Your body is a complex notification system. The sensations you experience give you vital information about your needs – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Sensations describe what you’re experiencing physically, and feelings describe the emotions associated with those sensations.

Our emotions tell us where we’re experiencing (mis)alignment. Developing the skill of noticing what’s going on in your body helps direct you to make healthy changes that serve you.

Body scan practice:

1. Get comfortable, sitting or lying quietly where you won’t be disturbed.

2. Take a few deep breaths, feel the support of whatever’s beneath you, close your eyes and go inside.

3. Feel each part of your body, from top to bottom, and notice what’s happening there. Just notice – don’t try to change or “fix”. If you feel discomfort anywhere, bring your consciousness to the area and breathe into it.

Do broad strokes (head, torso, arms, legs) or drill down to details, which is recommended if you’re less familiar with your body:

Notice the top of your head and your hair – is it tight, or heavy? Does your hair hurt? Does your crown feel closed or open?

What about your eyes? Your forehead? Are they relaxed or loose? Heavy or scrunchy?

Make your way through your entire body in this manner – crown, scalp, forehead, eyes, temples, nose, cheeks, lips, mouth, chin, jaw, ears, neck, chest, breasts, heart centre, belly, upper back, mid back, lower back, root, reproductive organs, digestive system, rump, and so on.

Sensations you might experience are many and varied – the point is in the NOTICING, and the feeling.

Familiarizing yourself with your body and its responses, and noticing them in real time, provides you with a wealth of information about what you think, feel and need in any given moment – crucial for intentional living. Make this a regular daily practice to keep bio-notifications “on”.

❤️
- S