embodiment
“I'm not a body with a soul, I'm a soul that has a visible part called the body.” -Paulo Coelho
The body is a sanctuary and vehicle for transformation and evolution. The practice of yoga and other such meditative modalities penetrates deeper than the physical body, but it is through the physical body that these practices gain lasting traction in our consciousness and thus affect our mode of being henceforth.
What is embodiment? The literal definition is to “be an expression of or give a tangible or visible form to (an idea, quality, or feeling)” or “include or contain (something) as a constituent part” (Oxford). I’ve always resonated with this term because, as a dancer, how I held my posture was indicative of my hours of training in the studio and on stage. Yet, at this early stage, to embody was more akin to perform, which I have learned doesn’t come near encapsulating the full power of true embodiment. It took a deeper root in me as I began to study Eastern philosophy and systems like Yoga; and today, it reflects my brand of conscious movement, action, and living.
To embody is to give a three-dimensional quality to something; a characteristic, universal truth, concept—the sky’s the limit. A true yogi embodies Universal Consciousness in human form. The tools sharpened and skills cultivated on the mat, such as perseverance, resilience, surrender, presence of mind and deep feeling reverberate throughout the remaining hours in the day, day after day. How one shows up on the mat mirrors who one is at any given moment, which makes it a safe space to do personal work without judgment, to remember one’s dreams, and connect to one’s joy. We are beings of energy, spherical and robust, composed of raw matter and imagination. Our nature is to change, elevate, and even manifest what we see in our third eye center, staying mindful of expectations and grounded in true reality during the process.
Embodiment is about being aligned with one’s values and purpose, attuned to the elements of Great Nature & the Cosmos; regeneration; willingness to show up and do the detailed, sometimes monotonous, and repetitive work; wisdom to manage energy while giving and receiving; physical and sonic expression to clear out the old, make space for the new; divine balance and insight that come with fully encompassed practices involving breath and mind. Embody as a verb implies freedom because its definition is so open-ended; how and what will you choose to embody today and through the various seasons of your life, and how will that help you to get to where you want to go? Inquire within and then go without. Embodiment is a lifelong journey that can take many shapes and trajectories, all of which propel us from past to future here in the now, supported and inspired to stay healthy, motivated, flexible, strong, creative, and connected, to ourselves and one another.
From a positive outlook, embodiment facilitates truth and centering of the heart. Respecting others’ path to embodiment inclines one to kindness and reminds one to continue reflecting inward. The path is not straight, it is like the spin of time, around and around, yet always moving forward, integrated like the Sun, Moon & Earth. Endowed in the flow of true embodiment is grace, continuous refinement, and assimilation of all the parts of one’s Self coming together to make the whole, radiant and unique. Realize the essence of your soul’s embodiment through the sacred container of your practice and know that there are many who may join and collaborate with you along the way. The journey is our own yet together we come full circle.
