How do i connect with my body?

[VioletButterfly]

I read though your wonderful responses and suggestions, and part of me just started running out of the room and down the stairs! I think I have a problem here. I think it must be rooted in the trauma? Maybe that's why I can go the more athletic route (my version, anyway), but can't sit still and concentrate. Is this (inner stillness) something you all had to work up to? Is it better suited for a certain point in the healing process? Just curious. This inability to connect as you are able to do seems to have gotten worse for me with time, not better. When I'm stronger, I do like to walk and am working on getting back to that. Is this a different kind of connection to the body from what you are working toward?

Not meaning to hi-jack the thread, just trying to learn along with @barefoot. Tks and sorry if I stepped on a "toe" @barefoot. :)

 

[Lola Nocheprieta]

What I try to remind myself (and my students when I am teaching them mindfulness meditation) is that "the purpose of the mind is to think." My mind is always going a mile a minute! Meditation does not always result in "inner peace" or stillness ... and that's okay! You are not a "bad meditator" if you can't "empty" your mind. The benefit of mindfulness accrues in the doing, not the outcome. Every time I try to do something like tune in to my body (bringing it back to body connection) and then I catch myself thinking about something else, or feeling all fidgety, is a moment of mindfulness. I am suddenly mindful that I was just ruminating about the past or worrying about the future. And therein lies the benefit.

There are many ways to be mindful and many ways connect to your body that are more active. Paying close attention to your feet, legs and pelvis/hips as you walk is but one example. I can imagine that vigorous exercise also works as a bridge to feeling more "in" your body and more connected. You do not have to just do calm, relaxing exercises to connect to your body.

Hope this helps!

 

[barefoot]

Thanks again for all the detailed posts here - I really appreciate you all taking the time to share experiences and ideas.

I think the main thing I am taking away from your posts so far is that I think I have maybe got bogged down in how I think I'm supposed to be doing it (laying down in silence, totally still, doing a body scan) and that approach isn't really w irking for me because my attention floats off.

I think if I approach it again knowing that I'm "allowed" to at have more luck. For instance, I often have a thing when I'm laying in bed at night that I'm aware that I can't feel my feet...it's like I can't feel my edges so my body (my toes) are just sort of blurring into the space around me, if that makes sense. And then it starts to feel like I haven't got any feet, which feels weird (obviously, I know I *have* got feet - not sure if I'm explaining this very well!) So, then I either move my feet against each other or I scrunch my toes up so then I can feel oh yes, thee are my feet.

So, perhaps I just need to do that. Perhaps instead of laying still and thinking/listening to the words ("here is my foot" etc) and then just trying to magically feel bits of my body, I need to do some kind of movement. I thought this meant "doing it wrong". But maybe this is a good way for me to do it?

That being the case, I think these things from various posts here sound like they could be useful ways for me to feel my body:

- tightening and releasing muscles ("here is my thigh" - squeeze muscle, hold, release muscle)
- wiggling body parts (toes etc) as I do body scan
- being mindful of my body as I move eg walking - I do try to do this but hadn't really thought of it as an example of me connecting with my body in the way that body scanning is - but I realise now that it is a very valid way of connecting with my body!
- using the weight of blankets/throws/a tightly wrapped sheet - for some reason, when I try to do body scans I don't lay under any covers even though I like to lay under covers! And being under a cover or having a sheet wrapped around me will give me an "edge" to feel my body against.
- baths - I like baths and think I'm probably ready to tackle one again now (I've been nervous after op of getting stuck but think I am probably strong enough now to launch myself up and out!) I used to have Epsom salt baths a lot and haven't for ages so that is another thing I haven't really considered as a way of feeling my body - as above, I think the water - and the bath itself) will act as an edge that I can feel parts of my body against?
- diaphragmatic breathing - I used to do this a few times every day and liked it/found it helpful in terms of anxiety/stimulating parasympathetic nervous system etc) but have fallen out of the habit. As I used to really enjoy it, perhaps this will be a good introduction for me to start feeling into my body more - safely connecting to my body through breath before then trying to hone in on more difficult areas e.g. pelvis.

Thank you - I'm taking something away from each of your posts. And I'm very happy that others are finding this thread useful - no apologies needed and no toes being stepped on at all (which is a relief, seeing as I'm barefoot and that would really hurt!)

@ladee - I'll gladly be the guinea pig and report back! :)

 

[Lola Nocheprieta]

Keep letting us know of your experience, @barefoot, and your progress! This is a very interesting and relevant thread for a lot of us.

When I try to meditate/imagine the chakras, it's very hard for me to do the root (red) chakra, because it's at the base of the spine and encompasses the pelvis and genitals. I always get stuck or feel really anxious.

 

[Gamera3000]

I was talking about this with my therapist today. She had given me an exercise to do that I was struggling with, so she gave me an easier one that was just body mindfulness. She's having me work on tensing and relaxing my muscles, starting with my feet and working my way up. Then also paying attention to things like, what is touching my feet (floor, shoes, whatever) and how does that feel. Are my feet cold or hot? Sore? Then moving on to some other body part.

 

[ladee]

I like that one too .@Gamera3000. Will add that to the list!.
This is a very timely post for me @barefoot , we help others and don't even know. So thank you!.
And thank you for trying the hard stuff first!:happy: