What does it mean to be embodied?

Firstly, I want to acknowledge that in many indigenous cultures embodiment is nothing new! In fact, it is and always was a way of life. Where these practices have been eroded is largely due to the impacts of colonisation.

For me, embodiment is about developing an intimacy with the sensations of your body. Allowing these sensations to reveal your body’s presence and feeling what is there to be felt.

Sounds easy, doesn’t it! But in reality, many of us have become numb to our body’s sensations and the wisdom it holds. This might be due to anxiety, stress, pain, trauma or an inability to cope. With that said you can see that being embodied is not always a good thing. In these cases, our body’s wisdom will generally take over resulting in us becoming disembodied so that we can survive or cope. While useful in the short term, long term this is not ideal.

One of the reasons I love Non-Linear Movement, which I teach is that it provides an opportunity to become intimate with your body again on your terms. The practise is guided by you without outside imposition.

By allowing ourselves to become more embodied we become more attuned to the subtle sensations and feedback our body is giving. By feeling more we can then experience the wholeness of life and also become more clear about the choices we are making and the type of life we want to live.