Let me tell you, I love to ask this question... I want to feel how it feels to live in your body. Working this way creates more of an understanding, and I might be able to help better!
Many of you know that I love Yin Yoga, as well as Structural Integration. Although teaching Yin and working as an SI practitioner are different disciplines, I love what these approaches share.
In both professions, I have witnessed the transformative power of interoception—the deep, embodied awareness of our internal sensations and physiological processes.
Interoception invites us to explore the depths of our being and develop a profound connection with the "boat" that carries us through life: our own bodies.
Yin Yoga is often taught with a so-called 'rebound'. After each pose, the students transition slowly out of the pose and lie down in a neutral position to feel the effects of the pose. This provides an opportunity for interoception and introspection. This mindful exploration deepens the practitioner's connection with their body, enhancing their awareness of the physical, energetic, and emotional aspects of their experience.
In Structural Integration, touch is combined with the movement of the client. A client will come off the table regularly throughout the session to test, to explore their bodies and what they can sense, both in standing and moving through the space. During the last bits of my SI training, I started to view this as the "vertical rebound". It is where we are most aware of changes and can sense shifts on different levels. In SI, this is the case both within and in between the sessions. Part of the reason why to leave appropriate time in between sessions. Inhabiting, exploring, integrating.
I sometimes joke with my clients to take their bodies for a test ride. Explore, and have fun with it.
In my opinion, this rebound time, both in Yin as well as in Structural Integration, is where the magic happens :)
These modalities provide the tools and space to cultivate interoception, allowing us to explore the complex landscape of sensations and emotions within.
So, let me ask you, how does it feel to live in your body? How do you feel? And how do you feel about how you feel? (That's a lot of "feeling"; you might want to read that again ;) )
Can we arrive and live in our bodies fully?
I encourage you to take a moment and close your eyes. Feel the gentle rise and fall of your breath, the beating of your heart, and the subtle dance of sensations within your body. Embrace the magic of interoception, and let it guide you towards a life of profound connection.