Note: This is an edited, written form of the podcast – How to Use Your Body AND Mind to Achieve Excellence.
Have you every sat on a massage table, barely able to notice the smell of eucalyptus in the air and the pressure of hands on your back because your head was spinning a million miles an hour crossing off and creating new things on your to do list?
Have you ever been in a yoga class where your body is moving through the asanas, but your head is stuck in the office, angry at your boss for not following through on something?
Have you ever been sprinting on a treadmill in a boot camp, and heard your mind say – this sucks, I hate this!
I know I’m not the only one out there!
We’ve all had the experience of being disembodied – or the feeling of not being connected and fully present to our physical being. We’ve all had times where our mind is running wild while our body is sitting still.
But, I bet we’ve all had times, too, where our body is running wild – like literally we are running – and our mind is sitting still – it’s calm, clear, connected, open, observant.
In those fleeting moments of feeling embodied – feeling a true connection between our mind or thoughts —our body – or actions – and our soul – or our presence – we can create absolute magic – we are living in our SOUL EXCELLENCE.
What does it mean to be embodied? How do we get there? Why is it helpful?
Reminded by Yoga
Last week, before Coronavirus measures put everything on hold, I started to get back in a groove and go to a yoga studio every day. It was glorious. Each class was a real reflection of the particular teacher. Paola’s class was strong and intense. Amy’s was gentle and supportive. Michelle’s was infused with mantras and delicious scents. Susanna’s was direct and instructive.
In each class, I was invited to embody that energy for the hour and fifteen minutes. I felt like a strong, focused warrior with Paola. I felt sensitive and supportive with Amy. I felt inspired, calm and confident with Michelle. I felt a beginner’s mindset with Susanna’s.
By virtue of being who they were as individual teachers, they embodied or expressed and idea out to the class, and in turn, I played around with embodying that idea too. It felt glorious to be dialed into each unique energy, to feel my heart shining, my ankles stabilizing, and my mind clear! I felt embodied.
What exactly is embodiment?
Embodiment is a tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, or feeling. The embodiment of something gives concrete form to an idea.
For example, Jesus embodied unconditional love.
Or The Duke Blue Devils Basketball Team embodies persistence and excellence!
What do you think you embody?
And what if being embodied is the secret to unlocking the power of our mind – our intellect – and that by being embodied we can draw forth the most productive – most useful – highest order – thoughts? And allow the low-vibration negative self-defeating thoughts to disappear?
How to Feel Embodied
Let’s walk through a mental and a physical process fo assessing our level of embodiment.
Consider these four questions:
- What do you VALUE?
- How do you EMBODY those Values? Or put another way, Does your BODY represent YOUR VALUES?
- What takes you OUT of your BODY?
- What do you do to get back IN your BODY?
Let’s walk through an example:
- One of my core values is growth.
- I embody this value by being vulnerable, by trying new things, by focusing on getting into my body, by meeting new people, by looking inviting so others want to share with me.
- What takes me out of my body is – overthinking, judgment, assuming that I’m right.
Do you see how this not only takes me out of my body, but out of alignment with my value of growth? If I act like I know everything – well, then, how will I grow? - To get back into my body – I do things like stop and breath, go to yoga regularly, swim in the ocean and shift into observance mode.
Of course, you can’t think your way into embodiment. You must feel your way into embodiment.
What’s incredible, though, is that you don’t have to go to a course or spend years and years getting back into your body. You can do it right this very second.
Pause whatever you’re doing right now.
Take a deep breath in — for 1 , 2 , 3.
And now let it out for 1, 2, 3.
Let’s do it again.
In…..1, 2, 3.
And now out…..1, 2 , 3.
And one more time.
How do you feel? What are you noticing in your body? Is it sore? Is it strong? Is it full? Is it hungry? Is it heavy? Or light?
By focusing on the breath and using your senses to feel into the present moment, you are embodied and attuned to what you desire.