8 Ways to Connect With Your Physical Body for Sacred Health
By Sarah E. Weisfeld
Sarah Weisfeld is a Licensed Massage Therapist, environmental enthusiast, and chocolate connoisseur in Austin, TX. After leaving Judaism for several years, Jewish environmental programs led her to return in 2013 and since then, she’s discovered spirituality and roots at the intersection of nature and embodied practices, with community and connection at the center of all. Sarah is part of a Well Circle, originated in Austin, TX, and now virtual. You can follow her at www.sarahweisfeld.com or on Instagram @seweisfeld and @butterflycacao.
As we welcome Tammuz, a theme for this month is paradoxes, where we recognize the darkness inside the light. At this moment, humankind is living in a pandemic paradox; the need for social distancing juxtaposed with the need for somatic touch. It’s raising questions about our overall health and how to incorporate touch and connection in a prudent and safe way.
Meanwhile, technology gives us instant access to people and work, yet also distracts us and can leave us with feelings of inadequacy, and anxiety. It’s important that we find time disconnected from technology to center in ourselves. Massages and other forms of physical touch are important components for the well being of body, mind, and spirit. Being grounded in our physical self helps calm our nervous system where anxiety and fear are often stored.
“Tikkun Olam,” or Repairing The World, begins with yourself.
When we center ourselves in the vessels of our own bodies, we move away from centering ourselves in other people and things.
In 70 CE, the Second Temple was destroyed and Jewish people were pushed into the diaspora, leaving the question, “how do we keep Jews connected when we are so spread out?” Geographically dispersed, with no common location to gather, Jewish people inherently became oriented in the pursuit of text. Lost were the embodied, communal practices which were once shared and celebrated in the ancient temple. Jewish wisdom teaches that our bodies are our own individual temples, what we do with them, what we put in them, and how we treat them is paramount.
If we weren’t in a global pandemic, it would be much easier to go get a massage for embodied relaxation. However, now that fulfilling our need for physical touch is deemed unsafe, we’re being pushed to innovate and rethink physical touch and wellness.
Here are 8 social-distance-friendly ways to connect with your physical body for sacred health:
1. Cleansing.
There is a Jewish ritual of washing one’s hands to start the day and saying Modah Ani, a prayer thanking G-d for returning our souls to our bodies. Let this be an invitation to be extra present in this moment and give attention to our hands and all that they do for us.
2. Vibration of Sound.
Take a deep breath in, then on the exhale release by making a sound. You can try:
Breaking up the Shema into three parts and make these three sounds on three separate exhales: “SHHHH, MMMMM, AAAAH”
Humming your favorite song or prayer and noticing the effect it has on your system. The vagus nerve is the longest nerve of the autonomic nervous system and when stimulated (by singing or humming) has been shown to decrease anxiety and increase the parasympathetic system, known as the “rest and digest” state.
3. Meditation.
Find a comfortable place to sit, or get up and go for a walking meditation. Touch your thumb to your pointer finger and notice the pulse and circulation in your body moving through you. Notice the physical sensations in your body. You could also incorporate the Shema practice above as part of your meditation:
“Shhhh”- Listen, “Mmmmm”- Enjoy as you notice, “Aaaah”- Release at the magnificence of it all.
4. Anointing Oil.
In Judaism, an ancient tradition linked to touch is anointing, the pouring of aromatic oil over one’s self. In the temple, twice a day there was the tradition of ketoret, the burning of incense. I invite you to weave these together and create an essential oil infusion with scents used to create the ketoret - the incense which was burned. A few scents mentioned in ancient texts are balsam oil, frankincense, musk, and cinnamon. You can use this anointing oil to massage yourself and notice how over time, your sense of smell helps make positive associations with your body.
5. Self Body Massage.
How would you want your body touched and massaged if you were asking someone else to do this for you? Now go do that for yourself! Think about the pressure you’re using and your intention as you tune into the different sensations. A 5-10 minute foot massage is a great way to sync up with your foundation that holds you upright. It’s also a really nice practice to do before going to sleep. Other pleasant areas for self-massage are your neck, head and scalp, and ears. Remember to breathe!
6. Abdominal Massage.
Peppermint essential oil infusion rubbed on your belly in a clockwise direction can support belly aches, digestion, and cycle cramping! To massage clockwise, look down at your belly and imagine that the 12 is below your belly button and the 6 is above your belly button. Put your hand on the 12 and begin the movement going toward your right side of your body, up to the 6 and then over to the left and downward in a circular motion.
7. Prayer.
Learned from Taya Mâ Shere, we can use the healing blessing, Mi Shebeirach with an intention for body magic. Use the Mi Shebeirach or another personal blessing to bring awareness, honor, and gratitude for the strength and endurance our bodies hold. You can even try humming it!
Mi Shebeirach Prayer
Mi shebeirach avoteinu
M'kor hab'racha l'imoteinuMay the source of strength,
Who blessed the ones before us,
Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing,And let us say, Amen.
Mi shebeirach imoteinu
M'kor habrachah l'avoteinuBless those in need of healing with r'fuah sh'leimah,
The renewal of body, the renewal of spirit,And let us say, Amen.
8. Gratitude.
Write a poem, or a love letter to yourself giving thanks for all the ways you support and care for your body, mind, and spirit. Write from the perspective of a specific body part, sharing its experience of being alive and giving thanks to its supporting team.
Creating rituals of health and touch is fundamental to our well being on individual and collective levels. As we observe the darkness amongst the light and the light amongst the darkness we pray: may we all be safe, may we all be happy, may we all be healthy, may we all know peace.
Find Support in a Well Circle
Online Well Circles are a supportive space to discuss the health of your physical body, be part of a greater community, and share in the monthly new moon ritual of Rosh Chodesh. If you aren’t yet part of a circle, check out our Virtual Well Circles page to learn more and get connected with one, or start your own. Although virtual spaces cannot replace our need for physical touch, these 8 social-distance-friendly practices can connect our somatic body for sacred health during this worldwide pandemic of distancing.