dakota at March 22, 2004 07:00 AM