The Mind-Body Connection

We carry inside us the wonders we seek outside us.
-Rumi

Meditation is often depicted as a clearing of the mind.  The image is one of an empty head;  see, for instance, the name of one of the most popular meditation apps, “Headspace”.  In fact, meditation isn’t about emptying anything, and it isn’t relegated to the head, or the mind.  

Meditation and mindFULLness are about bringing into awareness all of our lived experience.  It extends far beyond the mind, including all of the body, and out beyond the body, too.  The serenity comes from fully inhabiting our lived experience, and relating to it in a more open way.  

Body scan meditation plays an important role in our journey toward being more at ease in life.  In fact, it can be very beneficial to start every meditation with a brief body scan - moving attention “down” into the body, taking in the sensations that are present.  

This act of integrating the mind and body in and of itself can put the nervous system at ease. 

In addition, as we move our attention through the body, there may be information there that is useful.  We may find that our right shoulder is tightened up, and we hadn’t even noticed it before.  We can use our exhale to allow it to settle down to a relaxed position.  This noticing, done over and over again, can help us not just become aware of when we’re holding tension, but also allow us to shift our position to send a cue to our brain that we’re okay. Importantly, we’re not trying to relax when we do this;  we are noticing, and shifting physical posture, and relaxation may result, but it’s not what we set out to do.  

Lastly, many of us have difficult relationships with parts of our bodies.  If there is disease or injury, we may have a hard time bringing attention to the affected area of the body, because we worry we’ll experience fear or pain if we do.  If there is a physical attribute we wish were otherwise, we may avoid seeing that part of the body in a mirror or putting our hands on it because there is aversion, frustration, or even anger.  However, when we gently, systematically move our attention through our body with great patience and care, we can begin to shift the relationship we have with all of our body.  This loosening, letting go, letting in, and letting be can have a profound effect on our sense of well-being.

We invite you this week to join us as we expand our awareness of our full lived experience.

May all beings, everywhere, without exception, find ease in the body,

Your friends at CMP