Listening to Your Body's Wisdom: A Simple Practice with Movement

A mini air dancer!

The first time I engaged Authentic Movement last month, I knew it was the spiritual practice I had been looking for during this particular season of my life!

While I appreciate a variety of moving meditations and body practices such as qigong and yoga, Authentic Movement invited me to be surprised by spontaneity. 

I had no idea how my body wanted to move and I was not going to tell it how to move...I was going to let it show me!

Following the gentle promptings of Spiritual Director, Julie Leavitt, during her workshop on "Authentic Movement and the Sacred Body" at Spiritual Directors International's virtual conference,  I was curious as to why my body was moving like an inflatable air dancer.

After the time of movement, I sat down and wrote these words, 

"I am the one who is encouraged to move big and freely, to move in the natural way my body leads rather than listening to or moving according to 'shoulds.'  God says to me,
'You are free. 
You are free to move. 
You are free to speak, create. 
Follow what is natural. 
You are grounded,
do not be afraid.'
This is a practice I've been looking for!  A way of trusting the inner wisdom flowing through the body."

It spoke right into what had been weighing heavy on me.  Who knew that in moving like an inflatable air dancer, my body would offer me such grounding and affirmation?! 

After that, I decided to not only continue a weekly practice of Authentic Movement, but keep this in my spiritual toolbox for any directee that needed to get into their body.

Not surprising, the following week, two people were in need of listening to the wisdom flowing through their bodies.  Their experience of Authentic Movement is best summed up by one who afterwards, sat down and much to her mind's surprise said, "Whoa, I just had a mystical experience!"

No matter how large or small the movement, the Spirit of God can speak. 
​Want to give it a try?

1. Spend a few moments feeling the ground through the soles of your feet, allowing yourself to sense the safety in the room (whether you are by yourself or you have a compassionate witness present).  You may say to yourself, “Here I am.” And you may say to God, “Here I am.”  Here you are, right here in this holy moment.   
2. Allow yourself to "tune into the Spirit/Rhythm of Life" and simply allow your body to move from a place of deep listening and sensation without force or trying too hard.  Let this deep Wisdom that is available to you, that is in you, and manifesting as you, flow in whatever way, big or small.  
3. After time in Authentic Movement (however long you would like), allow for some reflection.  How do you feel?  What did you notice during the time, what do you notice now?  As you continue to listen even deeper for the Sacred, Leavitt suggests that you write a letter to yourself from God, who is your Sacred Witness, or you might finish this sentence, “I am the one who_____”.  What Wisdom is your body offering you?*  
4. At the end, place your hand on your heart and give thanks for the gift of your body and the Wisdom that the Spirit has offered you through your body today.  

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*If you have a compassionate witness present like a Spiritual Director, you might allow them to simply share with you what they observed and/or continue with what you experienced in your time of Spiritual Direction. 

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