Body-Mind Centering offers a way to deepen ourselves to the intuitive wisdom of the body and to nurture our innate capacity to heal through awareness and touch. As humans develop an awareness of patterns in the quality of our movement, humans can explore the roots of our expressive movement and see how our mind moves or restrict within the body. BMC is a platform that allows the participant to have a direct experience of the anatomical body systems and the developmental movement patterns, using touch and movement re-patterning. (Hartley, 1996:xxix)
The philosophy of BMC is based upon the idea that the mind and body are integrally connected and are mutually interactive expressed in the being. By working directly with the body tissues using movement patterns, can bring change or healing in the body-mind. This can influence the mind or engage the mind to affect physical conditions. The process of BMC is how we learn to access information, make transitions from one state to another and develop awareness. The approach is based on observation and direct experience, where the facilitator’s awareness and embodied experience is a tool in the healing work. (Hartley, 1996:xxx)
The practice of Body-Mind Centering allows the individual to return home into the body and to re-experience the natural harmony integration of sensations in the mind and spirit. One learns to listen to the body sensing through breath and guided imagery allowing the wisdom guide the exploration of one’s needs. The individual may experience a better clarity of mind, alertness, greater openness of perceiving as the body becomes more integrated and balanced. As one learns to free themselves from habitual holding patterns, the body can access creativity, causing the enhancement of the body’s natural healing ability. (Hartley, 1996:xxxi)
Through the embodiment of the series of BMC practices, one can identify personal strengths and limitations. Movement is re-pattern if one allows that particular mind-body experience to change, leading to greater clarity, integration, and expression. This particular mind-body experience is exhibited when one direct one’s attention to a particular body system or body part or when we move with an individual focus or quality.
BMC consist of an in-depth and experiential study of all the anatomical systems in the body. Each body system has their quality of movement, sensation, touch and perception. As one embodies these systems through movement, one is brought together in a dynamic and balanced relationship with each other. All body systems provide structural support for the body; coordinating breath, sensory awareness and with movement derived from informed touch. One can adjust the flow of energy within the body’s tissues to facilitate integration and healing. (Hartley, 1996:xxxii)
Reference:
Hartley, L (1995) Wisdom of the Body Moving An Introduction to Body-Mind Centering. California: North Atlantic Books.