Befriending Our Bodies

Hi, it's Dora and welcome to this five-session journey of learning to befriend our bodies. Now, the journey is beginning here. But for some of us, we may have been on this path for what feels like our entire lifetime. I know I have. So in this course, we'll use the body scan technique as a way to compassionately meet the different areas of the body and bring a loving awareness and appreciation to ourselves, just as we are in this moment. What I love most about the body scan is how, over time, this technique awakens us to the magnificence of our bodies, which we tend to overlook. There's so many internal and external factors for how we view and perceive our bodies. Our perception could be colored from stories passed down within our families, the images we see online, and the standard set by society. This course invites us to notice how we relate to our bodies and offers us the opportunity to rewrite the story we've been telling. So if you're willing, let's begin writing a story filled with compassion, kindness, and acceptance as we journey together over the next five sessions. As we do this body scan, I recognize that all bodies are different and come with different abilities. So if there's any area of the body that you encounter that is challenging to be with, you can always move to another area of the body that feels more neutral and supportive. You can try shifting the focus to the soles of the feet or even noticing the sounds around you in your space. So take a moment now to find a position of comfort and presence. And it's best to do this practice lying down but you can also do this standing up or seated in a chair. Whatever feels right for you. Eyes can be open or closed. And then gently bringing a hand on the heart. Or another place on the body that feels compassionate and soothing. And connecting to the sense of loving awareness, as if you were attending for a friend in need. And taking a deep breath. Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. One more time. Breathing in and breathing out. Feeling the weight of the body pressing down into the surface beneath you. And then gently guiding the focus to the left foot and right foot. And sensing into any sensations present in the feet. Gradually moving up the feet. Noticing the ankles, the shins, calves, knees. And tuning into any sensations in each of these body parts. And if it feels good, perhaps sending a smile or a sense of appreciation down to these parts of the body. Now slowly shifting the focus to the thighs, hips, pelvic area. And, again, at any time, if there's any discomfort, shifting the focus to the hand on the heart or the soles of the feet. And if you need to, maybe even opening the eyes. And...