Time is precious, especially since I became a mama. When I approach my embodiment practice I can have the urge to dive right in to ‘make the most’ of the time I have. And time and time again my body reminds me – slow down. Wait. Listen first.

Movement can be evoke a timeless space so taking some of that precious time to attune can be tantamount to allowing that space to emerge.

‘arrive…river F. rive.. stream… shore, bank… L. arripare: to come to shore, to land.’ (Paraphrased from Miranda Tufnell’s book, A widening field).

Time to land before I launch. Rooting myself in my resources before I enter in to unknown terrain. I have come to appreciate the importance of this over many years of practice.

Each time, before movement unfolds, I arrive. I take some time to check in with myself and see where I am at in this moment. I create a container of support and ground from which my movement can emerge.

In checking in with myself, I attune to the different layers of my experience that need attention; body, mind, breath, emotion, energy etc. Movement can unfold from there, meeting my present felt sense more fully, as oppose to routinely following a predetermined sequence that may override the inner wisdom of my body, which could be yearning for a different approach.

The pressures of modern life can often see my nervous system in a state of hyper-arousal. Without offering myself a moment to ‘come to shore’ I may exacerbate my hyper-aroused state by avoiding the feelings that need attention through my movement practice. This is when movement, and other embodiment practices, can be used as a means to avoid rather than meet.

Focusing my attention and allowing my nervous system a moment to soothe in to a healthy neutrality (by which I do not mean numb, nor unaffected), I can be with what is with a greater sense of spaciousness, as well as allowing my movement practice to serve what is unfolding within me.

Just a few examples of embodiment practice that allow for arrival are:

• feeling your feet on the ground, exploring weight.
• observing the fluctuations of your breath
• taking a few deep breaths
• attuning to body sensation
• feeling the contact points your body makes with the ground
• listening to the sounds around you
• awakening the senses

These are but a few of many of the resources we can call upon to help us to ‘arrive’ more fully in the moment. I leave you with a simple settling practice I have recorded for you to use.