Embodiment: Reconnecting With Your Body

In a world that prioritises rational thinking and mental activity, it’s easy to lose touch with our bodies. Western culture has long treated the body as a tool for the mind - something to carry out tasks, achieve goals, and be shaped according to societal expectations. But the truth is, we are our bodies, not just something that “has” a body. Our thoughts, emotions, and memories are deeply intertwined with our physical selves, and ignoring this connection can leave us feeling unbalanced, disconnected, or incomplete.

What Is Embodiment?

One of the clearest definitions of embodiment comes from Susan Aposhyan in Heart Open, Body Awake, where she writes, “We can define embodiment as the continuous, complete flow of cognition, emotion, and behaviour through our bodies.”

At its core, embodiment is about fully inhabiting your body and experiencing life through it - not just through thoughts, but through sensations, emotions, and movement. Aposhyan’s definition highlights three key aspects:

• Cognition (Thinking) – Our thoughts are not separate from our bodies; they are processed through physical sensations. For example, nervousness before a big event isn’t just a mental state - it’s something you feel, like a racing heart or tightness in your chest.
• Emotion (Feeling) – Emotions don’t exist in the mind alone; they are experienced physically. Joy might bring lightness, sadness a sense of heaviness, or anger a surge of energy. Recognizing these sensations allows us to process emotions more fully.
• Behaviour (Action) – How we move and engage with the world is shaped by our internal state. Stress may cause tension and rushed movements, while embodiment helps us recognize these patterns and respond with greater awareness and intention.

Embodiment is about bridging the gap between mind and body, allowing us to be more present, attuned to our needs, and receptive to the wisdom our bodies offer.

What Happens When We Slow Down?

When we pause and tune into our body’s sensations, we become more present. This shift helps regulate the nervous system, moving it from a reactive, stressed state (sympathetic mode) to a calmer, more restorative state (parasympathetic mode). In doing so, we create space for clarity, emotional processing, and self-awareness.

Our bodies constantly communicate with us, often before our minds fully process an experience. By slowing down and paying attention, we can tune into these signals and gain a deeper sense of balance and connection between body and mind.

The Felt Sense

A key concept in embodiment is the felt sense, a term introduced by philosopher and psychotherapist Eugene Gendlin. The felt sense is the subtle, often nonverbal awareness of what’s happening inside us - our sensations, emotions, and intuitions.

Unlike intellectual analysis, which seeks clear answers, the felt sense offers a deeper, holistic understanding of our inner state. Developing this awareness strengthens our connection to ourselves, helping us interpret bodily signals and respond with care and intention. This practice allows us to live more authentically and with greater ease.

What If Reconnecting Feels Difficult?

For some, reconnecting with the body can feel overwhelming, particularly if there’s a history of trauma, chronic pain, or injury. If this resonates with you, it’s important to approach embodiment with patience and self-compassion.

Supportive practices such as breath-work, yoga, or Craniosacral Therapy can offer gentle ways to explore bodily awareness. These approaches provide a structured, safe environment where you can rebuild trust in your body and its signals.

Working with a trained practitioner can also help you reconnect at your own pace, creating a space where you feel supported. Remember, embodiment is a personal journey—there’s no “right” way to do it, only what feels right for you.

My Journey With Embodiment

As a teenager, I wasn’t particularly sporty or physically active. My connection to my body came through music - playing piano, oboe, and singing. These activities required me to be attuned to subtle physical sensations, though I didn’t yet recognise this as embodiment.

In my 30s, while navigating low-level anxiety, I began exploring embodiment more intentionally. My first few Focusing sessions were a revelation. For the first time, I experienced how my body held answers to long-standing questions - insights that felt grounded and deeply personal.

Over time, embodiment became a way to process emotions, challenge limiting beliefs, and reconnect with the simple joy of being fully present in my body. This practice has been transformative, helping me build a more compassionate and trusting relationship with myself.

The Benefits of Embodiment

Reconnecting with your body isn’t just about resolving difficulties—it’s about enriching your experience of life. Some key benefits include:
• Increased Self-Awareness – Understanding your body’s signals helps clarify emotions and reactions.
• Better Decision-Making – Embodiment allows you to discern what truly aligns with your values and well-being.
• Stronger Relationships – A deeper connection to yourself fosters more authentic relationships with others.
• Reduced Stress – Tuning into bodily awareness helps calm the nervous system.
• Greater Alignment – Listening to your body’s wisdom guides you toward choices that feel more natural and fulfilling.

Relearning Embodiment

Many of us become disconnected from our bodies as we grow up. We’re taught to prioritize intellect, push through discomfort, and conform to external expectations about how our bodies should look and function. Over time, this weakens the natural connection between mind and body.

The good news is that embodiment can be relearned. Practices such as Craniosacral Therapy, yoga, somatic movement, and breathwork can help rebuild this connection. Even something as simple as pausing to notice your breath or sensations can be a starting point.

By listening to your body, you nurture a lifelong relationship with the part of you that experiences the world most directly.

Coming Home to Yourself

At its heart, embodiment is about coming home - to your body, your emotions, and your true self. When you take the time to listen, you’ll discover that your body holds wisdom, clarity, and guidance.

Embodiment is also central to my work as a Craniosacral Therapy practitioner and coach. By helping clients tune into their body’s subtle signals, we unlock profound insights and healing that go beyond words. In Craniosacral Therapy, this deep connection facilitates the release of stored tension and trauma. In coaching, it fosters clarity, authentic decision-making, and alignment with one’s true self.

If you’re ready to explore what your body has to share and embrace a more grounded, balanced way of being, I invite you to reach out and take the first step on this transformative journey.