Your body is always talking to you

“So, what does your body feel like doing today?” I ask as the child looks around the playroom, considering their options. As I ask this, I expect the child to do a quick check-in with their body, simply because I have drawn attention to it. Is their body feeling energised and ready to move around the room; bounce on the exercise ball, or make an obstacle course with the donut? Or is their body feeling the need for something more sedentary and creative like painting or Lego?

And those desires to move or not move are linked to feelings they're experiencing in the moment, they're just not aware of them yet.

I ask this question of most kids coming into the playroom because I want to help children to start noticing how our bodies are actually always "talking" to us, and we can pay attention. Every feeling feels different in our body. Tuning into our what our body is "saying" helps us to tune into our feelings in order to better navigate those feelings.

We are processing billions of bits of data every second. This is sensory data that we encounter throughout the day. We are consciously aware of a miniscule amount of this data. However, we feel data in our nervous system and absorb what is happening around us and to us. So, we can get to the end of a day and have a headache or a tight jaw and upon reflection realise that we have been holding in sadness or worry or stress.

How are you feeling? How do you know?

I invite you to try a quick body scan with me. Sit comfortably in a chair, with your feet planted on the ground. Take a breath. Wiggle to get comfortable if you need to. Close your eyes and slowly, from your feet upwards, mentally scan your body. Bring your awareness to each section of your body. Notice how it is feeling; tense or nice and relaxed? Sore? Jittery? As you do this, do you have any urge to move a body part? Pay attention to that urge and follow it. Follow your body's lead - it is talking to you!

Identify any feelings coming up, each feeling we experience has a different sensation in the body. Anxiety can feel tense, constricted and heavy. Joy can feel light, open and delightful.

When we mindfully tune in and hone in on our body, it offers us clues. We ask ourselves "How do I know I feel this way?"

As I did my body scan, I noticed that my shoulders and neck are holding some tension. My body is telling me I've been working out and the muscles are nice and sore. This is different to the kind of muscles soreness that results from constriction of muscles due to stress. I feel good and satisfied rather than worried and constricted.

What do I need?

When we don't listen to our bodies cues, we don't take care of ourselves. I think about times I am working on something at my desk and feeling really thirsty or like I need a bathroom break, but I keep putting it off because somehow I tell myself work is more important than listening to and responding to my body. Listening to my body's cues and giving it what it needs is self-care.

How do you feel?

How do you know?

What do you need?

These questions develop interoceptive awareness. An important part of developing self-awareness, self-regulation and connection to self.

Connecting to self is always a primary goal in the playroom. Checking in with our bodies throughout the play time is important, gettin curious about what our bodies are feeling and sensing. Putting words to those sensations, and caring for our bodies when needed.

Try it, and let me know how it goes!!