Learn to be Embodied

Many women who are anxious, or struggle with body image, food, and weight issues feel out of touch with their bodies. Your body may feel like an enemy that has to be conquered, or a dangerous land mine full of bad memories and painful associations. It may feel scary at first to even imagine being more fully present, in touch with, or interested in the way your body communicates to you. You may fear the feelings that you might find there. Exploring why you don’t want to connect with your body may be an important and necessary step before attempting to develop your body connection further.

The importance of doing so, however, cannot be underestimated. Body awareness is an essential step to re-connecting with emotional cues that you may have suppressed when you were in an emotionally unsafe position. Emotional cues and body awareness act as keys to unlock the door to your power, your truth, and your voice. Connecting through the body and sensation is a direct way to developing your knowledge of what you want and need, and gain a heightened understanding of when your body intelligence is saying “no!” and “stop!”

Here are some simple ways to begin to be more in touch with your body, and more present with what is truly alive for you:

1. Connect to your 5 senses

Awaken your body senses with elements such as lighting a candle, apply/spritz essential oils, listen to music, apply lotion, receiving a massage, manicure, or pedicure.

2. Take Walks in Nature

Walk in a natural setting reflecting on your surroundings. Pause to take deep breaths. Notice the movement of breath in your body. Be aware of your feet on the earth. Choose an object in nature that represents how you feel about your body, and how you would like to feel about your body in the future.

3. Write a letter to your body

Write a letter to your body about how you feel towards it. Then have your body speak and write back to you. If you like, you can add an apology letter if you felt you have hurt your body, perhaps in way that others have hurt you. Make a list of all the functions your body gives you that you appreciate (my eyes give me sight..etc.).

Becoming embodied takes time and patience with yourself. Old hurts, when seen, can be released and healed.

becoming embodied, body awareness, emotional cues, healing from trauma