Awareness is the key to transformation, and it simply begins with body awareness.
Our body seeks our attention but in our modern society, we have got used to living with a mind-body dissociation. When Descartes stated “I think therefore I am” he conveyed a powerful message that the body, the physical being is not as important as the mind, the mental being. And today, our connection with our body is rather conflictual.
What if we started giving more attention to our bodies? What if we started listening to what it is telling us?
We usually find in the body the effects of our thoughts and emotions, which sometimes turn into symptoms. Our negative feelings, frustrations, agitation, and stress, always have an echo in the body, generating muscular tensions, varying in depth and intensity, depending on the triggers. There is a strong connection between the body, emotions, and the mind. The body takes the form of the emotions that it experiences. It is the place where emotions and thoughts are manifested but we are usually unaware of this because we do not pay attention to it.
So, to know our body we must listen to it. The body constantly transmits messages, some more subtle, some more powerful. Sophrology can be the ideal way to develop body awareness.
The body, and the relation body-mind-emotions, is at the core of the sophrology method. “Sophrology aims to reconnect with our body and with its infinite intelligence.” (Lorena Luchian). Developing body awareness in sophrology is a process that entails a specific methodology and defined practices:
- In an initial stage, we start by simply developing an awareness of our presence in the “here and now”. This is called Basic Sophronisation or to put it more simply, Body Scan. It is the introductory and essential phase of any sophrology practice, and it allows us to develop a certain quality of presence. Through this practice we gradually allow our mind to become calmer, we bring our attention to each part of our body, and we start to observe and feel a sense of “letting go”. At the same time, we are fully present, connected to our body and our environment.
- A second stage involves practices called Dynamic Relaxation. The first degree of Dynamic Relaxation allows us to develop a more acute awareness of our body through our sensations. The emphasis here is to re-discover our sensations as if it was the first time, with a sense of wonder and amazement. We try to suspend any judgment or analysis and simply allow ourselves to feel and to be.
The second degree of Dynamic Relaxation involves visualization. We develop here our self-awareness by visualizing our body, and each part of our body, again like we were meeting ourselves for the first time without judgment or preconceived ideas. This enhances a positive self-image. It’s what we call “the body map as lived reality”.
- Finally, a very important component of body awareness is the breath. “Breathing represents a special connection between mind and body” (Lorena Luchian) and bringing our attention to our breath can help us know a lot about our emotional and physical state. For example, if we are anxious, our breath becomes short, rapid, and more in the chest. If we are completely relaxed, our breath becomes deep, ample, and more in the belly. Various specific practices in Sophrology involve conscious breathing as a way of developing body awareness, but also a way of releasing muscle tensions and bringing emotional balance.
