What is a Body Mind Connection?
What Is a Bodymind Connection?
Here’s my friend Sally blissfully melting on my table. We shifted her out of stress response and into rest response — look at that smile. The trick? Remembering this feeling later when stress hits again. Easier said than done. Here’s why:
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Stress Response in Everyday Life
Driving, working on a laptop, even brushing your teeth — you rarely notice just how much effort your body uses. All that constant doing winds up your nervous system, keeping you in stress response. The problem is, when you never notice how long you’ve been there, you get stuck.
A bodymind connection is the practice of noticing (mind) what you are feeling (body).
Most of us run around declaring:
“I’m so stressed!”
“You’re stressing me out!”
“This is so stressful!”
These are great cues — proof you’re stuck in stress response. But what happens if you shift from being stressed to feeling stress? Suddenly, you start noticing how stress shows up in the body.
Physical Symptoms of Stress Response
Short, shallow breathing
Chest breathing
Uneven inhale/exhale (easier one way than the other)
Tightness or “butterflies” in stomach/solar plexus
Tense muscles in neck, shoulders, hips
Slouched or rigid posture
Many people don’t even say “I’m stressed,” they just carry it. So the key is to notice what’s happening physically. These signals are undeniable.
The moment you notice these symptoms, you’ve created a bodymind connection. Huzzah.
Why Stress Feels ‘Bad’
This is where it gets tricky. Noticing how we feel about what we feel can be scary — especially for those who experience panic attacks. We’ve been conditioned to see stress as “bad” or “wrong,” when in fact it’s a brilliant alarm system built to keep us safe. Thanks body!
The problem? Growing up, the people around us weren’t comfortable with our discomfort. So we learned that to “be good,” we had to “feel good.” Which, honestly, is complete and utter bullshit.
Instead, what if you treated stress like a messenger? Something to meet with curiosity instead of judgment. For example:
“Oh hey! There’s stress. Cool, I wonder what message my body is trying to tell me.”
That’s bodymind connection.
Reframing Panic and Anxiety
A typical thought in a panic attack might be:
“Oh god I feel like shit, my breathing is so fast I might die!”
But through bodymind connection, it can shift to:
“Wow, my breathing is so fast right now. Interesting.”
Responding with openness and curiosity tells your body you’re safe. Treating stress as “wrong” intensifies the cycle, but treating it as a signal gives you space to decide what it really means. Maybe it’s a cue to slow your breath. Maybe it’s just a wave moving through.
Physical Symptoms of Rest Response
Long, easy breaths
Breathing led by the diaphragm/solar plexus
Even inhalations and exhalations
Muscles soft and supple
Upright, natural posture
Practice Makes Connection
The more you practice noticing → responding with curiosity → shifting, the stronger your bodymind connection becomes. At first, you may notice weeks after stress hits. Then days, hours, minutes — until eventually you notice it in the moment, or even before the stress kicks in.
That’s the power of practice.
Why I Love This Work
Whether through bodywork sessions or coaching calls, I help reinforce your bodymind connection. You learn the tools to anchor awareness, so you can recondition your responses in a way that supports your best well-being.
Ready to Tune Into Yourself?
If you’re local, book a Bodywork session and experience what it feels like to shift from stress to rest right on the table.
Not nearby? Through online coaching, I’ll guide you in building bodymind awareness from wherever you are. Together we’ll unwind tension, shift old patterns, and help you feel more at home in yourself.
Either way, the next step is the same: tune in, listen, and let your body show you the way back to ease.
#bodymind #mindbody #mindfulness #bodyawareness #wellness #emotionalwellbeing #physicalwellbeing #mentalwellbeing
