WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE EMBODIED?
Embodiment is an increasingly buzzy concept in the therapy world and other wellness spaces. It’s a word that many practitioners, myself included, sometimes throw around assuming that its meaning is self-evident. Let’s actually talk about what we mean, though, when we talk about embodiment.
What Is Embodiment?
When used in a therapeutic context, embodiment simply refers to the ongoing act of fully inhabiting our bodies as we move through life. I think of embodiment as a verb rather than a noun; it is a way of living that involves noticing internal physical sensations, attuning to sensory experiences, and practicing present-moment awareness. Embodied living honors the intelligence of our bodies and invites us to be more in tune with them so we can receive the wisdom they have to offer.
There are many dimensions to what embodied living looks like in practice. These include:
Attunement to internal cues. For instance, noticing that you are hungry/thirsty, that your muscles are tense and that you need to stretch, that your posture is uncomfortable and you need to adjust, or that you are feeling restless and need movement to release some energy.
Mindful movement. Move your body in ways that feel good. Pay attention to what it feels like to move and enjoy the sensations of it.
Emotional awareness and acceptance. Learn to acknowledge your feelings and where they live in your body as they come up. Practice curiosity with your emotions and allow yourself to really feel them rather than try to avoid or distance from them.
Grounding. Recognize when you are starting to become emotionally dysregulated or disembodied and guide yourself back into your body through breath, mindfulness practices, yoga, or gentle self-touch.
Slowing down. Rather than rush through life, multitask, or distract yourself, take the time to slow down, notice, and connect with the environment around you. For example, observe nature when you go for a walk or really try to taste your food when you eat.
Meaningful connection. Have regular, intentional, in-person social interaction with people who you feel safe around.
Structuring space. To the extent that you control the physical environments that you frequently spend time in (home, work, etc.), try to set them up in ways that work well for you. Take note of colors, textures, visuals, sounds, and smells that feel good in your body and try to incorporate these into your physical space.
What Are the Benefits of Embodied Living?
Embodiment is a simple concept but can be quite difficult to put into practice in our fast-paced, demanding, and intellectualized world. Working toward embodied living can also present us with hard truths and invite us to make life or identity shifts. If you stop ignoring your bodily signals, you may find that you have to reevaluate jobs, relationships, habits, and more to see whether they are really serving you.
With that said, is it really worth it? We have a lot of reasons to believe that, yes, it is. Research demonstrates that embodied practices, like mindful movement, can lead to better emotional regulation, lower stress levels, improved self-compassion, enhanced social connection, and overall greater wellbeing.
Embodiment practices can also reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and help facilitate healing from traumatic experiences through releasing tension and regulating the nervous system. They can further improve attention, lead to more intentional decision making and living, and decrease emotional reactivity. And in my subjective experience, trying to live grounded in my body is worth it simply because it makes me feel more vital, more alive, and more human.
What’s Next?
If this information is compelling to you, there are many points of entry if you want to strive toward more embodied living. Take a deeper breath, notice how the sun feels on your skin, just sit and observe your environment rather than reach for your phone the next time you have a few minutes of downtime, dance and pay attention to what it feels like, have a conversation with another person where you really listen and make eye contact. Then try to incorporate practices like these more often. You’ll probably feel a difference pretty soon.
A final note: for some people, particularly those who have experienced significant trauma, it can feel unsafe to reconnect to the body or to feel at all. If this applies to you, be kind to yourself and don’t force it. A trauma-informed therapist can help guide you in this work so that it feels empowering rather than frightening.
Please note: This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a licensed mental health provider or other healthcare professional for guidance related to your specific mental health or medical concerns.
