Click or cut and paste this link to see Donna demonstrate the posture. https://youtu.be/EJQXoHuRbC4
Here's a summary of just what it does .....
· Takes you out of overwhelm.
Focuses the mind.
Improved mental clarity
· Enhances the ability to learn.
· Brings out your best in confrontation/debate.
· Being able to see with better perspective.
· The deep breathing and focused movements promote relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety; building stability and resilience. I tend to always make movement on the Exhale.
· Particularly beneficial for individuals struggling with concentration, such as students or professionals working in high-stress environments.
· I, and many of my teaching colleagues, will do this before teaching or mentoring.
I vividly remember coming out of Woody Allen films, years ago and wishing I was more articulate, witty and amusing – I loved his one liners like: “don’t worry, I’ll take a taxi to the kerb” or “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your future plans.” or even: “To you I'm an atheist; to God, I'm the Loyal Opposition”.
Since then, many times I have mentally clicked my fingers and wished for some slick, breathtakingly smart remark to make the journey from my brain to my lips, if often does, but turns up 2 days late when I'm alone!
I was shown the following technique by Donna Eden (the Eden Method). Originally it was developed in the States by Wayne Cook, 1910-1985, a pioneering researcher of bioenergy. He successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of this technique for treating dyslexia and stuttering.
Cook co-authored the book Universal Truths: Unlocking the Secrets of Energy Healing, which delves into his research and methodologies.
When you are stressed or exhausted your energies begin to run backward which will make you feel tired. Often reading in bed at night results in dozing off, book in hand and lights blazing.
It is the body’s ingenious way of encouraging you to rest and replenish.
If we ignore this message, and a lot of us do, the energies can become chaotic and ‘scrambled’. Make a mental note of these two words because they are central to this posture.
· It will become increasingly difficult to find the right words in any discussion,
· people will not ‘get’ what you mean, as the energetic connection is lost between you
· you may stumble over your words
· you may feel a total lack of clarity on a situation, lose concentration and focus and even feel overwhelmed, disconnected or hysterical
· Upsets may become so intense that you find yourself crying all the time, snapping at others and sinking into despair
· Everything becomes totally out of proportion
Doing the Wayne Cook Hook Up [takes about 90 secs] will connect the energy circuits in your body, allowing a smoother flow. It helps the energies between the forebrain and autonomic nervous system work in better harmony. What does that mean? Well, it can ….
Help you feel less overwhelmed by it all, less exhausted and more able to cope.
Untangle inner chaos and overwhelm, bringing order to your thinking and help you better understand and confront the challenges that life throws at you.
That opening up off the forehead, creates space for the Yin Tang (3rd eye) to sigh and spread – constant frowning begins to congest the area. When this point is open and vital, we can literally ‘see things differently’, developing a healthier and less stressful perspective on life
As your energies ‘unscramble’ your concentration, focus and communication skills will improve: You may not be as witty as Woody, but you will notice a difference.
You will find that people tend to ‘get’ what you mean more easily. This is invaluable in your personal life but also if your business involves communicating with others, be it an actor, teacher, doctor or even politician.
The technique literally clears the cobwebs from your brain and brings you more into the present. We can waste far too much time dwelling on the past and worrying about the future. In doing this we often lose the joy of the ‘present moment’.
Doing this technique on a regular basis will help you learn more effectively.
If you are aware of ‘meridians’, the energy pathways of the body, you will find they begin to balance after doing this technique.
Help with certain psychological problems including confusion, obsessiveness, compulsivity, disorganization, depression and excessive anger.
Strengthen the body’s energy integrity, making it less vulnerable to toxic pollution in the environment.
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· Sit with your back erect, clasp your hands together on your lap and take a deep breath.
· Place the left foot over the right knee
· Grasp the front of the left ankle with the right hand
· Grasp the ball of your left foot with your left hand
· Breathe in deeply through your nose and lift your torso fully erect. At the same time, pull your leg towards you –don’t strain in any way.
· [See diagram A]
· Exhale through the mouth and relax the body a little
· Stay in this position for a few deep breaths
REPEAT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE
Uncross your legs and put your hands into a prayer position fingertips touching forming a steeple. Place thumbs over the 3rd Eye.
Breathe in through your nose and out the mouth
Using the side of your thumbs, stretch the forehead to the temples
Return the thumbs to the 3rd eye and repeat the stretch
Repeat a couple of times, slowly, before pausing the fingertips at the temples. This can improve the exit and entry point of Triple Warmer and Gallbladder, so that excess ‘stress energy’ can flow out and on. It will help to disperse congested 'stress' energies.
Bring the hands down, in prayer position, level with your eyes.
Look through the middle of them and surrender into your own breathing
Lower down over the Thymus area (see the blog on the Thymus Thump for benefits)
End by spreading both hands over the heart, smile and tune in.
Opening the forehead by gently pulling the skin towards the temples with the hands can activate the Yin Tang, also known as the "Third Eye". Located between the eyebrows, this point is associated with mental clarity, relaxation, and spiritual insight.
Stimulating the Yin Tang can help reduce stress, calm the mind, and alleviate tension headaches.
By opening the forehead in this manner, you also encourage improved circulation to the facial area, which can refresh the skin and enhance its glow. Additionally, this motion can help release tension stored in the frontal muscles, contributing to a sense of overall relaxation and balance.
Symbolically, the opening of this area is said to foster intuition, focus, and a deeper connection to one's inner self.
This simple practice can be a powerful addition to mindfulness or meditation routines, promoting a sense of calm and centeredness.
The prayer position of hands, with palms pressed together and fingers pointing upward, is a powerful energetic gesture that symbolizes balance, unity, and connection. This position creates a closed circuit of energy within the body, harmonizing the left and right hemispheres of the brain and facilitating a sense of centeredness and focus. In many spiritual traditions, it is believed to align the physical body with higher realms of consciousness, acting as a bridge between the earthly and the divine. The symmetrical nature of the gesture also fosters a meditative state, enhancing inner peace and grounding while directing energy inward for reflection or outward as an offering of intention and gratitude.
Tibetan meditation pose
I like, so am including, this ‘alternative’ Wayne Cook, so easy to do and for me, it moves a lot of energy. Try it and see.
It also unscrambles the energies making for clearer communication, clearer thinking, improved left/right brain integration and cheers you up in no time at all, so great for when you are feeling sad, confused or angry.
It returns your energy circuits to default, reduces stress, and encourages release of past emotional baggage or trauma.
We tend to naturally sit in this position and it may be familiar to you. It is sometimes considered to be a blocking pose but in reality, if you are over-stimulated, you are naturally trying to unscramble so that you can understand more clearly, so it is the total opposite of being blocked, it is about wanting to be open and understanding.
Sit [or stand], cross the arms over the chest with hands under the armpits, thumbs out and up. Close your eyes, breath and smile.
Stay in this position until you feel calm.
Bring your hands into prayer position and take a couple of breaths.
Cross your legs at the ankles - if you are unsteady or balance is an issue, you can do this seated.
Put your arms out in front of you, palms facing outwards.
Cross the wrists and intertwine your fingers, pull them towards you, up and under, so your clasped hands are sitting under your chin. Did you do this when you were a child? I have asked many people from different countries and most have – as children we instinctively get ourselves into positions that encourage balance.
Close your eyes, breath and smile. Hold for as long as you want before crossing the feet and hands in the opposite direction.
Conclusion
The Wayne Cook Posture is a testament to the power of simple, intentional practices in enhancing mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Whether you’re new to energy medicine or a seasoned practitioner, this technique offers a practical way to cultivate calm and focus in a busy world. As research in holistic health continues to grow, the Wayne Cook Posture stands as a promising tool for anyone seeking balance and clarity in their lives.
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