Building Body Awareness
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How to use meditation to connect with the body.
Our emotional stress can impact the body, but sometimes we’re so caught up in our emotions we don’t realize what’s happening physically. In this mindfulness meditation, we slow down to notice what’s happening in the body by scanning to see what’s present (or not) and exploring each sensation.
I’m a licensed mental health counselor who enjoys sharing mindful meditations and information about mindfulness. Below is a transcript of a meditation I led on this topic, and at the end of the article, you’ll find a link to the meditation video. What we’re doing is just choosing something to focus on. I’m not telling you what to focus on, other than that it be in your body. I think sometimes we forget that aspects of our bodies exist, and so this gives you a chance to explore with an open mind what’s happening in your body and choosing one spot to rest your attention on. Let’s get started.
Meditation Transcript
We can begin by just becoming present to the moment you can move if that would be helpful maybe do a little bit of stretching. Just see what your body is asking you to do in this moment.
Sometimes when we walk through our days we don’t necessarily pay attention to or respond to what our bodies are asking us to do. Sometimes it takes actual pain before we notice.
I invite you to close your eyes if that is comfortable for you. It’s also fine to have them open.
And as we sit together noticing what’s happening in our bodies and responding in whatever way would be helpful, just do a scan from head to toe and see if there’s anything unusual happening.
Maybe it’s a point of tension or a little bit of pain or a lot of pain or maybe there is a noticeable lack of sensation in a place that sometimes causes problems. Take a moment to appreciate what’s not there.
Maybe there’s a little bit of sensation that remains from something that you did working out or some sort of movement that you did in the last few days that you can feel the remnants of. And although maybe it’s a little bit uncomfortable it’s a reminder of something for yourself that you did, and so it’s okay for it to be a little bit uncomfortable.
