Session 2: Embodiment

“The body isn’t a thing we have but an experience we are.” — Christine Caldwell, PhD

Kristy Arbon has many good guided meditations that help us connect and listen to our bodies. Here is one called: Learning Mindfulness from the Body.

You can find several more on her Meditations to Move Your Body page.

If you are interested in reading more about embodiment and somatic experiencing, here are a few suggestions:

Bodyfulness: Somatic Practices for Presence, Empowerment, and Waking Up in This Life, by Christine Caldwell, PhD. This is one of my favorite books on mindful attunement to our bodies.
My Grandmother’s Hands, by Resmaa Menakem. This best-selling book is very relatable with many good practices for embodiment. Please note that the author does include some practices that could be triggering. If you run across anything that feels uncomfortable, skip it. The world won’t end and you’ll be able to move at a pace that supports you.
Embodiment: Moving beyond mindfulness, by Mark Walsh. I love how Mark encourages us to understand our bodies as awareness.
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, by Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD. A well-reputed book that helps us understand how trauma lives (or is released) through our bodies. The stories included are impactful and really aid in understanding how important it is to listen to our bodies.