We can get so caught up in the stress of life that we don’t realise we are in physical discomfort. Tense muscles, and pains in the back, shoulders, or feet, are just some of the ways our bodies communicate their current emotional state.
Body Mapping is a good way to release physical tension we might not realise we’re experiencing. Body Mapping involves paying attention to parts of the body and bodily sensations in a gradual sequence from feet to head.
By mentally mapping our physical sensations, we bring awareness to every single part of the body, noticing any aches, pains, tension, or general discomfort. The goal is not to relieve the pain completely but to get to know and learn from it, in order to manage it better.
Exercises for you to try:
- Try a body scan meditation - this exercise is useful to do with the young people you work with as a way of helping them to connect to themselves, and as part of the creative process.
