5 Human Capacities Lesson 1
Stay in Touch with Your Body — It Has a Lot to Tell You
The first step in living through a pandemic is to become aware of your physical body. This may seem obvious, basic, and unnecessary. After all, aren't we now all hypervigilant about whose air we breathe in, about what our hands have touched, and about our body's possible symptoms, whether that dry cough might be the dreaded virus?
We begin here because our physicality, although only one of five dimensions comprising a human being, is the easiest and quickest way to get in touch with ourselves. The body is continually telling us what is going on at a deeper level, of how we are responding to people and situations, of what's important to us and what isn't, and of where we're operating under outdated assumptions.
In our civilization we have grown so accustomed to denying, ignoring, or overriding the messages our bodies are sending us that we have lost a large extent of our awareness. We may notice that dry cough, now that we're looking for it, but how many times have you felt the need to go to the bathroom, only to find, maybe hours later, that you still haven’t gone? What about the eye strain or the ache in your arms from being on the computer now that we're Zooming everywhere? Have you noticed the tension in your jaw from anger or worry or from not getting the exercise you need?
You can start by noticing the body's obvious messages such as hunger, pain, or chills. Then see if you can become aware of more subtle messages such as muscle strain; the temperature of your head, hands, and feet (it's okay to touch those body parts for confirmation); the rate of your heart; your breathing; and contractions or even slight discomforts.
If you would like to probe further, ask, “When did this tight feeling in my chest start?” or “I wonder how long my feet have been cold?” or “What was it in that phone conversation that made my breathing become so difficult?” or "Did I stub my toe because I was rushing?" You're bound to learn something you didn't know before.
And like the toddlers in the grocery cart we described in the introduction, go ahead and say the sound of this dimension. Close your eyes and, with spine straight, drop your attention to your belly. This is the place in your body from which you will make all the sounds in these lessons.
Start with your teeth touching and then, for the U sound (like "oo" in "goo"), open your mouth to form a small, round opening and say "oo" with your full voice for as long as is comfortable within a single breath. Do not let the sound continue for a very long time, as in a mantra. At the end of the sound, again touch your teeth together.
Notice how your body feels after saying the sound.
Now, repeat this method, this time saying the sound of Wu (woo). Again, notice how your body feels.
This week, practice staying in touch with your body. Say the sounds whenever you need to reconnect.