Leaning into my bodymind

My embodied journey so far as I train as a Somatic Coach and lean into more body work practices.

I’m only just realising how much I was yearning to get back into my body before I went on sabbatical, and actually how this time would be a process of remembering. How to listen to my gut. How to enjoy the world through my senses. Utilising tools that are available so readily to us all through our breath, movement, sight, smell, touch, taste and sound.

I am training in Somatic Coaching at The Somatic School. All the reading I’m doing about how our bodymind — a term used for our full self, in order to stop separating and distancing our body from our mind (which are inextricably linked and inform each other) — holds all the answers we need.

We are integrated neuro-psycho-biological beings.

A few weeks ago I went to my first Somatic Therapy session and slept for 4 hours afterwards. So unfamiliar with the process of noticing and acknowledging the ‘felt senses’ in my body. Those subtle and nuanced pangs, shifts, tingles, flushes, heaviness, twinges… that tell you yes or no, or that you’re sad or scared or excited. A felt sense is a sensation with UMPH, that makes you listen.

We intrinsically know what these are, but our tendency to cognitively bypass these felt senses means that we skip all the rich information our body is telling us. The data it holds from a lifetime of experiences. (And lifetimes of experiences from those who came before us — I’m reading a book on epigenetics, but more on that another day!)

Without having to deliver to any work commitments at the moment, I am able to pause and check in with my body on a daily (even hourly) basis. The Somatic School teaches “if it caught your attention, it wants your attention” so go with it, what might it want? What might it revel if you listen?

So what have I been up to?

I’ve taken more naps than a 90 year old, I’ve said no to things that didn’t ‘sense’ right, I’ve done body scans in bed, on sofas, on trains, planes, platforms and toilets, I’ve danced like an embarrassing uncle at a wedding on my own to music I love, I’ve cried just because my body needed to (resisting the urge to allocate meaning to it).

I’ve gone to an ecstatic dance class, I’m doing Ev’yan Whitney’s Sensual Self daily somatic journal, I’ve done reiki and been to a sound bath, I’ve spoken to a variety of somatic practitioners and am learning about Hakomi, Alexander Technique, Gestalt Therapy and Organic Intelligence.

Fun Bit Of Science I Learned…

The left hemisphere of the brain is associated with the “conceptual mind.” It’s responsible for things like language processing, logical thinking, and creating abstract concepts. It helps us think and reason in a conceptual way.

When the left hemisphere becomes disconnected from bodily experience, it can create its own internal constructs that may not align with the reality we experience. It can lead to overthinking or dwelling on abstract ideas, detached from our immediate somatic/sensory experiences.

We end up inventing scenarios in our mind, both nice and not-so-nice, which can influence our emotions and reactions.

The right hemisphere of the brain is associated with understanding non-verbal information, spatial awareness, emotional processing, and a more holistic perception of the world. It helps us connect with our immediate sensory experiences and the overall context of a situation.

Practices which connect you with the body’s sensations (movement, dancing, singing, enjoying a sunset through your eyes) engage the right hemisphere, as they encourage direct bodily awareness.

Embodied practices help balance the dominance of the left hemisphere by encouraging a stronger connection to the right hemisphere’s functions. It allows us to experience the world authentically, rather than being lost in abstract thoughts created by the conceptual mind.

So… an overactive left hemisphere, disconnected from direct bodily experience, can lead to the creation of abstract and potentially unrealistic constructs. Somatic practices help counterbalance this by engaging the right hemisphere and embedding a deeper connection with our sensing experiences in the here and now. This leads to a more grounded and authentic understanding of reality.

Honestly, how have I been ignoring this big fleshy intelligent lump beneath my naughty thoughts for so long?

I’m familiarising with getting back into my body so that it becomes more automatic to react, move, live, be, enjoy in a congruent way. So that in any given moment it’s clear what I want and how to proceed. Less friction, more flow, more pleasure and easier decision making. Sounds good to me.

Things I’m doing to ‘get back into my body’

I thought I would list out some of the things I am now doing to get in better touch with my body. Hope they can support you in leaning into yours.

• Orienting for joy: There’s been research to show that having a bias for pleasure actually increases your resilience and capacity to face challenges. Contrary to popular belief that you have to grind and push and force yourself against your will. Expanding your window for enjoyment is much more effective than increasing your window of tolerance. The biologist EO Wilson said biologically “we are made for pleasure”.
  So I am permitting myself to choose to live from a place of joy. Want more colour in my life? Ok, move to Lisbon! I would usually justify my decision to relocate with sensible things like finances, community, work opportunities etc. Yes I’ve had a think about those things but top of the list of Reasons To Move were the TILES of Lisbon! How can you choose joy (in a small or big way) today?

• Waking up differently: when I wake up, instead of reaching for the phone (or letting my naughty mind spiral in thoughts of productivity anxiety), I check in with my body. How has it woken up today? How are my feet? What’s my back telling me? It slows me down, feels nourishing and calm and usually it gives me a gentle nudge in the direction of what’s needed (make a cup of tea, go for a walk, eat something, sleep a bit more…). It’s a much softer and flowy place to start my day. Ask yourself tomorrow morning, how’s my body today?

• No alarm: I don’t set an alarm anymore. I just let my body rest for the length of time it needs. It’s a great way to start tracking your natural rhythm. Mine seems to be landing on a 7am start. What would yours be?

• Naps: Even if it’s for 5 minutes (like I did today), noticing that my body is tired and simply shutting my eyes. If sleep doesn’t come, that’s ok, the peacefulness (and non-scrolling) was nice. Again, not setting an alarm and trusting that my body will take what it needs. Which is usually about 15–20 minutes. When did you last steal a nap?

• Decaf: I’ve switched to decaf coffee and reduced my caffeine intake all round. I’ve realised how much I was medicating for tiredness or pain. Take a pill if I have a headache instead of having a break or some water. Topping up with caffeine as default. I’m resisting the urge to ‘push through’ what I’m sensing. What do you use to ‘keep going’ and what might be nourishing to you to let go of?

• Orientation: I write about this here. It’s a way for the body to self-regulate in its environment via the senses. To tell the amygdala to ‘chill out’, there’s no threat, you’re safe. I look around the space I’m in and let my eyes land on what they want to. If I see a colour I’m enjoying I stay there. Usually a deep breath comes (I just did one thinking about it) and sometimes a yawn.
  Try it now — look around your space and let your eyes lead. Enjoy the colours, textures and things you may not have noticed. Afterwards, how do you feel?

• Doing less: There’s a brilliant prompt we’ve been taught on the course which is ‘how can I be doing less?’. Throughout my day I try to remember this, even when I’m walking. I will always have something I can be doing less off — releasing my jaw, dropping my shoulders, slowing my breathing, shifting my position to something more comfortable.
  How can you be doing less right now?

• Nutrition: I’ve noticed a shift in how I approach food. I’ve actually put on a bit of weight since leaving work. This isn’t about dieting for a beach ready body (all bodies are ready for the beach FYI). I’ve noticed that I’ve gained new found respect for my body and all that it does for me. When I roam the aisles at the supermarket and see the delicious UPFs I’m still tempted but I think of the work my body would have to do to process it, and now that I’m understanding that I am my body it just begs the question ‘why would I do that to myself?’. What might you choose to eat today that would be nourishing?

• Park it: I’m learning to just park it if something isn’t flowing. I wanted to write an article, spend an hour reading, catch up on some admin or speak to a friend… but I’m just not into it. I’m restless or listless and start beating myself up. It’s more of a waste of time to sit there not achieving anything annoyed at myself than to just move on to something else for a bit.
  So I’ve learned to have multiple options on the go. Put the laptop away and continue with some painting instead. Put the book down and go out for a walk around the block. What does your bodymind want? What does it need? Do it.

• Daily energy: On a more micro level I have been keeping an eye on where my focus and energy is throughout the day. I have a really productive ‘worky’ type focus during the hours of 4–8pm. Not ideal for fitting in dinner or socialising! I know that I’m useless at writing when I first wake up, so I try to fill those hours with chorse-y types activities and exercise instead. Being aware of this and planning around it helps me to feel that bit more on top of things by the end of the day.
  When are you most productive in your day? When do you prefer to have meetings? Try out matching your work schedule to this for a week and see if it helps.

Today’s prompt in my somatic journal was ‘which sense do you most neglect? How can you lean into that today?’ I will leave you with that, have fun with it and enjoy indulging in that sense!