Originally published: 2024-09-02T20:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.
Life can be stressful sometimes. We can even feel the stress in our bodies in the form of tension, pain and discomfort. Understandably, many people want to find relief by escaping from their bodies. Through distractions like the internet, TV and substance use, people want to find peace and comfort by getting “out” of their bodies. We might think that an out-of-body experience can bring us peace, but it’s actually much more profound to have an “in-the-body” experience.
What would it be like to intentionally connect with our body? When we slow down and turn our attention to the simple experience of being in our body—in a nonjudgmental way—we see that we don’t actually need to escape from our body. In fact, we may begin to appreciate how much wisdom the body has and how it is always taking care of us.
In this video, retired Navy SEAL Commander Jon Macaskill guides us through a brief experiential exercise of the body scan, bringing awareness to our bodies. This simple, step-by-step guide shows us how to connect with our breath and the various sensations in our bodies in a gradual sequence from head to feet.
Research shows that mindfulness meditation practices like the body scan can bring many physical and mental health benefits. It can help us gain more awareness of what’s going on in our body, what our body may be telling us, and how to respond to our internal signals. The body scan is very helpful in helping us notice where we may be carrying tension so we can relax those areas. As we relax and breathe, we become calmer and more centered.
With regular practice, the body scan can help us become more grounded and relaxed, which leads to reduced stress, improved mental and physical well-being, and healthy living. Make the body scan a part of your daily routine!
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.
