What is embodiment?

Let’s face it: embodiment has become quite a trend. It pops up in all areas of life. Google it or look up the hashtag on Instagram and you’ll find anything ranging from fitness and diet tips to trauma healing to spiritual practice to Yoga to empowerment techniques to business coaching.

And it is appealing, isn’t it? Why not choose an embodied Yoga class instead of a regular one? Or an embodied approach to entrepreneurship instead of the classic approach.

The benefit of this new, embodied approach, is something we easily can say yes to.

But what does embodiment mean after all?

Considering that embodiment is applied to many areas of life it is more of an overarching approach. That is why it is rather difficult to get a clear agreement on what it is about as its exact meaning is dependent on the discipline it is applied to.

Let me give you an idea of how it applies in different areas:

• Fitness and diet: a more healthy physical body that transmits strength and radiance
     
• Trauma healing: inclusion of the body and the impact trauma has on our physical existence    
     
• Spirituality: integration of expansion experiences into the body and daily life
     
• Yoga: deep attunement to our inner experience instead of just physical exercise
     
• Empowerment / business coaching: cultivating an embodied best version of ourselves in building our contribution in the world.
  

To summarize, we could say that embodiment incorporates the “perspective” of the body into different areas of life. If we do something “the embodied way” we want to build a deeper connection, alignment and attunement to the body. We consider the body, its needs and language while we go about the different areas of life.

Now you may ask: Why do we need to focus on embodiment to begin with? Are we not embodied by living in a body?

Why all this fuss about embodiment

Don’t we live in a body and are embodied by definition as we are born into this life?

In a way yes, in a way no.

Yes, it is true that we are embodied beings. Right here right now you are living in a physical existence. As you are reading this blog your eyes are taking in the words and your brain is making sense of them. At the same time, your heart is beating, blood is pumping, your digestion is working, your nervous system is processing, etc… things you do not even have to think about.

All good so far. However, would you say that you are fully in tune with the entire wisdom and intelligence of your body? Your intuition, your authentic self? Are you following that inner voice, are you taking care of your body when it is speaking to you? Are you hearing it to begin with?

Let me say a few words about intelligence: What has happened in our Western society is that we have created a split between the intelligence of the head and the intelligence of the body. When we think of the word “intelligence” we mainly refer to our cognitive thinking, rationalizing and sense-making capacities. Just remember Rene Descartes famous sentence: “I think, therefore I am”.

Throughout history our thinking capacity got such high importance that we have lost connection to the intelligence of the body. And when I say the intelligence of the body I speak to more than its mere physical capacities: I point to our intuition, our emotions, the intelligence of the nervous systems, the constant resonance that the body has with its environment, and the expression of our higher self in form.

The result of this split: we literally feel disconnected. We feel disconnected to our own inner deep knowing, to our intuition, to the inner voice. Let alone the signals the body sends in times of stress and misalignment. We do not know how to trust the body’s language and its expression. We have not learnt how to fully follow our own inner authentic voice.

The consequence: disassociation, aloofness, feeling guided from outside forces instead of our own inner voice, not knowing where we are headed. And in my opinion the worst consequence is dis-ease. In addition, we feel disconnected to the environment around us: the animal kingdom, nature and the planet – which is nothing but our bigger body. We feel disconnected to other cultures and species as we lack a deep knowing and appreciation of our own.

Puuh, that is a mouthful.

Take a deep breath here… become aware and release any tension that may have built up over the last few paragraphs…

Nice. Let’s continue:

So what embodiment is all about is to bring the intelligence of the brain and mind back into harmony with the intelligence of the body. It is about fully inhabiting the intelligence of the entire body-mind system. Instead of either/or we move to a both/and relationship between body and head. So that we feel connected, resourced, empowered and guided from within. And with all of this comes quite an increase in ALIVENESS!

How to begin the journey of embodiment

Now, how can you embark on the journey of embodiment?

Well, you can probably guess by now: get in touch with your body! But how to do that?!

The absolute foundation is an increased sensitivity towards the body. You can learn how to re-connect with your body sensations, feelings, the signals the body sends, the messages it is waiting for you to hear. In other words: re-connect with your body wisdom and inner inherent intelligence.

This may or may not be easy for you depending on your nature, personality and also trauma. Those of us that have experienced intense trauma may simply not feel safe to connect with our own body. If that might be you, a good starting point is to increase the capacity of your nervous system at the same time. I work with my clients on building this capacity of the nervous system over time.

If you have an easier access to your body sensations you can begin by practicing embodied mindfulness to increase your somatic awareness. In my private Facebook group “The Embodied Path Community” I regularly share practices of such kind. One example you can find here.

Your increased somatic awareness will then tell you what is a clear “yes” and a clear “no” and how they feel in your body. Become clear on the sensations when you have reached your capacity. In other words: notice the sensations when you are about to go into an experience of overwhelm. Learn to take your body’s signals seriously and be curious about the message they want to send.

All these are gateways towards a more embodied You as you can take these skills of attuning more to your body into all areas of life. And naturally you will learn to listen and act more and more based on what is true and authentic for you. This will help you to take decisions, show up in your most empowered way and stay in situations that feel aligned and withdraw from others.

Your embodiment is your aliveness

If you long for a deeper connection to yourself and your inner wisdom, more aliveness and authentic expression, try to increase your sense of embodiment. Get in tune with your body sensations, learn what these different sensations mean and where they are rooted.

Embodiment is so much more than a fit body, it is a deeper attunement to your inner voice. It is allowing fully what wants to come through you and building the capacity in your nervous system to hold space for it at the same time.

Allow yourself to feel.

Allow yourself to notice.

Allow yourself to live from inside out!

How about you: Why do you feel drawn to deepen your sense of embodiment? Leave a comment below!