What does “befriending my body” mean?

In ancient cultures, life demanded that people use their bodies to survive. They engaged their bodies in ways such as scrubbing clothes, kneading bread or chopping wood. Their daily experiences integrated their bodies with their minds, souls, and spirits through movement and self-reflection. Today we live in a distracted and automated society that compartmentalizes the body, mind, soul and spirit, but we still need movement and quiet spaces for self-reflection. This practice sets apart time to be intentional about this. 

How would I know if I have disconnected from my body?

We’ve all had experiences that evoke a certain reaction, or felt sense, in our body such as our face turning red, a knot in our stomach, or a chill up our spine. We experience a range of feelings in some form of mad, sad, glad or scared as we go through life. Your thoughts and feelings are felt and known in your body and stored in your body memory. If feelings are too overwhelming they may get buried in your body, leaving you numb and disconnected. Or they may show up in a particular posture or health symptom like fatigue or aches and pains.

How will befriending my body help me hear my still small voice?

As you respectfully listen to your body’s felt senses you enhance your capacity to hear the voice of your spirit, a knowing deep within that is beyond words. This is the source in you that longs to be whole and is the source to ‘hear’ God’s still small voice.

What does ‘embodied spiritual formation’ mean?

Embodied means ‘alive’, ‘in the flesh,’ or ‘come to life.’ Embodied spiritual formation is listening and paying attention with your whole self. Spiritual formation is a fruit of spiritual direction, which supports an authentic relationship with self and God. It is not about being religious only in your head, but about experiencing and awakening to how God is indwelling, or embodying, your whole self.

What are the benefits and results I can expect?

Outcomes will vary from one person to the next, and from one session to the next. This quiet and deeper way of listening leaves an imprint on your brain to be more conscious and present in your everyday life. You are nourishing a way of being with yourself that becomes a part of you. Just like the benefits of a gym workout stay with you beyond that session, you similarly take the benefits of slowing down and being present from these sessions with you into the rest of your life. 

Here are some benefits that others have experienced and that you can anticipate:

• Bring healing and meaning to your life experiences
• Become aware of the root of habits or patterns that hinder you
• Learn to handle stress with more tools and new perspectives
• Accept yourself with less judgment and more love