The Generous Listening Newsletter: Volume 7, Part I

Listening to Our Bodies

A Note from the Founder

Dear Listener,

This month, we invite you to explore a profound yet often overlooked form of listening: listening to your body. In a world that often prioritizes productivity over presence, it can be easy to ignore the subtle signals our bodies send us every day. But tuning into these messages is essential for maintaining our well-being, understanding our limitations, and deepening our connection to ourselves.

Our bodies hold immense wisdom. From alerting us to stress through tension in our shoulders, to revealing emotional truths we may not yet be conscious of, the body constantly speaks in ways the mind sometimes overlooks. When we learn to listen, we uncover a pathway to greater physical health, mental clarity, and emotional balance. I have always been captivated by dance, both as an art form and as a powerful way to convey emotion through movement. In this newsletter, I’m excited to share more about one of my favorite dancers and choreographers, Pina Bausch, a true master at expressing complex and universal emotions through body language.

This month, let’s delve into how we can cultivate a habit of “generous listening” to the body — for it, too, has much to tell us.

— Vuslat Do?an Sabanc?

Voices On Listening

“The body always lives in the present moment. It has nowhere else to go, and this is why we can trust it to teach us about presence.”

― Thich Nhat Hanh

Listening Through Movement

Pioneers in dance like Pina Bausch and Martha Graham transformed our understanding of how movement can reveal inner truths. Bausch believed that “dance is about feeling, not intellect.” Her work emphasized how the body’s raw, instinctual motions communicate emotions that words cannot. Similarly, Graham, often called the “mother of modern dance,” encouraged her dancers to “move from the gut” — a reminder of how intimately our emotions and physical sensations are intertwined.

Both choreographers’ masterpieces evoke profound feelings through movement alone; their pieces resonate deeply, allowing audiences to experience a rich tapestry of emotion without a single word spoken. Their artistry invites us to reconnect with our bodies and honor what our physical forms express, exemplifying the unspoken language of the body and the importance of listening to its rhythms and responses.

"The body says what words cannot." This emphasizes the idea that the body often communicates in ways beyond language, urging us to “listen” in new ways.”

― Martha Graham

Voices On Listening

“But if one observes, one will see that the body has its own intelligence; it requires a great deal of intelligence to observe the intelligence of the body.”

― Jiddu Krishnamurti

Body and Mind in Balance: Athletes Leading the Way in Somatic Listening

Somatic listening, or somatic awareness, is the practice of attuning to the messages and sensations within the body. Unlike the intellectual or emotional forms of listening, somatic listening is deeply rooted in physical awareness, inviting us to recognize and respond to signals like fatigue, tension, and stress. This approach is crucial because it enables us to address needs before they manifest as burnout or injury, fostering a deeper connection between mind and body.

In recent years, high-profile athletes have openly prioritized their mental and physical well-being over the demands of competition, challenging traditional norms in sports. Simone Biles stepping back from Olympic events to care for her mental health was a powerful act of listening to her body. “At the end of the day, we’re human too,” Biles explained, highlighting the importance of balancing athletic achievement with personal health.

Similarly, Naomi Osaka has advocated for mental well-being, even withdrawing from major tournaments to address the impact of media scrutiny and personal boundaries. Michael Phelps, a longtime advocate for mental health, has discussed his journey with anxiety and depression, emphasizing the importance of listening to inner signals.

These athletes represent a new wave of somatic listening — recognizing that the body’s needs are just as important as external success. By choosing to step back, they demonstrate that listening to one’s physical and mental health is not a weakness but an essential act of self-respect and resilience.

Further Reading

The Paradox of Listening to Our Bodies

By Jessica Wapner

The New Yorker

“Interoception—the inner sense linking our bodies and minds—can confuse as much as it can reveal.”

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To Better Cope with Stress, Listen to Your Body

By Gretchen Reynolds

The New York Times

“To handle stress and adversity more effectively, we should probably pay closer attention to what is happening inside our bodies, according to a fascinating new brain study of resilience and why some people seem to have more of it than others.”

Want to Fix Your Mind? Let Your Body Talk

By Daniel Bergner

The New York Times

“Somatic therapy is surging, with the promise that true healing may reside in focusing on the physical rather than the mental.”

Pause & Ponder?

What physical signals have I been ignoring recently? How might these signals relate to my emotional or mental state?

We want to hear your observations and thoughts. Drop us a line at: [email protected]