The art of fully inhabiting your body and living a life that feels vibrant to you
Living embodied is about deeply connecting with your body, and experiencing life through a lens of awareness and connection to yourself, and naturally thereafter to others. It means tuning into your physical sensations and emotions, in addition to listening to your thoughts, allowing your sensations to guide you toward a deeper understanding of yourself.
How I came across the concept of embodiment
My journey into embodiment began with a yearning for more from life. I sensed that there was a profound depth waiting to be accessed, yet I struggled to articulate what that meant or how to achieve it. Despite consuming countless self-development resources and attending various courses… I often felt trapped in a whirlwind of theory.
I was well-versed in certain concepts… but found that much of my knowledge remained confined to my mind, leaving me feeling disconnected from my body. It was during this period of exploration that I first encountered embodiment and embodiment coaching. This approach resonated deeply with me, as it promised a pathway to bridge the gap between intellectual understanding and physical experience.
What does it mean?
Living an embodied life is about more than just existing; it’s about fully inhabiting your body and being present in your experiences. It involves tuning into your physical sensations and emotions, allowing them to inform your thoughts and actions. This practice encourages a holistic understanding of oneself, recognizing that our bodies hold valuable wisdom that often goes untapped.
Embodiment is about cultivating a deep awareness of your body: how it feels, how it moves, and how it expresses your emotions. It means acknowledging that your mind and body are interconnected, and that true understanding comes from honoring both. When we embrace this integrated approach, we can begin to navigate life with greater authenticity and purpose.
How does it look like in practice?
In practice, living an embodied life may take many forms. It could start with simple mindfulness exercises, such as focusing on your breath or observing your physical sensations throughout the day. You might engage in practices like yoga, dance, or meditation that encourage you to connect with your body and express yourself fully. You can, but it is not something you must do! We all have our own way of connecting to our body, and part of the experience is finding what feels good and natural to you.
As an embodiment coach, during a coaching session, I will often guide you to turn your attention inwards. By shutting down your eyes whenever that feels accessible and bring your awareness to what is happening on the inside. It is quite different from more traditional coaching!
My role is to encourage my clients to tune in. And unwrap the wisdom that is present and alive for them, at that point of time.
Outside of coaching sessions, living more embodied can involve guided somatic exercises, journaling about physical sensations, or exploring movement practices that foster greater bodily awareness. The goal is to empower my clients to embrace their bodies as sources of wisdom, unlocking insights that can inform their choices and enhance their well-being.
Living embodied also means learning to listen to your body’s signals, as these sensations can provide invaluable information about your emotional state and can guide you toward what you need in that moment: whether it’s rest, nourishment, or a change in your environment.
To wrap it up…
Living an embodied life is a transformative journey that invites us to reconnect with ourselves on a deeper level. When we allow ourselves to connect with our bodies, we open up to a wellspring of insight, creativity, and authenticity.
If you’re ready to explore what it means to live embodied, I invite you to embark on your own transformative journey. This journey is about uncovering the depth and richness that life has to offer when you fully inhabit your body and embrace your true self. Through embodiment, we can cultivate a life that feels not only true but vibrantly alive.
With love,
Joëlle
