Paying Attention to Your Body Might Help It Heal
Our nervous systems handle a lot of sensation. Some of that sensation comes from outside, through our eyes, ears, nose, mouth and skin. But there is another whole realm of sensation that comes from inside of our bodies. That is interoception. Some of those sensations can be quite strong: a full belly, a pounding heart, or the tickle in your nose that tells you a sneeze is on its way. There are a lot of subtle sensations too, and when we slow down and pay attention, we can learn a lot about the bodies we live in.
Turns out, doing this can also influence the way our bodies behave. In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers in Israel gave people a small histamine skin prick. Some were asked to pay close attention to the reaction for about 20 minutes; the others were told to distract themselves. The reaction settled faster in the people who paid attention. I find this fascinating, since I usually do my best to distract myself when my body is hurting. This was a small study that only looked at a mild skin reaction, so we don't know what this means for chronic pain or other conditions, but I can't stop thinking about it.
In all of my years as a bodyworker, I keep coming back to attention. I notice again and again that I feel better when I meditate more than just occasionally. That doing so helps me tune into my own internal system, and hear what it is saying. That my ability to focus improves, my ability to be present with people deepens, and my ability to handle stress expands. You don't need a meditation practice to start. Even a minute of noticing your breath counts.
Craniosacral therapy is one of the ways I help people slow down and listen. It is a quiet and gentle form of bodywork. You stay fully clothed on a comfortable and cozy table. There is no pushing or fixing. Instead we let stillness and steady contact give your nervous system a chance to settle, and many people start noticing sensations they usually are too preoccupied to sense. I get this work regularly myself, because sometimes we need help slowing down enough to listen.
I invite you to slow down, listen to what is going on inside, and take care of you. If you would like support slowing down, I would love to work with you.
You can read more about the study in this Nautilus article.
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