The embodied path is not a specific theory, nor is it a method or technique that can be applied, it is merely my way of describing a particular attitude of living life. A way of living in which you can feel, enjoy, and embrace your body and accept yourself fully. A life where you continue to grow and discover who you are with wonderment and playfulness, where you feel connected to yourself on all levels, and can share your beautiful being with others.
When we work together we will be uncovering your own unique path to wellness that will help foster this attitude of living. Each journey will look different for everyone and will continue to shift and change as you grow.
Important elements on the embodied path:
Acceptance: Meeting an experience with an open and accepting attitude, without attempting to change it. When you practice acceptance you can be as you are, without the critical voices of "should," "if only," and "I'm not enough" trickling into your head. Acknowledging thoughts, emotions, and situations in this way helps to relax you into the experience, which transforms it, often allowing for greater clarity to come forth. Acceptance also relieves any pressure, stress, or negativity you might put on yourself as a response, creating additional pain as you negate your experience.
Embodiment: Mindfully being--deeply feeling and sensing into your physical and interpersonal body in such a way that you are the experience (which is felt throughout your whole body), as opposed to merely having knowledge of the experience (thinking about it only in your mind). Richard Strozzi-Heckler says that,"The distance we live from our body is the distance we live from our self, from our emotional reality." Becoming friends with and tuning into the body provides more information about your state of well-being, it helps cultivate a more intimate connection with yourself, and invites in a stronger felt sense of aliveness.
Mindfulness: Purposefully paying attention to the present moment without judgment. This means being aware of thoughts, emotions, sensations, and experiences with openness, not attaching a story to or criticizing whatever is happening. Mindful awareness helps to bring a sense of calmness and balance to our system that supports skillful responding to situations, a full savoring of each moment, and fosters gratitude and compassion. Studies suggest that incorporating mindfulness as a regular practice reduces stress and anxiety, increases positive emotions, boosts the immune system, and improves focus.
Practice: The act of doing something repeatedly. In order to grow, create change, and integrate learning, practice is essential. Trying out something new or different often feels unfamiliar--it may seem challenging, hard to remember, or uncomfortable. Whether its learning to play a new instrument or learning how to respond differently to a particular situation, taking the time to intentionally exercise the skill, play around with it, and get to know it across different times and situations will help integrate the knowledge. Practicing these different ways of being promotes choice and empowerment by giving you a wider range of how you would like to manage yourself, instead of falling into habitual patterns that may not be serving you.
Wonderment: A state of curiosity and awe. Meeting the world, your experience, your self with a sense of wonderment invites in curiosity, openness, and playfulness. This attitude evokes awe and a desire to get to know something or someone more deeply and defends against judgement and criticism.