nurturing pleasure through body awareness
Many of us may recall the first time we attended a live concert. The magic of music is amplified a hundredfold - the vibrations of the instruments resonate through our bodies, the energy of the crowd heightens our excitement, and the visual spectacle of the performance adds a dynamic layer to the auditory experience.
As we move to the rhythm, our bodies respond instinctively to the music. We might find ourselves swaying, dancing, or even just tapping our feet, completely in sync with the performance.
We may not recognize it at the time, but the physicality of the experience – the movement, the sound waves hitting our bodies, the communal energy – all contribute to a profound sense of embodied pleasure.
“Pleasure” or “pleasurable” may not be the first words that come to mind when describing significant moments in our lives. We recognize that in our modern world, these terms are often used in sexual contexts. But while the words “pleasure” and “pleasurable” certainly pair well with positive sexual experiences, here at Equinimity, we extend their application to encompass a broad range of sensations that simply put, feels good to us.
In Somatic Experiencing®, Equinimity’s Barbara Collier, uses the terms “neutral,” “pleasant,” and “pleasing,” to guide clients in recognizing different sensations they feel within their bodies in various situations. When we take a moment to reflect on what these words mean to us, we may immediately think of activities that fall within each category. We may think of things that we consider to be our simple pleasures - perhaps a delicious treat, seeing a movie, or going on a hike. But beyond the activity itself, we can explore how our bodies perceive them to be pleasurable. When we cultivate body awareness, we can nurture our innate capacity to experience pleasure.
There are many ways that we can increase our body awareness. Integrating mindfulness in our daily activities is one of them. Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment, with an open, non-judgmental awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the environment around us. It involves observing our experiences without trying to change them or react to them impulsively.
At Equinimity, grooming the horses is a regular part of our wellness routine for them. Although it is a routine activity, we feel immense peace and relaxation in simply being in their presence. There is a sense of lightness that washes over us and a feeling of heartfelt gratitude for their trust as we gently brush their mane. This awareness inspired us, a few years ago, to introduce Mindful Grooming sessions as one of our offerings. These sessions integrate concepts of mindfulness, presence, and awareness into an open grooming time with the horses. It is a simple, meaningful, and pleasurable experience for both horses and participants.
With this in mind, there may be a number of daily activities that bring us pleasure without us even noticing. Perhaps it's savoring a good cup of tea or coffee, allowing the rich aroma to envelop our senses and the comforting warmth to soothe our hearts. Driving with the windows down at the end of the day, feeling the gentle breeze against our skin as we soak in the sights and sounds of the world passing by. Or if you’re in Tucson, catching a spectacular sunset, with its warm glow illuminating the mountain ranges that surround us, evoking a sense of awe and serenity.
By tuning into our bodies, we enhance our ability to perceive and appreciate these sensations, transforming everyday experiences into sources of joy. This mindful attention to our physical and emotional responses allows us to identify what truly brings us pleasure and amplify the sensations we feel from experiences that we already find pleasurable.
Another way to get to know our bodies is by reflecting back on what we used to enjoy in our youth. As children, we didn’t necessarily sit back to consider what feels good to us - we would just instinctively immerse ourselves in playtime or in activities that felt fun and joyful. While we may no longer play the way we used to, we can consider what parts of play exhilarated us. Was it movement? Was it being outdoors? Was it creating with our hands? Was it forming a connection with an animal? How did it feel being in our bodies during those moments?
Friend of Equinimity, Camille France, occupational therapist and owner of Desert Quail Therapy, recognizes how as adults, play can still help us connect and deepen our relationship with our bodies. Her course on The Importance of Play, explores how we can “check in'' with ourselves and our surroundings, and how in doing so, rediscover the pleasure of allowing ourselves to play once again.
Pleasure is not just a fleeting sensation but a fundamental aspect of being human. And in embracing that pleasure, we honor the beauty of being fully present in our bodies, alive to the richness of the world around us.
_____________
The Importance of Play - Exploring Rhythms with Nature, is a four-week course by Camille France to be held at Equinimity beginning on Tuesday, July 9th from 6 pm to 7 pm. More information can be found here: www.equinimitytucson.com/natureplay.html
Similar reads from our previous newsletters:
As we move to the rhythm, our bodies respond instinctively to the music. We might find ourselves swaying, dancing, or even just tapping our feet, completely in sync with the performance.
We may not recognize it at the time, but the physicality of the experience – the movement, the sound waves hitting our bodies, the communal energy – all contribute to a profound sense of embodied pleasure.
“Pleasure” or “pleasurable” may not be the first words that come to mind when describing significant moments in our lives. We recognize that in our modern world, these terms are often used in sexual contexts. But while the words “pleasure” and “pleasurable” certainly pair well with positive sexual experiences, here at Equinimity, we extend their application to encompass a broad range of sensations that simply put, feels good to us.
In Somatic Experiencing®, Equinimity’s Barbara Collier, uses the terms “neutral,” “pleasant,” and “pleasing,” to guide clients in recognizing different sensations they feel within their bodies in various situations. When we take a moment to reflect on what these words mean to us, we may immediately think of activities that fall within each category. We may think of things that we consider to be our simple pleasures - perhaps a delicious treat, seeing a movie, or going on a hike. But beyond the activity itself, we can explore how our bodies perceive them to be pleasurable. When we cultivate body awareness, we can nurture our innate capacity to experience pleasure.
There are many ways that we can increase our body awareness. Integrating mindfulness in our daily activities is one of them. Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment, with an open, non-judgmental awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the environment around us. It involves observing our experiences without trying to change them or react to them impulsively.
At Equinimity, grooming the horses is a regular part of our wellness routine for them. Although it is a routine activity, we feel immense peace and relaxation in simply being in their presence. There is a sense of lightness that washes over us and a feeling of heartfelt gratitude for their trust as we gently brush their mane. This awareness inspired us, a few years ago, to introduce Mindful Grooming sessions as one of our offerings. These sessions integrate concepts of mindfulness, presence, and awareness into an open grooming time with the horses. It is a simple, meaningful, and pleasurable experience for both horses and participants.
With this in mind, there may be a number of daily activities that bring us pleasure without us even noticing. Perhaps it's savoring a good cup of tea or coffee, allowing the rich aroma to envelop our senses and the comforting warmth to soothe our hearts. Driving with the windows down at the end of the day, feeling the gentle breeze against our skin as we soak in the sights and sounds of the world passing by. Or if you’re in Tucson, catching a spectacular sunset, with its warm glow illuminating the mountain ranges that surround us, evoking a sense of awe and serenity.
By tuning into our bodies, we enhance our ability to perceive and appreciate these sensations, transforming everyday experiences into sources of joy. This mindful attention to our physical and emotional responses allows us to identify what truly brings us pleasure and amplify the sensations we feel from experiences that we already find pleasurable.
Another way to get to know our bodies is by reflecting back on what we used to enjoy in our youth. As children, we didn’t necessarily sit back to consider what feels good to us - we would just instinctively immerse ourselves in playtime or in activities that felt fun and joyful. While we may no longer play the way we used to, we can consider what parts of play exhilarated us. Was it movement? Was it being outdoors? Was it creating with our hands? Was it forming a connection with an animal? How did it feel being in our bodies during those moments?
Friend of Equinimity, Camille France, occupational therapist and owner of Desert Quail Therapy, recognizes how as adults, play can still help us connect and deepen our relationship with our bodies. Her course on The Importance of Play, explores how we can “check in'' with ourselves and our surroundings, and how in doing so, rediscover the pleasure of allowing ourselves to play once again.
Pleasure is not just a fleeting sensation but a fundamental aspect of being human. And in embracing that pleasure, we honor the beauty of being fully present in our bodies, alive to the richness of the world around us.
_____________
The Importance of Play - Exploring Rhythms with Nature, is a four-week course by Camille France to be held at Equinimity beginning on Tuesday, July 9th from 6 pm to 7 pm. More information can be found here: www.equinimitytucson.com/natureplay.html
Similar reads from our previous newsletters:
