Class Description

In this chunk, we expand our focus beyond the system of the individual body and into the metaphor of the collective body.  How do “diseases of disembodiment”, inflammation, “self vs. other,” and default mode play out on the scale of our social systems?  What happens to our concept of mental illness when we consider depression a social rather than individual disease? Within this new paradigm, we then tease out how the tools for emotional balance that we’ve explored thus far might translate to these larger systems.  Bo offers the concept of embodied relationality and tending to the “connective tissue” of our communities as healing pathways for the collective body.

Supplementary Material & Practice Toolkit

Practice Hamstring Relaxation with the Embodied Self-Compassion Interlude

Lifework

Reflect:

• Being very (non-judgmentally) honest with yourself, what or whom do you “other?”  A part of your body, a pesky neighbor, a different race or social group? What is the embodiment hashtag that arises when you imagine connecting with and experiencing that “other?”

Stretch and Hydrate:

• In your own way, play with connecting/ experiencing/ or “being with” one of the “others” you identified in your reflection.  What do you notice arising in your mind-body network before and after this experience?
• How are you doing with the mindset stretch this chunk offers?  Is there a piece that felt particularly salient or exciting? Is there a piece that is creating activation in you – rejection, dismissal, frustration?  If so, can you use one of the tools offered so far to be with the activation? What happens when you do?

Post to the Forum:

• What do you recognize as “diseases of disembodiment” or systemic depression in your own community?
• Please share your experience from doing either of the “Stretch and Hydrate” exercises.