Here’s what I love about mind-body coaching:  Whether you come to coaching for pain, or stress relief, or to gain confidence in decision-making and trusting your intuition, the mind-body approach is grounded in the perspective that you are whole.  Rather than being identified with a story that there is something wrong with you (or your circumstances) that needs fixing, you get to explore how you are currently connecting to the four parts to you – mind, body, spirit, and emotions – so you can effectively bring each into greater balance.  

And best of all:  Harmony between these four parts of you activates your internal navigation system – guiding you on an authentic journey of more ease, joy…and fun!  Who knew?

So, which part can get out of balance most?  

If you have a meditation/yoga practice, and/or spend time in nature, you may have experienced the benefits of a quiet mind – that feeling of peace and knowing, on a visceral level, that you are not your thoughts and emotions; that you are a connected, infinite being.  At the same time, living in a fast-paced, ever changing modern society, you are also probably familiar with the “real” practice that comes with returning to this state while responding to the day-to-day challenges of deadlines, traffic, bills, responsibilities and relationships.  It’s indeed a practice to calm the mind so that we can embrace the changes we envision (and even those we don’t).  My mentor, Martha Beck, PhD has a saying, “I live in perpetual creative response to whatever is present.”  

Adding to the challenge of quieting mind, and ultimately experiencing more ease and joy, is a culture that tends to stress the importance of “doing” – valuing the part of our brain that analyzes information, plans agendas, organizes logistics, and takes action.  These are all important qualities, but when this active mind tends to dominate your life, it cuts off access to the inner wisdom that can lead you on your right path, one that is conducive to you performing these activities.  Did you know that our conscious mind can only process 70 bits of information per second, while our subconscious (what could be considered physical, emotional and spiritual energy) processes 40-50 million bits of information per second?  Imagine this:  The mind is like a top, spinning around on our necks trying to find ways to keep you safe.  As it spins, it’s thinking about the future or the past, adding self-pressure, criticizing and judging ourselves and others, controlling situations, etc.  All it needs is an anchor so it can stop spinning and be led by the part of us that can process more information (and clarify what safety really means), but the issue is this:  That anchor is the body.  

So, why is the connection to our body so important? 

The body is always in the present moment where infinite possibilities exist.  It knows our truth, but it doesn’t have language so it speaks to us in the the form of physical sensations.  Some sensations feel light and airy, while others can feel tight and constricting.  If we’re willing to acknowledge and accept these sensations, we’re then perfectly positioned to listen to the guidance that is aligned with our truth.  

The problem is that unless you have a lot of practice with discomfort (like yoga where, with each pose, you choose to go into the discomfort), you can tend to avoid anchoring into the body.  I mean, who really wants to take a chance at feeling tight and constricting physical sensations?  

Meanwhile, the mind keeps spinning with more pressure, judgement and other mind activities.  Not only does it want to keep us safe from uncomfortable physical sensations, but it also seeks to “protect” us from uncomfortable emotions like fear, anger, sadness and shame, which only get further suppressed in the body.   Here’s what I mean:  Think of a time when you held your emotion in.  What did your body do?  How much energy did it take to hold it, vs. letting it flow?  It take a lot of energy for your body to hold that energy in place and it can show up as persistent discomfort, tension and mind-body syndromes. 

So, why is the connection to our emotions so important? 

Here’s what I love MOST about mind-body coaching:  When I create and hold a space for emotional energy to flow while asking my clients powerful questions, I get a front-row seat to the messages of their inner wisdom:  “Play!” “Rest!”  “Breathe!” “Just say it – I feel angry!” and “It’s going to be OK.“   These are all messages of self care, and when we follow-through on these messages, coincidently, the circumstances we are presented with are more likely to support the feeling state self-care brings.  We begin to receive inspiration and can make choices that support further self-care, increased energy and creative expression that can be shared with others.  

What would happen for you if rather than leading from the place of doing, you could pause, feel, allow, receive, intuit, and trust?

What Mind-body Coaching is NOT:  

Mind-body coaching is not therapy,  although it can complement therapy.  I do not give advice.   Instead, through individual coaching,  I ask powerful questions and facilitate exercises so you have a space to experience your true nature and become aware of the gifts you were meant to share, the areas that may be holding you back, and the opportunities available to express your authentic voice.  

Do you have questions?  

To learn more and schedule a free 20-minute consultation click here, or visit my Contact Me  page.  I’d love to connect with you!