I’ve started seeing a somatic therapist recently. It’s been an interesting experience because she encourages me to use the tools I store in the repertoire of my mind but rarely engage with during moments of need. She prompts me to reflect on where I sense a feeling in my body, rather than search for meaning or insight. My default is to intellectualize, but I’ve realized that no matter how much I seek understanding and cultivate self-awareness, I still have the tendency to repeat patterns and try to judge myself out of them.
Yesterday, when talking about an activating experience, she had me engage with a practice called orienting, simply looking around the room/space, resting eyes on something pleasing, deepening the breath, and noticing how it makes you feel. I KNOW this practice works - sometimes I’ll open yoga practices with orienting in order to cultivate a collective experience of safety and ease. But I forget to use it for myself. Mind-boggling I know.
Orienting helps us reconnect to our bodies when feeling dissociated. It can help bring us out of a fight or flight (sympathetic nervous system) response. I find it useful to engage with these practices BEFORE we’re in a moment of crisis so they are familiar enough to call upon during moments of disconnect/activation.
This grounding vinyasa practice begins with orienting and moves into a rhythmic movement practice with an emphasis on leg, foot, and hip activation/release.
Enjoy!
<3 Rachel
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