Listening in
When senses become overwhelmed, a simple gadget helps me tune inwards
Some days I feel my skin is too thin. On the bus, a waft of strong perfume sends my mood into a spin. Tight fabric presses and drags at my flesh - I won’t be able to think straight until I change into looser clothing. A souped-up car revs by and the sound reverberates into the marrow of my bones.
Maybe you're familiar with these descriptions. They're a feature of environmental sensitivity, aka being a highly sensitive person, a character trait that has its upsides as well as its challenges.
Sensitivity is defined as the ability to perceive, process and respond deeply to our environment.
Noise, in particular, can be an issue for me. At times, the sound of city-living - traffic, roadworks, crowds of people - lands harsh and incessant on my senses. I have, however, discovered small things can help.
Specifically, two small things made of plastic and silicone.
Earplugs.
I'm not talking about those waxy lumps you'd stuff in your lughole at the pool. These are trendy, high-tech ones.
By giving me the power to dampen down sensory inputs, these clever little critters have improved my quality of life.
A constant feature in my bag, I pop them in when at the cinema, at a gig or on busy streets, safe in the knowledge I’ll hear everything I need to hear, at a comfortable level, while all unnecessary background noise is dulled or blanked out.
You may be wondering, quite rightly, where yoga comes in.
Walking down the street, my earplugs envelop me in a sort of sensory cocoon. These small ear companions seem to enhance my attention, shifting me away from external forces and into the present moment, where I become more aware of how I move and how I breathe.
This side-benefit was certainly unexpected. And in this different space, internal sounds come to the fore.
I hear a sibilant hiss as I inhale; the sighing haa of each exhale.
Can you hear these sounds now? They are always with us.
Trading the pavement, I revel in the soft thud of each footstep, a second heartbeat echoing through me. I notice the quality of sound changes depending on my footwear that day.
Noises that usually go unnoticed are amplified.
Amid the bustle of the outside world, with my earplugs in place, walking and breathing becomes my meditation.
That wearing a small accoutrement in my ear can soothe my senses and remind me of the practice of yoga is a welcome surprise.
What a blessing that, instead of perpetually drawing us further away from it, technology can bring us closer to a withdrawal - a turning inwards - of our senses.
[It wasn’t my intention to do a promotion for my Loop earplugs, however if you’d like to try them too, you can have 15% off via this link.
And in return, I receive loyalty points 🙂]
