Why and How To Reconnect With Your Body

Why get in touch with your body?

What is the point of becoming embodied?

For those of us who tend to live in our heads and feel more comfortable in thinking, connecting with your body might feel pointless. For those of us who have a history of trauma and feel safer disconnected, connecting with your body might feel scary. For those of us who have been doing this disconnection for a long time, it might feel impossible (more on this tomorrow).

So why is it so important? Why are somatic therapies and connection to the body something you see on every other post these days?

It's because it helps (in short).

In long:

Becoming embodied allows deeper communication with yourself. It helps you align with your values, live with intention, and cultivate empathy for others. 

Your body is wise AF. It has data and information that you need to take care of yourself and be taken care of.

When you're disconnected from your body, it has to start screaming for you to pay attention and take care. But when you are more connected, more embodied, you can begin to hear the whispers.

You can hear the quiet conversation inside and respond so it doesn't escalate to screaming. You can get your needs met needs more effectively, because you hear them before they become desperate to get met. You can drink water when you're a little thirsty rather than chug when you're parched. You can soothe anxiety when it's just a trickle, before it becomes a flood of panic.

Meeting your needs builds trust in yourself. You show up for yourself, because you're listening to your whole self.

Not saying this is easy, or comes automatically. Just that it's important, and takes practice.

How do you practice this?

Are you struggling to reconnect with your body?

Do you ask "what am I feeling in my body" and come up with nothing?

You're not alone. This disconnection makes sense. Often, living in our heads and outside of our bodies helps create safety, especially if you have been through a trauma. It makes sense that you don't feel much when you try to sense what is there. You've been protecting yourself from what you might find. Two reminders: 1) You don't have to try this. 2) If you feel ready to, or feel safe enough to create more connection with your body but are struggling, you might try this:

-ask yourself, when/how did/does it serve you to live in your mind? Explore your relationship with your body and what protection the disconnection has given you. Rather than directly trying to feel what's happening in your body, maybe start with thinking about your relationship to your body to build a little more safety with the process.  

-break it down into smaller parts. Notice a specific part of your body rather than asking the question as a whole. "What do I feel in my right shoulder?" rather than "What sensation is in my body?" This can feel less overwhelming.

-create sensation to feel. Squeeze gently up and down your arm, and notice the change after you stop. Do a few jumping jacks, and notice what happens. Pet your dog, drink some water, put on a heating pad, hold an ice cube, and notice what sensations show up there.

Be kind to yourself as you do this. Know that it is a practice, and that connection will ebb and flow. If you begin to feel unsafe, move to something else.

What else helps you connect?