Contrary to popular opinion, embodiment is actually our natural, default setting. The carousel that is your mind may feel like it runs the show, but that body wisdom is always there, lovingly waiting to be of service. All we have to do to access it, is sink in and occupy the space that was gifted to us at birth. In this capacity we see with our hands, feel with our heart, and are informed by clear instinct rather than misguided intellect.

The modern experience tends to ask us to be more cerebral than any other moment in time. Emotions often aren’t processed in the body but through the scope of the mind. Rather than our legs, our full schedules and bustling lives carry us from moment to moment, and in many cases the time we take to cool down is actually time used to zone or numb out. Low self esteem, unresolved trauma, and chronic pain can also contribute to the need to escape your body. When we are fully embodied however, that is when true healing can take place and we can occupy space as our full and authentic selves, revelling in the rich experiences that life presents to us daily.

The ever mentioned practice of self love is a great place to start. Changing the inner dialogue is foundational to a lasting commitment in relation with yourself. There are many ways to begin the shift from negative thoughts to ones of compassion and understanding, and we invite you to check out our Incantations for Body Love and Acceptance as a jumping off point.

But what about when words really just aren’t enough?

That’s when putting the love to practice will immediately amplify results. Use these as a way to connect, sink into your bones, and fully love up and nourish the skin that keeps all your bits together. Life can be challenging, and our physical mass can sometimes feel like it weighs down the ethereal soul. But disassociating is never the answer. I repeat, do not disassociate from your body! Lean in, love up, and completely cherish this temporary earthly form.

Ten Practices to Reunite with Your Body and Foster Self Love

1. Write a letter

Tried and true pen and paper is what I want you to reach for here. Typing is efficient, sure, but today we are getting personal. Step away from your screens, light a candle, and carve out at least a half hour of uninterrupted time to make space for everything that needs to be said. Maybe this carries the essence of rose and vanilla all swept up in a cursive love letter. Or maybe it more resembles an apology, tears and emotion pour like a summer storm blotching the letters you scrawl. Perhaps it is just an outreach -- thinking of you, how are you? It’s been too long. This letter is between you and yourself. Like water, let it take shape of its container, filling the cracks and crevices, washing any debris to the surface.

Don’t know where to start?

Hey, old friend. It’s been a while since we’ve really felt eachother’s presence. I miss connecting with you, so I’m taking the time now to say hello. Wow, I’m in awe of your _______ and ability to _______ . I wanted to acknowledge you for _______ . You deserve more _______ .

Just keep writing. The pen has a way of moving itself after sloughing off the initial rust. Keep that hand swirling, even if it scribbles, I don’t know what to write. I don’t know what to write. I don’t know what to write. Eventually you will know what to write, and it can be profound and healing insights. Just drop in and go along for the ride.

2. Find women that embody the very parts that you reject within yourself

photo by Dominique Provost — *photo by* *Dominique Provost*

Consider this a fast hack to raise self esteem. Each of us likely has bits and pieces of this body that we reject, neglect, or hide. It’s the DNA we wish we could change, in the gamble of genetics we feel like we struck out. Or perhaps it’s the past marred into your flesh, tattoos of where you have been and what has happened to you. This is our one and only body in this lifetime, so it is imperative that we embrace every millimeter, every blemish as totally and completely part of the unique artwork that is you.

This practice trains the mind to see the beauty where we once only saw defect. For example, my body is moley and freckled. Brown spots of all shades and shapes are sprinkled upon my outer layer from head to toe. Since I was a child, I have used inefficient tactics to deny these parts of myself, like overheating in the dead of summer while wearing a long sleeve or hoodie to hide the marks. Although I no longer sacrifice my comfort for insecurities in my adult life, I still have had many removed, and have tried to pay them no attention as unfortunate pieces to the package that is me. That is, until I began seeing. I found Kat O’Connor on Instagram. I watched Jennifer Lawrance on the red carpet. I really looked at the gorgeous women in my personal life. And you know what? They were moley, freckled BEAUTIES. It wasn’t until then did I really embrace these aspects of my body as ink which enhances my individuality and makes me so uniquely me.

The practice: Find a minimum of three women that you find enchanting and gorgeous which possess the very traits in which you reject within yourself. For each shunned attribute, find at least three examples which expand your belief of what beauty looks like.

3. Breath work

Prana translates to sacred life force, in Sanskrit and is the foundation of the Pranayama practice (breathwork). When you define breath as life force, it makes sense how powerful conscious breathing can be in helping you arrive in your body. Just a couple deep breaths have the effect of lowering blood pressure and reducing cortisol levels (stress hormone). When we actively use the breath as a tool to alter our state of consciousness, a lot more magic can happen. On the physical realm, you are alkalizing your blood’s pH level, improving circulation, lowering blood pressure, and releasing mood boosting hormones. On an energetic level, you are bringing old clutter to the surface and releasing it through the breath, clearing meridians, balancing the energy centers, and facilitating healing without thinking about it.

Breathwork is a form of meditation, but unlike a sitting meditation, this active meditation functionally gets us out of our heads and into our bodies. This can come as a relief to those who have an overactive chatter brain when trying to find stillness and peace. Many practitioners describe experiences of spiritual awakenings or attunement to their highest self and the Universe as a whole. Where illusion melts away and you are left only with what is: I Am. Breathwork can systematically uproot traumas, resentment, and buried emotions, releasing them and making room for more life force to fill the spaces.

You have to breathe for the rest of your life anyway, might as well learn how to do it in a way that optimizes your mind-body-spirit connection. If you are interested in diving deeper into this work, find a local breath work class or try this article as a starting place at home.

4. Body scan

A body scan, as it sounds, is a direct check in with the state and wellbeing of your body. Piece by piece you place all your attention to isolated areas of the whole, and listen with curiosity and kindness. The pace of this practice is variable and is up to you to decide how much time you can dedicate to really connecting to your parts. You can do this upon waking, before you have left the comfort of your bed. You can make space in your schedule to lie down for a more intentional meditation. If you exercise this enough, like muscle memory, you will find yourself speedily checking in multiple times a day. This tool is valuable in pressing scenarios, like when someone is asking you for a favor or a decision must be made, to allow yourself to pause with an “Um...” and take just a moment within yourself to see what is happening inside.

Here is how you do it: With closed eyes, lie down or find a comfortable seated position. Take several deep belly breaths to relax and connect with the oxygenating air flow, in and out. Allowing your breath to come back to a natural rhythm, place all your focus on your left pinkie toe. With all your awareness, physically feel into that one pinkie toe. From there, you will continue to each next toe, then the left foot, ankle, calf, knee, thigh, left hip, pelvis, genitals, right hip, and then on down the right leg. Jumping to the belly, working your way up the torso and down each arm, gradually making your way up the neck and into the head and face, until finally you finish at the crown, the most tippy top of your head. There is no perfect sequence or “right way” to travel up, just gradually move from feet to head.

Some parts will be easier to feel into than others. It can be surprising where our minds won’t let us go. If you feel tension, or heat, or numbness in a spot, take this as an indication to spend a few extra moments here, breathing into the space checking for a change in sensation. This is a strictly inquisitive practice of awareness, let any judgement slip into the ground beneath you. Take note of the different texture and quality of certain areas or parts. We’re gathering information, nothing more.

If you have the extra time, a lavish way to seal this practice is to finish with a golden light visualization. With your breath, inhale a luscious golden light in through the crown of your head. Like honey, watch and feel as it drips down your spine, into each extremity, eventually pooling into your feet and then making its way up, up, up until every cell is swimming in this delicious golden light from your toes to the fountain overflowing at the top of your head.

5. Get Your Groove On

Intentional movement is non-negotiable when trying to reconnect with your body shell. There are many ways to do this, and it's just a matter of finding what feels good to you. My absolute favorite practice for this is to dance! Set the scene so that you can feel secure. If that means locking the doors and shutting the curtains, set yourself up for success and do so. Remember this isn’t for anyone’s eyes (not even your own), this is a release of the mind and reconnection of the body. Why I think dance is the most effective at reconnecting with the body, is because

a] you can close your eyes, move the awareness within, and let your body lead.

b] your body is a divinely wise operating system, it will know where to go to unwind or create the release that it so craves.

c] music acts as a catalyst for connection, it can consume the mind while all that’s left is movement and the body.

Ecstatic dance is an increasingly popular form of dance in which you entirely abandon yourself to the rhythm, and move with total freedom. People who practice ecstatic dance relay an experience of trance or meditation, where feelings of connectedness and ecstasy surround them. Done in a collective, this sober, barefoot, conscious dance party offers participants a means for release and a space for physical expression.

That being said, if the idea of dance makes you want to crawl inside yourself and build a pillow fort, fear not. The key here is only to MOVE intentionally. Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and (most widely known and accessible) yoga, are all great examples of mindful movement with the purpose of body awareness. But hey, a good gym session, soccer game, or kickboxing lesson can also bridge the gap between mind and body. Take it one step further to basics - a walk, hike, or jog through nature can settle you right into your skin. Which transitions us to our next practice...

6. Time in Nature

Okay, while time in nature alone will not foster a sense of love and connection with your body, it does set a very promising scene. UC Berkley’s Greater Good Magazine reports, “Over 100 studies have shown that being in nature, living near nature, or even viewing nature in paintings and videos can have positive impacts on our brains, bodies, feelings, thought processes, and social interactions. In particular, viewing nature seems to be inherently rewarding, producing a cascade of positive emotions and calming our nervous systems. These in turn help us to cultivate greater openness, creativity, connection, generosity, and resilience.”

Kick off the shoes, dig your feet in the soil, and ground out. Grounding, or earthing, is a way to not only come back into your body, but also to plug into the earth’s body as an extension of your own. Earthing links your body’s system with that of the planet’s, allowing electrons to flow back and forth between you and the land, in a state of natural symbiosis. This acts similarly as an antioxidant, and relieves chronic inflammation and stress, both of which are major culprits when we’re talking about body disassociation.

We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us.

*John Muir*

Nourishing your vessel with cleaner air, natural light, and negative ions from the surface will all play a part in shifting your awareness to your body. However, as we like to do here at eNourish, let’s take it one step further and intentionally create a full sensory experience to get your body ruling your mind, not the other way around. Smell the outdoors, how many mixtures do you pick up on in the aroma? Are there flowers to be caressed? What texture is the path your feet walk upon? Find a spot to lay and stretch and roll in the grasses and shrubs. The more you connect with the land, the more you innately connect with yourself. The more you connect with your body that is of the earth, the more you connect with the atmosphere you are a part of. Ah, synergy.

7. Massage, self massage, stretching

Whether you invest in a professional to take you into their hands or just grab the coconut oil on your night off, massage brings acute awareness into the tissues. Effectively improving circulation, increasing joint mobility, reducing tension, and stimulating the lymphatic system, you will feel an instantaneous boost in your sense of wellbeing after such a treat.

There are so many modalities of body work, anyone can find something fitting. Don’t feel pigeonholed into booking a traditional Swedish if in the past it has left you unsatisfied. The world of body work is seemingly infinite and depending on your personal journey, there is a specialty out there waiting for a client exactly like you. Getting massaged by another person opens up the opportunity for deep and complete relaxation, while also fulfilling the basic human need for touch. While you sink deeper into a state of serenity, the masseuse’s hands will act as a guide on a tour of your own body. It will bring awareness to how your left hip is tighter than its counterpart, how pain in the lower back actually refers sensation to the abdomen, or how when kneaded upon, that painful spot in your shoulder surfaces specific memories of the past. These can be insightful observations to take note of.

Self massage can be just as illuminating. Leaning into the sensations of the body reconnects mind, body, and spirit. While arguably less relaxing it is still just as effective at releasing. So often emotion and trauma get stored right into the soft tissues of the body. When we create a safe space to lovingly open up, energy begins to flow, and blockages find alternate ways out of the body space. I swear by my set of yoga balls, also known as tune-up or therapy balls, as an invaluable part of my self care kit. Stretching is another face of this self love and body connection practice.

8. KUNDALINI KRIYA for self love

While indeed yoga is a form of movement as aforementioned, kundalini yoga is especially recognized for its spiritual properties and is called the “yoga of awareness”. Kundalini refers to the shakti (feminine) energy believed to be located at the base of the spine, while the term ‘kriya’ refers to a specific set of postures, breathwork, chants, mudras, and bandhas (locks) that work together to achieve a specific result. Kundalini yoga has thousands of kriyas, uniquely tailored to elevating parts of your inner and outer health and wellbeing.

Kundalini yoga is a powerful method of connecting to your body and source energy. 3HO’s website (a well respected online authority of kundalini yoga) states that practicing kundalini yoga develops your inner guidance, protects you from negativity, balance’s your emotions, and allows the depth of the soul to be felt and known. Yogis express feelings of bliss and connection to all things. Which is part of why I think this practice is so helpful in reestablishing a relationship to the body.

This particular kriya is called the Reverse Adi Shakti Kriya and it’s used for creating self love. Finishing a kriya can feel like a super boost in mood, energy, and outlook, however if you want to see really magnificent results, dedicate some time daily to this practice for at least forty days! Visit 3HO for the full run down on the Self Love Kriya here.

9. Cold shower

A cold shower is the ideal way to start your day! Begin your routine with a hop in the coldest water your tap has to offer to jump start your system and get the brain body connection sparking. Before you close this tab and discredit me as uninformed and altogether trippin’, let's dive into some of the benefits of this form of hydrotherapy. The intense low temperature triggers the blood to rush to the organs to keep them safely warmed, flushing out toxins and refreshing the blood supply to the whole body. This cleanses the circulatory system, balances the lymphatic system, strengthens both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, and activates the digestive system. Cold therapy helps prevent weight gain as well as brings a refreshing glow and evenness to the skin’s appearance. People report an undeniable sense of mental clarity and a buzzing influx of energy. Even mainstream science is further investigating cold showers as a potential treatment for depression and anxiety as they lower cortisol levels, a stress hormone.

All this benefit can be yours in just three minutes! Use a dry brush to stimulate the skin and lymphatic system before lathering yourself with almond or olive oil. Hop into the shower and vigorously massage your body and move about - don’t stand rigid and still. You can step in and out of the stream as needed. Remembering to connect to the breath - deep inhales and powerful exhales - is very helpful. Shower for a minimum of three minutes. Towards the end your skin should tingle with heat even though the temperature of the water is still crisp. Now that’s a way to wake up!

Note: cold showers aren’t recommended for menstruating women. Instead opt for lukewarm, or indulge in a steamy hot shower, during your moon

10. Solo Date

A culmination of self love and connection practices in the entirety, pour all you got into a special day or evening all for yourself. Think back to one of the best dates you’ve ever had… Was your mind drifting off? Were you checking your phone? Were you worrying about the future? Were you feeling insecure? Likely (hopefully), your answer to all is a resounding NOPE.

Apply this amount of presence to a moment in time with yourself. Just you, your body, and your spirit. No phones, no distractions. Invite your intuition to lead the way, tune in to where to eat, what to wear, what activities to partake in, how to move. Buy yourself flowers, stroll along the coast, or lie down to watch the sky in the park. Mosey yourself home, draw a bath accompanied with a favorite beverage, light candles, and end the night with some intimate body love time. How better to get into your skin than a little self pleasure?

The date is your own, literally no one else’s. That can be liberating and for some, it can be an eye opener as to how rarely our desires and needs are tapped into and honored. Just be intentional with the time. Observe what your body needs and wants right now. Not what she used to or usually does, but at this very moment, what is she asking for? Just like the power of a good date with a loved one, this practice can leave you feeling more connected and intimate with your body and spirit, rippling a sense of closeness into days or weeks thereafter.