Becoming Embodied

~tlf

I remember hearing things like "grounding one's self" and not really being sure if there was any meaning or substance behind it.

The last year and a bit has meant a lot more time at home, with the exception of the occasional trip to the best venue in Nightfall City. Lately I've notice a lot more stiffness in my body and general sluggishness.

I started doing stretches at home. If I'm in a chair I'll rotate my ankles or shoulders slowly and make a point of enjoying the feeling as the groaning sounds fizzle away. I also make a point of stretching out on the floor in the living room most days and using some yoga postures I've found online for a few minutes if it feels good. I don't follow set routines.

This has shown me that a lot of my body was sort of "empty" of sensation previously and that pleasant sensations return when I exercise my joints.

At his point I thought, "this must be what it means to be embodied" and my mood was even better thanks to that healthy and reassuring feeling now emanating from my body. I'm doing this all casually.

Then I found this breathing exercise called "diaphragmatic belly breathing" and that deep satisfying feeling that I don't have words for yet added a new dimension of well-feeling.

From here I've been able to try meditation and actually enjoy it this time. Weird - it wasn't so pleasant last time I tried. So then I thought; okay, maybe this is what embodiment really is.

But as I extend the amount of time I spend doing these things and surrendering to the process, it just seems to go deeper and become even more fulfilling - like I'm dividing by two each time I go deeper and will never reach zero. Infinite satisfaction?

So maybe the body is more than a column to support the brain after all. I'm sleeping better and have an unexpectedly increased sense of good will towards people.

Sláinte (Cheers)