WHAT IS THIS BODY MIND STUFF THERAPIST TALK ABOUT??
Michelle Gunn

Body mind therapy is a process that invites us to look at the interaction between the body and the mind; each one continuously affects and reflects the other.

The mind gives meaning to the body’s experience by using visual images, words and thoughts. The body keeps the mind honest and up to date to the desires and beliefs of the unconscious. Our body speaks through sensations.

Working with both body and mind gives us a wonderful opportunity in allowing unconscious held beliefs and emotions to emerge. Our bodies hold patterns of our experiences, from the limiting beliefs from childhood to the expansion of all that is possible for us.

When accurately translated the body’s language is a source of wisdom and knowledge. Once we are willing to ‘listen’ to our body, we are able to gain many insights into our core issues and beliefs. We are better connected to all the different parts of ourselves, and better able to make choices which are balanced and beneficial.

The avoidance of painful feelings is a major source for much of our pain. This is where the “body mind split” occurs. By blocking an emotion or expression a corresponding physical part of us will be affected, regardless of us being conscious of the connection or not. Our body feels the sensation of pain, both physically and emotionally,

Remember as a child, and even today as adults, being unable to cope with painful feelings, how we intuitively stopped our breathing in the process of trying to avoid that pain? What do you imagine happens to our body when we dare not feel, show or say what we want in life? We actually lock it up inside ~ and by doing this we interrupt the free flow of energy, thereby forcing our body to speak our mind.

And so it becomes clear that our body and mind are not separate…. We need to get to the heart of the matter, gain insight into the issues and beliefs of where the problem arose. Our bodies tell our stories through gesture, posture, breath and the many other automatic and unconscious ways we express ourselves. For example, a rigid body can mean an unbending and dogmatic personality, a body full of aches may hold emotional hurt and pain, an inflexible and contracted body may hold fear and anger, whereas a truly giving person will have a supple and pliable body.

To help in getting to know your body and gain some insight as to how your body mind works, try the following explorative exercise. This exercise will assist you in becoming more sensitively aware of your bodily experience. For each physical function of a particular body part, try to identify its emotional counter part.

Stand in a relaxed position …… close your eyes and look inward. …. Sense a particular part of your self. Sense its shape, its function, and its feelings……….. If there is something you want to know about that body part just ask… Feel your body and sense what is going on. Maybe some places are tight, some more relaxed. If you do feel tension, exactly how is the tension pulling; is it up, down, back? Listen to your body, what sounds do you hear? Is it a cry, a scream, a laugh, a sob? What song is it singing… is the music fast, slow, happy, does the song have words? Notice the different parts of your body – how do they feel? Do they feel alike? Imagine walking with your partner, a child, your father, what happens to your body? Allow your body full permission to express itself, it may be in words, feelings, sounds, movement or images……..Breathe slowly and deeply into the whole of your being, and notice what has changed.

Our body is full of wisdom; it will have the answers. Our body gives us clues all the time, it is just hoping that one day we will stop and listen, and when we do it is just a matter of opening ourselves up to learning its hidden language.

When we learn to translate the language of the body, we will discover greater freedom and choice in the way we react to the outside world.

Enjoy the journey

Love light and laughter,

Michelle Gunn

Michelle Gunn is a Holistic Pulsing practitioner based in the Gold Coast region of Queensland, Australia. If you are interested in experiencing a holistic pulsing session or would like information of upcoming training workshops, please contact Michelle on 0438 274 783 or email reila_natural_therapies@hotmail.com

As published in White Light Magazine.