Body Mind Connection
Have you ever felt disconnected from your body? That “spacey” feeling. Or felt the need to ground yourself and return to your center?
Living in today’s social media-driven world doesn’t help. We've all experienced the shock of realizing how much time has passed while scrolling through our phones. Working in front of a computer or feeling anxious can also make it worse. But I don’t believe these are the root causes of the issue.
Growing up in Iran, I was drawn to the mystical tradition of Persian Sufi poetry. In Sufism, the body is often used as a metaphor for the spiritual. For instance, kissing the beloved’s lips is described as a metaphor for union with God. Interestingly, in many spiritual traditions, paying attention to the body and its physical needs is seen as base, less pure, and even a hindrance on the spiritual path. Many practices involve denying or starving the body to attain a higher spiritual state. Sufi mystics, for example, recount extreme physical challenges like sitting in one place for 40 days without eating or drinking, jumping into ice water, walking non-stop for months, hanging upside down, and other physical strains—all aimed at purifying the soul and awakening the mind.
At 20, I came to New York City and enrolled in the theater program at TISCH School of the Arts, where I underwent the most physically intensive training of my life. The body, voice, breath, emotions, and awareness all became tools for creating art. In order to use these tools effectively, I had to connect with each aspect of myself on a deeper level. Rather than ignoring the body, I learned to attune to it. The line between a pure physical impulse and a forced mental reaction is incredibly thin, but mastering it is the essence of acting. I remember watching an actor on stage and feeling how free and vibrant his presence was—not acting from the mind, but allowing life to flow through him as if he was an empty vessel. My physical training at school centered around releasing old habits and inhibitions, allowing the body to follow its instincts and impulses. A few of my movement teachers were certified in the Body-Mind Centering program, and I deeply enjoyed those classes. I learned how the mind can connect with the body through an awareness of deeper processes—studying the skeletal system, organs, nervous system, senses, and the energetics of sound and breathing. We didn’t learn through books, but through direct experience, connecting body, mind, and imagination. Some martial arts, such as Tai Chi and Qi Gong, also focus on this mind-body connection. Since then, yoga and meditation have become integral parts of my life.
After completing my theater program, my thirst for deeper understanding of the body led me to nursing school, where I later worked as an Emergency Room nurse. After 15 years in the healthcare system, I witnessed firsthand how the body-mind connection can go awry. Many times, I saw emotional or mental stress manifest as physical symptoms like pain, digestive issues, headaches, and more. I quickly realized that few healthcare practitioners are trained to connect the dots between the physical and mental/emotional/energetic aspects of health. I decided to dive deeper into energy healing and spent 9 months in ashrams in India, studying Reiki. By then, I felt ready to transition into energy healing.
As an energy worker today, when I’m in a room with a client, I’m processing a lot of information—not just what they’re saying, but their breathing, tone of voice, posture, emotions, and energy. Some of this information is conscious, but much of it comes to me intuitively. Sometimes, when I place my hands on someone’s body, I become more attuned to their presence. Some people are fully present in their bodies, but most of us live in our heads. Occasionally, I encounter someone who is completely disconnected from their body, often as a result of trauma. I believe that the more “spacey” we feel, the greater the chance we become disconnected from ourselves, leading to nervous system imbalances and illness. Conditions like autoimmune diseases, chronic pain, panic attacks, headaches, or even colds or the flu can stem from a lack of presence. This may seem extreme, but I hear from many people that something feels "off," and they are not fully present in their bodies. Sometimes, a traumatic event, such as the death of a spouse, can trigger a cascade of immune system imbalances, leading to one illness after another. Similarly, life changes like retirement can trigger nervous system imbalances that bring out dormant issues.
From my experience, the separation between body and mind is at the root of most of our illnesses. In our modern lifestyles, we spend most of our time living in our minds. Unless we have a physically demanding job, we often neglect the body. The issue isn’t necessarily sitting at a computer; we could sit anywhere and still be present and mindful. The problem is that we place all our focus on the external world and, after hours of neglect, we might remember to stretch or adjust our posture. As an energy worker, I’m always checking in with my body and energy, even when I’m working with someone else. I remain grounded and centered for the person I’m working with, while also processing the energy flow for both of us.
In Chinese Medicine, the acupuncture meridians run from the tips of our fingers and toes, flowing through the entire body, affecting the organs, and influencing all our systems. These meridians are filled with qi, or vital energy, which fuels our cells and physical body. From my experience, where the mind goes, energy flows. So, when we stay in our heads for most of the day, we block the flow of life energy to our bodies. While physical exercise can be an excellent way to reconnect with the body, there are other ways to cultivate presence. Mindful walking, sitting, cooking, and breathing can become part of our daily practice. Spending time in nature or with others, instead of isolating ourselves in front of a screen, can also help us stay grounded and support emotional flow.
Spiritually, I believe we are here on Earth to elevate our consciousness, and one of the primary vessels for this experience is our body. It is denser, slower, and more tangible than our mind and energy. So, we often experience our spiritual journey through the limitations of our bodies. Unfortunately, many of us first reconnect with our bodies through pain or discomfort. I frequently hear clients say things like, "My gut hates me," "I’m so angry at my knees," or "I can’t believe my back is giving out on me." We might even injure ourselves—like breaking a leg—when we’re rushing through life, only to be forced to slow down and reflect. Our bodies are our lifelong home, and we need to care for them with the same tenderness and gratitude we would offer a child. Scolding or being angry with a painful knee will only worsen the situation. Our bodies require love and care, and when we connect emotionally with our bodies, our healing energy can expand, leading to higher levels of awareness and balance.