If you read our previous blog on “What Is Body Literacy” you’re probably thinking, “Okay, great, I’m down to get to know my body better, but how the heck do I do it?”
If we use small, simple body-based practices throughout our day more often, when it comes to sex and intimacy, we’ll already have developed some habits that strengthen our body-mind connection.
Here are some practices for developing more body literacy in your existing daily routine:
Whenever you have a moment in your day, whether first thing in the morning, in between classes or meetings, on the bus, after dinner, or before heading out somewhere, spend a moment in stillness and ask yourself any of the following questions:
By getting in the habit of asking yourself these types of questions throughout the day, we develop a habit of being informed of what’s going on in our body, what we might need, and how we could care for ourselves better based on what our body is telling us at that moment.
Our bodies take in information from our environment through our 5 senses, so the best way to become more body literate is to start to speak and honour the language of our body.
Whether you’re out for a walk, eating, exercising, brushing your teeth, showering, cuddling, or having sex, get curious about each of your senses, one at a time.
Pleasure Mapping is the practice of getting curious about how you experience pleasure throughout your entire body, by spending some time engaging with each part of your body with awareness of what you’re actually feeling in each moment and whether what you’re experiencing is pleasurable/pleasant, un-pleasant, or neutral.
This one is best done alone for the first time, in order to maximize the safety and ability to relax while you explore your body.
1. Find yourself a space alone and enough time that you won’t be in a rush to complete the practice
2. Spend some time listening to music, breathing, dancing, or doing anything else that helps you unwind and relax into your body
3. Start at the crown of the head, and bring some touch to every part of your body in different ways (rubbing, tapping, squeezing, tickling) all the way down to your toes, including your genitals if it feels okay for you
4. Get curious about what types of touch feel good on what parts of your body, what feels neutral or numb, and what feels unpleasant or yucky
5. Take notes on what you learn about where/how you like to be touched
Often, our body tries to speak to us but we’re actually justtoo busy or pre-occupied to hear it, as though we’re trying to speak to ourfriend right beside a giant blaring speaker in a club. The best way to create sour bodies to speak and be heard is to create gaps in our busyschedules throughout the day.
This doesn’t have to be long or dramatic, it can literallybe 30 seconds or 5 minutes of intentionally sitting with yourself andallowing your body the chance to communicate with you.
Some places where you can create gaps in your daily life:
Written by Taylor Neal
Embodied Counsellor and Trainee Sexologist