Your body is more than your beautiful, smart brain. It is your vessel that carries you through every day of your life. When you connect with your body, it allows you to understand yourself. When you feel connected to your body, you claim your space in the world, sharing and experiencing your passions and purpose. But why can you also experience disconnection with your body? And how to reconnect with your body? I share with you my favourite tips.
Being disconnected from your body can happen for various reasons. It might be due to something happening very unexpectedly, when you experience too many stimuli at once, or when a situation is moving too fast around you. When you feel overwhelmed, disconnection from physical and emotional experiences is an automatic response, designed to protect you from feelings that are difficult to contain.
Disconnection might show up as feeling like you are stuck in your head, unable to feel your body, losing interest in things that usually excite you, finding it difficult to express emotions, or having the sensation of flying away. If you experience any of these, these five tips might help you connect with your body.
1. Feel your feet on the ground
Bring your awareness to your feet and take time to notice them touching the floor or earth. Explore the sensations on the soles of your feet. How does it feel to wiggle your toes? Connecting with the floor or earth underneath you is literally grounding. Grass is my favourite. Wiggling my toes and exploring the textures I can sense with my feet.
2. Dance it out
Dancing or moving is a great way to help release stuck emotions or sensations. It helps to expel stress from your system. When you move, you can express certain movements your body might not have completed during past situations. The emotions tied to that situation can be released if you find the movements your body needed to make.
3. Muscle relaxation
Bring awareness to the sensations of tightening and relaxing muscle groups, for example your shoulders. Lift your shoulders all the way up to your ears and hold this position for a few counts. Then release them with a slow exhale. Repeat this a few times and notice the sensations afterwards.
4. Warmth
Take a warm shower, bath, or sit in the sun to feel the warmth on your skin. Warmth can be really soothing and relaxing, helping to soften your muscles.
5. Notice your breath
Become aware of your breath and invite yourself to breathe towards your belly. Inhale slowly through your nose and exhale through your mouth a few times. This can really help you to regulate your nervous system.Focussing on breathing slowly helps you to shift your focus to your breath and body, helping you to get out of your head.
Yoga might be a beautiful way too, to connect with your body. Find a yoga sequence here, or check the online yoga platform available for you any moment of the day. Or reach out to me any time you like to discuss what the breath can do for you in a private session.