“Aware” have my body gone? This subject has presented itself over and over again in all the EFT workshops and talks I have been invited to, to present, recently. When working with children with special needs, "body awareness" is one of the priorities I give much attention to. Especially, because it falls in one of the subcategories of proprioception. Recently, I have come to the conclusion that this ability has been silenced by so many individuals in the general public. The definition of "
Body-Awareness" can be subcategorized in three themes namely; body schema, image and concept or knowledge.
"Body-schema" is dependent on information supplied by activity of the body itself by sensorimotor stimuli. It involves more importantly an awareness of the body’s capabilities and limitations. It has the ability to create appropriate muscle tensions in activities and lets you know the position of the body in “space” (referring to spatial surroundings). "
Body-image" refers to your feelings about your body. Interestingly, it is affected by biological, intellectual, psychological and social experiences. The biological and internal awareness would know how body parts function and where they are. The other three factors are influenced by your perception of oneself as weak, strong, slow, fast, ugly or beautiful. The "
body-concept" refers to you knowledge of and verbalizing the different body parts and is developed by experiences involving body schema and body image.
In the workshops I have noticed that, these inner voices of the communication network of the body have been put on hold. Some individuals don’t listen to the body but rather to the will and wants of the brain or EGO. They can’t feel the body’s “yes” or the “no”. Most people don’t realise what the body needs anymore relating to nutrition or activity. Have you ever had a feeling to stretch and then refrain from doing it, because you don’t stretch in public or when sitting at the table? Have you ever had a feeling that you must do some exercise and then decide that now isn’t the best time or that you won’t be able to? The more you silence the body’s inner voice the softer it will become. To me it works the same as your intuition. The more you listen to it the more prominent it will become in your life. Using EFT you can definitely tap on “Can’t hear my body” or “I don’t listen to my body”. A few other themes can present itself for example: I don’t listen to my body because I don’t love my it, My body is the enemy, I am blaming my body for not serving me the way I want to be served.
Referring to the "body-schema" it has become apparent that having a negative perception about the body or parts of the body will directly influence the development or growth of that specific part. A happy body will be one who is deeply loved. We know that thoughts become things. Sit for a moment still and take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Focus on feeling each part. What do you experience? Think of each part and determine if the feeling is positive or negative and then try to determine why. Should you feel very negative about your stomach and you have determined that it is because it is fat. Start EFT on"Even though I don’t like my stomach because it is fat, I am in the process of learning to love myself". Remember to be truthful and never forget that you are the master of the body. Be a wise and loving one and the it will respond in a loving way and will serve you well.
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