Your body should be a safe and comfortable place to live but for many people, it's not. If you're reading this, chances are that at some point in your life you have felt disconnected from your body and maybe you still do. Maybe you're not even sure how you got to this point, but you do know that you feel like a stranger in your own body.
Let's start with some of the reasons that we can be disconnected from our bodies.
1. If you've ever struggled with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, you know that you can feel numb at times. This numbness causes us to feel disconnected from ourselves mentally, emotionally, and physically.
2. If you struggle with body image issues they can make you want to stay disconnected. If facing your own body Is hard, then you may avoid trying on clothes, looking in the mirror, looking at certain parts of your body, etc.. This only makes the disconnect stronger and that much harder to break the cycle.
3. Today many of us are more connected to our devices and we are to ourselves and others. We spend so much time on our phones, tablets, computers, and in front of the TV that we forget the importance of being present with ourselves and others. Humans by nature are social, and the more time we spend with our face in front of our devices the less time we have for social interaction. But first if we want to have strong connections with other people, we need to have a strong connection and relationship with our self and our body.
4. We are often up in our heads and not in the present moment. The more time we spend with only our thoughts, the less time we spend in the present moment. We start to get the sense that only our mind is what runs the show and our body is just along for the ride.
So how do we become reconnected? It takes time, energy, patience, and practice. But it is possible, and I'm living proof of that. Below I'm going to give you a few tips and techniques that can help you to begin to become reconnected with your body.
Try completing a body scan meditation where you focus and bring awareness to each part of your body. You can start from your head and work your way down to your toes or vice versa. Try noticing how each part of your body feels. Notice if there is any tension or aches and pains. Try doing this for five minutes to start. Here's a link to one to help you get started!
Try going for a mindful walk. Here you will take a walk and notice your surroundings using your five senses. Also notice how your body feels--your feet hitting the pavement, breeze on your skin, warmth of the sun on your face, notice tension/aches/pains. Here is a file for more information!
Try a grounding exercise. This helps keep you in the present and helps you notice your connectedness to the universe. Start by sitting or standing and notice your feet on the floor.
Try yoga, especially beginner poses such as child's pose and warrior pose. Yoga is all about the mind, body, and spirit connection! Make sure that during your practice you are focusing on bodily sensations.
Happy Friday and have a great weekend!