Body Sense

Anger

When Anger Becomes Empowerment

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on June 26, 2022

Anger can be experienced as dysregulated (lashing out, self-blame), modulated, or restorative (life-affirming).

Anger can be experienced as dysregulated (lashing out, self-blame), modulated, or restorative (life-affirming).

Body Image

Having a Body vs. Being a Body

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on May 18, 2022

The concept of owning, rather than being, a body is a Western cultural invention that prevents whole-person healing, living, and restoration.

The concept of owning, rather than being, a body is a Western cultural invention that prevents whole-person healing, living, and restoration.

Body Image

The Fiction of a “Mind-Body” Separation

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on May 5, 2022

"Mind" and "body" are no more real than fictional characters in a book, movie, or TV series. So why do we believe in them and treat them as if they existed in the flesh?

"Mind" and "body" are no more real than fictional characters in a book, movie, or TV series. So why do we believe in them and treat them as if they existed in the flesh?

Health

Are There Health Benefits to Feeling Emotions?

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on March 20, 2022

Yes, but many people think that emotions are a sign of weakness.

Yes, but many people think that emotions are a sign of weakness.

Stress

10 Questions to Help You Feel Embodied Awareness

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on February 19, 2022

It’s okay to be stressed, get irritable, withdraw, or feel down. Noticing that what is happening is a positive step toward self-awareness.

It’s okay to be stressed, get irritable, withdraw, or feel down. Noticing that what is happening is a positive step toward self-awareness.

Career

3 Ways We Experience Pain: Unrelenting, Manageable, and Relief

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on January 27, 2022

Here are some simple ways to manage and relieve pain using our embodied self-awareness.

Here are some simple ways to manage and relieve pain using our embodied self-awareness.

Anxiety

Getting in Touch With Pain

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on December 6, 2021

Do you suffer from emotional or physical pain? Have you tried many types of pain treatments? Pain may be relieved by learning to just feel it.

Do you suffer from emotional or physical pain? Have you tried many types of pain treatments? Pain may be relieved by learning to just feel it.

Attention

Fuzzy Feelings: Getting Closer to Our Real Feelings

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on November 4, 2021

The felt experiences from our own body including sensations, pulsations, and emotions take time to coalesce in awareness.

The felt experiences from our own body including sensations, pulsations, and emotions take time to coalesce in awareness.

Sex

Restorative Sexuality: Beyond Excitement and Attraction

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on October 12, 2021

Finding restorative sexuality is one key to lasting sexual intimacy, even in the face of illness, dysfunction, and aging.

Finding restorative sexuality is one key to lasting sexual intimacy, even in the face of illness, dysfunction, and aging.

Body Image

3 (and Only 3) Ways to Know One’s Self

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on September 15, 2021

The neural networks that sustain conscious awareness of our own feelings and thoughts are designed in such a way that there are only three ways to experience ourselves.

The neural networks that sustain conscious awareness of our own feelings and thoughts are designed in such a way that there are only three ways to experience ourselves.

Stress

Restorative Embodied Self-Awareness

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on August 30, 2021

Are you feeling disconnected from yourself? Restorative embodied self-awareness could help you find a way back to what you "truly" feel.

Are you feeling disconnected from yourself? Restorative embodied self-awareness could help you find a way back to what you "truly" feel.

Grief

Emotional and Physical Pain Activate Similar Brain Regions

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on April 19, 2012

In order to get over grief, resolve anger, and even embrace happiness, we have to really feel those things in the body.

In order to get over grief, resolve anger, and even embrace happiness, we have to really feel those things in the body.

Psychopharmacology

Psychotherapy, Medication, or Body Sense for Mental Health?

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on December 13, 2011

The Body Sense of exercise, meditation, massage, eating well, being in nature, doing service activities, social intimacy and religion/spirituality can improve mental health.

The Body Sense of exercise, meditation, massage, eating well, being in nature, doing service activities, social intimacy and religion/spirituality can improve mental health.

Health

Strength Training Using Motor Imagery

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on September 12, 2011

Paying attention to your body while working out can increase cardiovascular fitness, strength and agility, and fat metabolism. A study published in August 2011 in the journal Frontiers in Movement Science and Sports Psychology adds another way in which body sense can enhance your workout: by imagining muscle contraction in place of actually doing some of the reps.

Paying attention to your body while working out can increase cardiovascular fitness, strength and agility, and fat metabolism. A study published in August 2011 in the journal Frontiers in Movement Science and Sports Psychology adds another way in which body sense can enhance your workout: by imagining muscle contraction in place of actually doing some of the reps.

Career

Sedentary work contributes to weight gain

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on June 21, 2011

As an increasing amount of time at work and school is sedentary, you can use your body sense to alleviate the resulting risks to your health and weight.

As an increasing amount of time at work and school is sedentary, you can use your body sense to alleviate the resulting risks to your health and weight.

Stress

The body has a mind of its own

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on June 8, 2011

As odd as it may sound, being aware of our own discomfort -- including that sickening feeling of breath holding -- is actually a good thing.

As odd as it may sound, being aware of our own discomfort -- including that sickening feeling of breath holding -- is actually a good thing.

Meditation

The limits of mindfulness

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on May 24, 2011

Meditation is a wonderful way to enhance body sense. For some meditators, however, body sense can become “too much.” They feel overwhelmed with their own personal suffering, with physical and emotional pain. They are lost and not able to find guidance within their own meditation community.

Meditation is a wonderful way to enhance body sense. For some meditators, however, body sense can become “too much.” They feel overwhelmed with their own personal suffering, with physical and emotional pain. They are lost and not able to find guidance within their own meditation community.

Sport and Competition

Can your child get too much exercise?

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on March 7, 2011

A problem arises when adults push children into competitive sports where winning matters more than what may be good for the child's body, mind, and health.

A problem arises when adults push children into competitive sports where winning matters more than what may be good for the child's body, mind, and health.

Trauma

When bad is good

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on February 2, 2011

Why does just a little bit of getting knocked around by life help us grow stronger and more resilient? If we are sleepwalking through our lives, taking things for granted and not really paying attention to our own body function, sensations, and emotions, the sudden loss of easy freedoms can bring us back to our body sense.

Why does just a little bit of getting knocked around by life help us grow stronger and more resilient? If we are sleepwalking through our lives, taking things for granted and not really paying attention to our own body function, sensations, and emotions, the sudden loss of easy freedoms can bring us back to our body sense.

Health

From darkness to light

Alan Fogel Ph.D. on December 25, 2010

I've always thought it odd that in the late Fall -- when my body just wants to withdraw into cozy, warm rest in response to the longer nights and cooler temperatures - urban culture becomes more active, more complex, and more demanding. Perhaps it is not our dark moods that are problematic so much as our sense of their cultural unacceptability? 

I've always thought it odd that in the late Fall -- when my body just wants to withdraw into cozy, warm rest in response to the longer nights and cooler temperatures - urban culture becomes more active, more complex, and more demanding. Perhaps it is not our dark moods that are problematic so much as our sense of their cultural unacceptability?