Toning Our Pulsations
A big part of me returning to my experience of my bodily self has been developing my relationship to my bodily self. I guess another way of saying it is: not living primarily in my head by splitting off from the rest of my body.
What supports me to return to my bodily self are somatic practices that tone my pulsations.
In my Zapchen Somatics lineage, pulsation is the key. My Zapchen teachers point to pulsation as the engine of our aliveness as body. My teachers from other embodiment lineages also focus on pulsation and use different language and methods.
As bodies, we inherently pulse. In her book Embodying Well-Being, Julie Henderson, my principal Zapchen teacher, talks about how each part of ourselves as bodies pulses to its own rhythm.
This week when I teach, we’ll be doing a variety of practices in the Zapchen lineage, among others, that support us to return to our inherent pulsation: Yawning, Rocking, Getting Up & Lying Down, Moaning & Groaning, Laughing. So many to choose from!
We’ll also pause, rest and notice. Because these also are integral to supporting pulsation. They also are inseparable from restoring our relationship to ourselves as bodies. Noticing our body’s responsiveness. How I as body respond to each of the practices. What sensations do I experience in the moment? Where do the sensations travel throughout myself as body? What are the changes in sensation from place to place?
When we pause and observe, we give ourselves time to notice the innate dance. The moment-to-moment. The rhythmicity. The moment inside the rhythmicity. The rhythmicity inside the moment.
When I experience myself as body, responsive to movement, breath, sound and touch, I move towards a lived experience as body that is responsive, intelligent and aware. I feel more whole. I respond as a whole being, not just a head.
In this practice of call and response I develop a conversation. A dialog with my bodily self. I build a relationship of equals. A mutual recognition. Rather than part of me that gives the orders and part of me that implements them, as happens when I live in my head.
I also develop trust in myself as body to know how to be. And there’s a sense of what I call “gates open.” Freedom, arising spontaneity, a looseness that is grounded yet not controlled, a radiance that emerges.
Each time I move back to living in my head I’m able to return to inhabiting my whole body more quickly, and I’m more willing to shift rather than staying inside my head.
These things may sound insignificant or impossible just reading about them. But, in my experience, the benefits are profound, and lasting, if I continue to return to the practices.
I hope you’ll give it a try. Click on my photo below and you’ll be connected to my pre-recorded teaching of Zapchen Getting Up & Lying Down practice. Or, continue if you’ve already started on your own path.
Come see me some time, in a private session or a class. You’re always welcome!
From my heart to yours,
Marla
Marla guides you through an essential Zapchen Somatics practice, Getting Up & Lying Down. This practice returns us, on a whole-body level, to our pulsatory rhythmicity.
