BI: Body Intelligence

One of the benefits of yoga is its ability to guide us in paying attention to the more subtle aspects of our being. Whether attuning to the rhythm of our breath or sensing the weight of our bones in relation to gravity, yoga teaches us to refine our awareness of our inner and outer nature. In attuning to our inner sensations, we learn to listen to the information our bodies send us.

Our brains receive information from our body through vagus nerve, which is a key part of the body's communication system, through afferent pathways of the nervous system. We can connect with the inner guidance and intelligence that our body naturally offers by attuning to the sensory awareness and signals coming from the body. With this awareness, we gain a deeper understanding of our experiences and can make more informed choices based on this new information, rather than repeating past patterns of response.

In our most recent book club meeting, we explored the concept of neuroception—a fascinating discovery about the nervous system's innate intelligence.

Coined by Dr. Stephen Porges and elaborated on by Deb Dana in her book Anchored, neuroception is essentially our body's internal surveillance system. It constantly monitors our internal state—such as heartbeat, breathing rhythms, muscle activity, and organ function. This autonomic intuition is how our nervous system continually assesses our embodied, environmental, and relational experiences. While much of this intelligence operates below the level of conscious awareness, our bodies and minds respond to these cues, often shaped by past experiences.

Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen has beautifully articulated in her teachings the importance of the nervous system as a recorder of experience. She states:

"For new experiences to be obtained, the release of nervous system control is necessary so that old habits no longer dictate outcomes, allowing new cellular experiences to emerge."

 —Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen

My journey through yoga and its many pathways has always included the concept of this "inner listening". Indeed there are many stories from yoga that attest to one's ability to sense and feel their inner working as a way to harness the energy of the body-mind connection. It's fascinating to consider how early yogis could sense and work with these subtle processes in the deeper dimensions of yoga without the technologies available today.

Now, in our modern world, combining ancient wisdom with modern science, and we're on a journey of discovery about our inner intelligence that lives within us. These new insights are inspiring, leading us to discover new ways of being fully present in our bodies and with each other.