Body Sense

Restorative embodied self-awareness as a pathway to well-being.

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).

Pregnancy
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.

Fantasies
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?

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.

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.

Default Mode Network
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.

Restoration in Nature
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.

Therapy
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.

Attention
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.

Sedentary Work
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.

Depression
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? 

Back
Back
Find a Therapist
Back
Get Help
Back
Magazine
July 2026 magazine cover
July 2026
26 Keys to Thriving

From the power of pausing to the ability to ignore, we’ve culled 26 simple, actionable measures for gaining a sense of control and living a meaningful life.

Subscribe Issue Archive
Back
Tests
Self Tests
Self Tests

Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.

Self Assessments
Quizzes