Em-what? What is Embodiment?

Everyone’s heard of mindfulness and it’s benefits, but what about embodiment? There's a whole load of hashtagging going on, but not always much depth or meaning. So what's the fuss all about?

When you see someone walking along the street; shoulders rounded down, head slumped forwards, you get an immediate sense of how they might be feeling.

(What did you picture in your head?)

Likewise for someone walking along with a spring in their step.

That is embodiment. It’s hard-wired into our communication, expression and understanding of one another. There are archetypes of expression that run through the arts, the same shapes that are not cartoons, but clearly portray emotional states. Statues that tell us if a person was a leader, portraits painted that show sensuality, care or determination often have similar qualities to pose and expression that show us without words what this person is like (or how they want to be seen).

Embodiment is how we understand art. It's deep in the symbols and signs of sculpture and icons, movies and stage performers. We get it without even thinking about it.

And it’s not a one-way street. Changing how you are being, through recognising your state, can alter how you feel.

EMBODIMENT IS HOW YOU ARE BEING YOU.

Why does that matter?

Because how you are being informs all our relationships. Though informed by places, cultures and the state of those around us, there are fundamental tenancies that we all have. The best bit, is that they are not fixed. Shy kids can grow up to be exuberant adults. Introverts can take to the stage. And there are simple, deep, effective ways that people can explore being in different ways, in order to live more fullfilling and balanced lives.