Think about the last time you sat down after a long day. You may have felt relieved to finally sit down, but did you actually notice the chair supporting your body?
Much of our day is spent directing our attention outward. We think about what comes next, respond to others, solve problems, and move from one responsibility to another. Meanwhile, our bodies participate in everything we do, often without much of our attention until something becomes uncomfortable.
One of the simplest ways to begin reconnecting with the body is to notice something that's already there: the support beneath us.
Becoming Aware of What Supports You
Wherever you are right now, take a moment to notice what is holding you. Perhaps your feet are resting on the floor, your back is against a chair, or your body is supported by a couch or bed. You don't need to change your posture or breathing. Simply notice where your body makes contact with the surfaces around you.
Our nervous system continuously receives information about touch, pressure, movement, and body position. We process much of this information without conscious awareness. When we intentionally bring attention to these sensations, we may discover aspects of our physical experience that ordinarily go unnoticed.
This shift in awareness can be particularly useful when we're feeling anxious or overwhelmed. Rather than focusing exclusively on racing thoughts, a tight chest, or a pounding heart, we can explore whether another part of the body feels relatively comfortable or steady. Perhaps someone notices tension in their shoulders while also recognizing that their feet feel firmly connected to the floor. Both experiences can exist at the same time, and neither needs to disappear for the other to be acknowledged.
In body-oriented psychotherapy, I often help clients explore these differences. Somatic Experiencing uses a process called pendulation, which involves gently shifting awareness between experiences of activation and experiences of greater ease, neutrality, or support. This can help us approach difficult sensations in smaller, more manageable ways rather than becoming completely absorbed in them. The intention isn't to ignore discomfort, but to recognize that discomfort may not be the only thing we're experiencing.
Exploring Support Through Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy
This awareness of support also influences how I approach Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST). During a session, you rest fully clothed on a treatment table while I offer gentle, attentive touch. The table provides physical support, while the contact and relationship between practitioner and client offer another dimension of the experience.
You might notice the weight of your legs, the surface beneath your back, or the way your head rests on the table. Sometimes people notice that they're holding tension in an area that no longer needs to work quite so hard. For example, your shoulders may remain slightly lifted even though you're lying down. Rather than forcing them to relax, we can become curious about what it's like to notice the support already available underneath them.
Receiving support isn't always as familiar as giving it. Many of us spend our days managing responsibilities, anticipating what others need, and keeping ourselves moving. Allowing someone else to offer attentive care can feel different, and sometimes surprisingly meaningful. For some people, this brings a sense of ease. For others, it may take time to become comfortable receiving touch or allowing themselves to rest. BCST offers a setting in which these experiences can be approached with sensitivity, patience, and respect.
Within the biodynamic approach, practitioners cultivate a particular quality of presence and perceptual listening. Concepts such as primary respiration, midline, potency, stillness, and the Breath of Life inform how practitioners understand and orient to the work.
As a practitioner, I listen through my hands, remain attentive to the relationship, and allow the session to develop without imposing a predetermined response. Some people notice warmth, subtle movement, changes in breathing, or a sense of heaviness as their body settles more fully against the table. Others notice emotions, areas of tension, or a feeling of spaciousness. What interests me is not whether someone has a particular sensation, but how the experience may offer another way of relating to themselves.
This is something I appreciate about both body-oriented psychotherapy and BCST. They invite us to become more aware of our experience, not only through understanding and reflection, but also through what we can sense and feel.
What Changes When We Notice Support?
Recognizing support may seem small, but it can shift how we relate to a moment. Imagine sitting in your chair while feeling anxious about something that happened earlier in the day. Your thoughts move quickly, your shoulders tense, and you're already anticipating what comes next.
Now imagine allowing your attention to include the chair beneath you, the floor under your feet, and the places where your body makes contact with its surroundings. Your anxiety may still be there, and your circumstances haven't necessarily changed. But your awareness has expanded to include something beyond the discomfort.
For some people, this creates a little more room to breathe, reflect, or respond differently. For others, it may simply be an opportunity to become more familiar with their physical experience. Over time, practicing this kind of awareness may help us recognize when we're bracing, holding tension, or moving through life without noticing what our bodies are experiencing.
And sometimes, the experience is much simpler than that. We recognize that we can rest our weight against something instead of continuing to hold ourselves up.
Support isn't always something we need to create. Sometimes it's something we can begin to notice and receive.
Explore Body-Based Support in Caldwell, NJ
At Be You Counseling & Craniosacral Therapy in Caldwell, New Jersey, I offer Psychotherapy, Somatic Skills Work, and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. Each provides a different way to explore your experience, deepen your awareness, and develop a more connected relationship with yourself.
Whether you're interested in understanding how stress affects your body, exploring new ways of responding to difficult experiences, or receiving gentle, attentive bodywork, we can consider which approach best fits your needs.
If you're curious, I invite you to learn more about Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy or schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation to explore where you might begin.
