In the last few weeks I have been sharing about becoming more connected to your body. “Yes!” You may be saying “but how” you may be asking.
1. STOP
It is not possible to be ‘doing’ which -is a place of action and motion -and to be deeply present with your body at the same time.
So, first and foremost, you have to consciously choose and commit to a time to connect to your body. It’s usually easiest first thing in the morning (and a great way to set the tone for the rest of the day) or at the end of the day to set you up for a good night’s sleep.
You may well find it’s very difficult to actually commit to this time as there will be so many other things that seem so much more important. They only feel important because they help you to feel in control, safe and good enough. If you can commit to consistently practicing body connection you will start to feel empowered, enough and supported all the time and the rest of the ‘to do’ list will become much less all-consuming.
Make your connection time an item on your to do list and treat it with as much respect.
2. DROP INTO YOUR BODY
You are most likely in your head 80% – 90% or more of the day. When you are in your head you are not connected to your body. Dropping into your body is the conscious act or emptying the mind to feel into the body. Meditation is great as it can help to clear the mind but sometimes even meditation is very mind based. This is about meeting your body once you’ve emptied your mind and not focussing on the mind.
In the Fatigue to Flow Coaching programme I share a powerful process for tuning into the masculine and feminine energies to really embody this. The gist of this is as follows:
1) Firstly, come into your body by following the path of your breath into and out of your body. This takes your awareness from your mind into your body.
2) Imagine emptying out the mind and bringing in the spaciousness of the breath (air element) into the mind to have space with all the busyness in there. Create an empty space in your head and try not to get attached to your thoughts. Just observe them without judgement and create space around them.
3) When this is done then bring that spaciousness down into your body. Visualise a colour if you wish. Create emptiness and spaciousness in your body and around any body sensations.
3. PAY CURIOUS ATTENTION TO YOUR BODY
Imagine that you are a curious researcher and pull up a chair to observe the physical sensations in your body. Notice the quality of them and describe them – location, the colour, the shape of the sensation, the temperature and the texture.
Just observe with curiosity and free from judgement. If the feelings feel too big and scary breathe into your feet and pelvis and connect with the earth, sending a root into the earth to ground yourself and to feel her holding and support.
You don’t need to DO anything with what you observe. You don’t need to fix or change what you observe. Bringing your awareness and attention to the feelings is a huge gift to yourself. Often this brings in a softness and release that deeply feeds and nourishes the body.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or how you found the practice if you choose to do it.
This Date, 23 Years ago, My Life Changed Forever
Today, 23 years ago my life changed in a radical way. I was with my sister and friends and we’d gone to a rather seedy student dive to watch a local band. My sister and I just weren’t feeling the vibe and we sat, removed from the noise, and wondered why we were both feeling